Richmond Land Acknowledgement

We acknowledge that the land where the Richmond Neighborhood is located rests on the traditional village sites of the Multnomah, Kathlamet, Clackamas, Tualatin, Kalapuya, Molalla, bands of the Chinook, and many other Tribes who made their homes along the Columbia River. Multnomah is a band of Chinooks that lived in this area.
We also acknowledge the systemic policies of genocide, relocation, and assimilation that still impact many Indigenous/Native American families today.

As settlers and guests on these lands we respect the work of Native Nations, leaders and families, and make ongoing efforts to center Indigenous knowledge, creativity, and resilience.

Land Acknowledgement is merely a starting point. We must all work together to become a more just, diverse, inclusive and equitable city and community.

How can we take action to support Indigenous communities?
Some examples below. You can also view our short presentation on our research, more ideas for action and inspiring stories. Read more about “Fostering Local Awareness & Action to Support Indigenous Communities” from an article in our Richmond Winter 2021 Newsletter.

Resources & Ideas for Action to Support Indigenous Communities

Native Gathering Garden, North Portland
Image by H. Flint Chatto

History

Portland's Native American community is the ninth largest urban population in the United States.

The Portland metro area rests on traditional village sites of the Multnomah, Kathlamet, Clackamas, Chinook, Tualatin Kalapuya, Molalla and many other tribes and bands. These groups created communities and summer encampments along the Columbia and Willamette rivers and harvested and used the plentiful natural resources of the area for thousands of years.

Oregon’s population was largely Native American until relatively recently. The Oregon Donation Land Act of 1850 and accompanying legislation removed tribes and offered free land to white settlers, who laid claim to 2.5 million acres of tribal land — including all of what is now Portland — over the course of just seven years. Source:https://www.travelportland.com/culture/native-american

Learn more:

Oregon Encyclopedia Project, Oregon History Project

Leading with Tradition Guide:
www.up.edu/activities/files/leading-with-tradition.pdf

Ideas for Action

Support Indigenous communities:

Support Indigenous-led grassroots change movements and campaigns. Encourage others to do so.
Donate or Volunteer: for examples donations could support mental health services with NARA locally on SE Division, or contribute to the Native Arts & Culture Foundation. Community members could volunteer with the Native Gathering Garden in Cully, or work with the Richmond Neighborhood to help with research or on a local project.
Create: develop your own organizational land acknowledgement, or support a physical project (e.g. a mural or garden) in partnership with local organizations
Appreciate: Portland Art Museums extensive native arts collection
Engage: OR Native American Chamber of Commerce - onacc.org
Commit to returning land. Local, state, and federal governments around the world are currently returning land to Indigenous people. Individuals are returning their land, too. Learn more about your options to return your land.

Source:https://nativegov.org/a-guide-to-indigenous-land-acknowledgment

Learning Together

Creating our land acknowledgement was a journey that went much deeper than a simple statement…

Creating our land acknowledgement went much deeper than a simple statement and we want to help others by sharing our research and process.

Read more about “Fostering Local Awareness & Action to Support Indigenous Communities” from an article in our Richmond Winter 2021 Newsletter.
View our short presentation that includes: research links and recommendations for how and why to create a Land Acknowledgement, links for more history and education, ideas for action and success stories of returning land back to indigenous communities.
Learn More: Oregon Historical Society exhibits & online history - e.g. Oregon History Project, etc. Other good resources:
Land Reparations & Solidarity Guide: https://resourcegeneration.org/land-reparations-indigenous-solidarity-action-guide/
Acknowledging Indigenous People:
https://ljist.com/featured/acknowledging-indigenous-people/
Leading with Tradition Guide: www.up.edu/activities/files/leading-with-tradition.pdf

Get Involved: If you’d like to learn more or get involved in our diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) work, contact Richmond NA Board Chair