(Jack Peeples/ The Broadside)
The Native Land Acknowledgement is in need of art that displays a symbolic purpose for Central Oregon. This an opportunity for students to submit artwork that reflects Native American culture.
The Native American Program Coordinator of Central Oregon Community College, Michelle Cary, states that this is the first time the artwork acknowledgement has occurred. Cary plans on having framed documents for land acknowledgement artwork on each of the COCC campuses. She is also planning on having pictures of students’ art in each of the campus building entrances.
“The land acknowledgement gets used at events, meetings and commencements all on campus,” says Cary.
She allows the art that students submit to be anything that is artistic to them. The artwork could be can anything from 3-D models, sculptures and paintings or sketches, as long as the art has to do with Native Americans. One student is planning on submitting a bead necklace. Students will take a photograph of the artwork that expresses the Native Americans that the college will utilize for future events involving the Native American Students Program.
The three confederated tribes that make up Warm Springs, Wasco and Northern Paiutes are all the tribes that are going to be honored through the land acknowledgement.
“The treaty of 1855 was a treaty with the Wasco and the Warm Springs [Tribe],” says Cary, “it wasn’t until 1879 that the Northern Paiute people were moved to the reservation.”
The Warm Springs tribe still resides in Oregon today. Students can get involved by emailing Cary at [email protected]with a photo of Native American Artwork by July 1.
