Oregon Is Indian Country
Exhibit and Dance Performance
Month of February
A Groundbreaking Project
Oregon Is Indian Country is a groundbreaking project that aims to educate people about Oregon's contemporary Native American tribes. The project brought all nine federally-recognized tribes together to share information about their art, culture, traditions, and history.
The collection of information included in the traveling exhibit is presented from the perspective of Native American people, and has never before been assembled in one place.
Exhibit
The Oregon Is Indian Country exhibit will be on display at Columbia Center for the Arts from February 3 through 28.
Native Dance Performance
Eagle Spirit, an inter-tribal dance troupe that consists of both adults and children, will give a FREE dance performance on February 28th at 4pm in the Columbia Center for the Arts theater.
Participating Hood River Organizations
Bring the Entire Family!
Don't miss this once in a lifetime opportunity to learn about Oregon's Native American tribes from the perspective of Native American People.
The exhibit includes three large displays, which combined, are too large for any single location in Hood River. Consequently, the exhibit will be spread across three Hood River locations, as follows.
Traditions that Bind
Columbia Center for the Arts is hosting the display titled "Traditions that Bind." This display investigates the rich cultural heritage of Oregon's tribes, including their oral traditions, material culture, art and traditional lifeways. This section highlights ceremony, tradition, and language, and how they are important in the survival of people and their cultures.
Federal Indian Policies
The Hood River Library is hosting the panel that explores the various policies that changed Indian lives since the 1805 exploration of Lewis and Clark. The display aims to give visitors a better understanding of the complexities of current issues affecting Indian Country through an examination of significant historical events and policies such as sovereigntty, treaties, the reservations system, termination, and restoration.
The Land
Hood River Adult Center is hosting the display titled "The Land." This display examines the ways the physical environment has influenced tribal cultures and how it continues to do so today by looking at the uses of natural resources and the enduring ties that tribes have with the land.
A Multi-Year Collaboration
The project is a direct result of the Oregon Tribes Project,
a multi-year collaboration between the Oregon Historical Society's (OHS)
Folklife Program and Oregon's nine federally recognized tribes. Tribal
members documented their traditions and worked closely with OHS staff to
create the exhibit, education materials, and related public programs.
The exhibit presents native voices, traditions, and art forms, as well as historic artifacts and photographs.
Columbia Center for the Arts is proud to be able to take part in the presentation of this wonderful exhibit.
Antone Minthorn, Chairman, Board of Trustees, Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservations says, “We have survived the tidal wave of immigration to our country. The American public needs to hear these stories of survival. This place, the United States of America, is our home, but we all have a voice in shaping a legacy for our children.”