Smoke signals., May 01, 2007, 4 Places, Page 3, Image 14

Smoke Signals
The Cultural
Resources Depart
ment has a number
of responsibilities
with regard to all
of these new developments.
MAY 1 , 2007
Site protec
tion: ensuring
that building
sites are neither
gathering sites,
sacred sites nor
architecturally
important sites,
said Thursgard.
The Tribe is
looking forward
to "no new surpris
es," said Thors
gard. "There are
only 14 known
sites in Yamhill
County. We know
of twice that many
but they're not reg
istered with the
state."
Part of the reason that some pre
servation sites are known but not
registered is that many of the sites are
on private property, and landowners
often oppose the land use restrictions
that go along with designating sacred
sites with the federal government.
And in places where conflicts ex
ist, the department's responsibility is
to avoid impact to sacred sites, to the
extent possible. .
In the casino expansion project, for
example, Culture worked with Tribal
Engineer Eric Scott to create barriers
that ensured "no impacts would occur"
to pre-existing sacred and historical
sites.
Historical Accuracy: The Cultural
Collections section is responsible for
selecting historical objects to create
historical accuracy within finished
projects, and for developing interpre
tive panels for projects.
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The Cultural Resources Department works hard to make sure Interpretive sites like this one at Fort Yamhill State
Park accurately reflect Tribal history in the area.
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Appropriate Language: The Cul
tural Language section makes sure
that appropriate language is used,
and that the project moves forward
"in a culturally appropriate way,"
said Thorsgard.
"This is a really unique opportunity,"
said Trolan. "We have a good relation
ship with the Parks Department. And
we have a fantastic venue to tell our
story."
"The whole area," said Trolan,
"shows the wonderful combination of
lands where Indians once lived. We
have high meadows, forest lands, wet
lands, all providing foods and basket
materials, planted with camas, wapato,
cattails, hazel and willow plantings...
"These are things we've been talk- '
ing about for a long time," said Trolan.
This area is going to be the realization
of the dreams of a lot of Elders."
And the way it is being designed, it
provides a spectacular view to Spirit
Mountain but also a nice barrier so
that the plankhouse, for example, is not
visible from the promontory (of Fort
Yamhill State Park). Some things are
not meant to be a spectacle, she said.
"It's moving culture up as a priority
in people's minds," she said, "of what's
important to be in the community."
At bottom right, one of many building sites at the original Fort Yamhill are
uncovered. At bottom left, workers put the final touches on the Fort Yamhill
parking lot.
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