Native American Heritage Month

Vince Ready

Author: Lace Thornberg  |  Published: November 22, 2021  |  Category: In the News

November is Native American Heritage Month

In Oregon and throughout the Americas, Indigenous communities’ connection to the land has endured from time immemorial to this day.

As we mark Native American Heritage Day on Friday, November 26, 2021, ONDA encourages you to learn more about the rich history and present-day experiences of the Indigenous peoples who are directly connected to Oregon’s high desert: the Burns Paiute Tribe, the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs, the Klamath Tribes and the Fort McDermitt Paiute and Shoshone Tribes.

Here are two ONDA pieces that you might find interesting:

And, did you know that several of ONDA’s major restoration projects take place on lands currently managed by the Burns Paiute Tribe and the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs?

Earlier this month, the White House Office of Science & Technology Policy and Council on Environmental Quality released a first-of-its kind memorandum to initiate new federal guidance on Indigenous Traditional Ecological Knowledge (ITEK).

For a grounding in Indigenous Traditional Ecological Knowledge, we recommend reading Robin Wall Kimmerer’s essential tome, Braiding Sweetgrass. You can also find a number of different publications about various projects that incorporate ITEK in this database managed by the Native Nations Institute.

For learning about tribal cultures of Oregon, as well throughout the Americas, these extensive reading lists from the Multnomah County Library staff will offer you plenty of choices.This list of titles centers Native voices in history:

And, this list features fiction, poetry and memoir by Native American, First Nations, Native Alaskan and Indigenous authors:

Thank you for taking the time to learn about Native cultures and the many Indigenous leaders who have worked tirelessly to preserve the environment.

watch

Tibetan Monks Visit Sutton Mountain

Tibetan Monks Visit Sutton Mountain

fact

Western Rattlesnake

Western Rattlesnake

Also known as the Great Basin Rattlesnake, these pit vipers have buff-tan coloring and small, oval blotches to blend into their arid surroundings. Small heat-sensing indentations on each side of the snake’s snout detects warm-blooded prey for better striking accuracy in the dark. Source: The Oregon Encyclopedia

Latin name: Crotalus oreganus lutosus

voices

Reid Williams, 2021 Conservationist of the Year

Reid Williams, 2021 Conservationist of the Year

How far are you willing to hike for conservation? Reid Williams offered to put in more than 20 miles a day, by himself, walking and monitoring fence lines on Beatys Butte. And that was on top of weekly visits to the ONDA office, where he is always eager to help with extra projects. In acknowledgment of his willingness and helpful spirit, ONDA named him our 2021 Conservationist of the Year.