Intertribal cultural resources

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The regional Native American community works in partnership with Metro to access cultural resources within Metro’s parks and natural areas.

A community member holds freshly harvested and cleaned camas bulbs. Camas is a First Food to the Indigenous Peoples in the Portland region.

photo of community members harvesting camas

Community members Judy Bluehorse Skelton, Nez Perce and Shawna Zierdt, Cowlitz as they harvest camas from Quamash Prairie this April. Judy and Shawna have been pivotal in guiding Metro’s work with the Native American community.

This May, Native American community members accessed Quamash Prairie, a Metro natural area, to host a pit roast. Pit roasting is a traditional cooking method used to cook First Foods like camas and cattail.

Metro partnered with regional Native American community members and partner agencies to host the Portland region’s first annual Indigenous Peoples' Day celebration at the Oregon Zoo, which is declared as the second Monday in October.

photo of drummers at Indigenous Peoples' Day

Local drum group Seventh Generation sings an honor song at the Indigenous Peoples’ Day event at the Oregon Zoo.

Local Native American community members guide the First Foods research work that Metro does at Quamash Prairie. Pictured, two community members show Metro staff how to respectfully clean camas bulbs on site upon harvesting.

D’ana Soto holds freshly dug camas bulbs harvested for First Foods research at Quamash Prairie.

Local Native community members gathered at Quamash Prairie in November 2015 to harvest camas bulbs for First Foods research.

Cultural resource use

Metro manages public lands that are part of lands ceded from regional tribes and recognizes the unique relationship tribal people in the region have to this land. In collaboration with greater Portland’s Native American community, Metro has developed a culturally appropriate process for Native Americans to access land for cultural events, culturally significant plant material harvesting or ceremony space. Information about this process is below.

Members of the Native American community have the option to bypass this application and coordinate with the Indigenous Community Liaison directly by contacting Isabel LaCourse at [email protected] or 503-517-6981.

Special events

In partnership with the regional Native American Community Advisory Council, Metro strives to provide events and opportunities for members of the Native American community to have safe access to First Foods and cultural resources in regional parks and natural areas. For more information about upcoming events, contact Isabel LaCourse at [email protected] or 503-517-6981.

Memorial Day weekend
Camas gathering at Quamash Prairie

Mid June
Camas seed gathering at Quamash Prairie

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Featured news

Native American community, Metro work together to provide culturally appropriate access to public land

By Amy Croover-Payette
July 10, 2017 4:02 p.m.

Like any good Native American storyteller, I need to start at the beginning. Not with a creation story, not at 1492, but where this story begins for me.
The roots of Portland's Native American community

By Maiya Osife
July 10, 2017 4:01 p.m.

Portland is home to the nation’s ninth largest urban Native American population. Native American people did not come to Portland by accident, but through a series of federal policies that forced the removal of Indians from tribal homelands.
Integrating traditional practices into Metro land management

By Curt Zonick
July 10, 2017 4 p.m.

Some of the best ways to care for prairies, oak woodlands and other habitat include using management approaches that Native Americans practiced for generations.
'Listen and celebrate': Event celebrates Indigenous Peoples Day at Oregon Zoo

By Guadalupe Triana
Oct. 17, 2016 10:33 a.m.

Many communities are reclaiming Columbus Day and putting the focus on Indigenous communities. On Oct. 10, the Native American Youth and Family Center, Oregon Parks & Recreation Department, Multnomah County and Metro hosted the second annual Indigenous Peoples’ Day celebration at the Oregon Zoo
3 questions with Judy BlueHorse Skelton about first foods

By Julie Cash
July 24, 2015 7 a.m.

BlueHorse Skelton and her students in Portland State University's Indigenous Nations Studies program are helping to incorporate Native traditions into the urban landscape for food, medicines and ceremonies.
Operation oak: Mapping Oregon's iconic trees protects habitat, builds connections

By David Row
Oct. 8, 2014 10:57 a.m.

It’s sweaty hot – 90 degrees hot – as the July afternoon blazes sunny radiance at Mount Talbert Nature Park in Clackamas. Coolly, Savahna Jackson and Sequoia Breck gaze upward at the tall white oak trees looming over them.

Related documents

Contact

Featured news

Native American community, Metro work together to provide culturally appropriate access to public land

The roots of Portland's Native American community

Integrating traditional practices into Metro land management

'Listen and celebrate': Event celebrates Indigenous Peoples Day at Oregon Zoo

3 questions with Judy BlueHorse Skelton about first foods

Operation oak: Mapping Oregon's iconic trees protects habitat, builds connections