Native Oregon Voices

The power of a powwow has been described as a collective heartbeat that draws people together. Celebrants often say they feel unity and freedom as they dance in a circle. Those elements are especially vital for those serving time at the Oregon State Correctional Institution in Salem, where life is spent behind barbed wire and fortified walls. But for one day a year, inmates get to don Native apparel and move to the rhythm of a rawhide drum with friends and loved ones.

Elderberry Wisdom Farms near Salem brings together urban forestry, Native plant nursery operations and micro enterprises. But its future is uncertain as earmarked money is set to run out in 2028.

Writer, actress, comedienne, and activist Jana Schmieding is known for her work with Native-themed series such as “Rutherford Falls” and “Reservation Dogs," but she’s also a “Duck." The University of Oregon alum is this year’s commencement speaker, and spent this weekend reconnecting with her campus community.

The nine federally-recognized tribes in Oregon and state agencies that regulate water are working towards a mutual partnership.

One administrator at Lane Community College is using her experience to bring more Native students to the school and help them succeed.Lori Tapahonso…

Oregon has many historic and geological sites with informative signage. What’s been missing until recently is much recognition of the time before Lewis…

While the business of art is always in flux, the Indigenous art community may see more dramatic change than most. As part of our series “Native Oregon…

All nine Oregon tribes have Cultural Resources departments. Some have archaeologists on staff, others have museums or archives. In recent years, the…

Many Oregon place names have Native American roots. Some of them teach lessons about the land and its history, others are more like a game of “telephone”…