S moke S ignals
MAY 1, 2015
5
Willamette Falls receives state heritage designation
By Dean Rhodes
Smoke Signals editor
The Oregon Heritage Commis-
sion officially approved state heri-
tage area status for the Willamette
Falls Heritage Area, which includes
historical and culturally signifi-
cant areas near the falls, during a
Thursday, April 23, meeting held
in Coos Bay as part of the Oregon
Heritage Conference.
The vote was not surprising since
the Heritage Commission approved
state heritage area status in early
February on a preliminary basis.
The Willamette Falls Heritage
Area is the first to ever receive a
state heritage area designation.
The Willamette Falls Heritage
Area encompasses 26 square miles
and is home to the second largest
waterfall by volume in the United
States. The area remains a cul-
turally and historically significant
site for the Confederated Tribes
of Grand Ronde. Tribal members
continue to harvest lamprey at the
site as their ancestors have done
since time immemorial.
The Heritage Area also includes
potential economic development
projects, such as the redevelopment
of the former Blue Heron Paper Co.
site and the area near the falls.
“What it does is really legitimizes
the direction in which we are head-
ing with this entire area,” said Alice
Norris, president of the Willamette
Falls Heritage Area Coalition, a
nonprofit partnership focused on
revitalizing the area, in February
when the preliminary approval was
granted.
The Grand Ronde Tribe is a mem-
ber of the nonprofit coalition and
is represented by Tribal Council
member Cheryle A. Kennedy.
“I am thrilled that the Willamette
Falls State Heritage Area was ap-
proved,” Kennedy said. “To achieve
becoming the first state heritage
designation is awesome and an-
other step in becoming a national
heritage area.
“My purpose in serving on the
Willamette Falls Heritage Area Coa-
lition is to ensure that all people who
visit and those who reside in the area
know our people lived and continue
to live in this powerful area. As the
Willamette Falls Heritage Area Co-
alition pulled together the history of
the area, evidence of our thousands
of years of residence were witnessed
in the rocks, drawn by our ancestors
thousands of years ago.
“The coalition learned that our
people used this great river as our
highway. We conducted wealthy
commerce through fishing and
trade, and we were the keepers of
the falls and the river.
“As history unfolded, immigrants
learned of the great resources the
river and Willamette Falls had for
the first seat of Oregon government
began here, as well as establish-
ment of the first hydro power,
shipping business and historic
industrial district in Oregon.
“There have been issues I took
the lead on when others wanted to
dispute the Confederated Tribes
of Grand Ronde was the resident
Tribe. Some wanted to be more in-
clusive of other Tribes, but armed
with historical references and
sources I presented, the coalition
agreed that the Grand Ronde Tribe
represents the Native people who
occupied the area.
“So, that was a great day for the
Grand Ronde Tribe and I am great-
ly pleased to be part of establishing
our presence in modern-day times.”
The new state program, devel-
oped two years ago, was created to
promote both heritage conservation
and economic development in spe-
cific geographic areas.
Kyle Jansson, executive director
of the Oregon Heritage Commis-
sion, said the coalition found the
right combination of economic de-
velopment and conservation in its
application.
The state heritage area designa-
tion does not provide direct funding
for any projects, but it does make
available technical assistance and
advice from the Oregon Heritage
Commission and possibly grant
funding for projects.
Norris said the state status will
help with marketing and branding
efforts, as well as bringing people to
the region for tourism and economic
development.
The Grand Ronde Tribe has been
involved in the Willamette Falls
Festival, put on by the coalition,
and has been supportive of coali-
tion goals. Tribal Council recently
approved a resolution supporting
re-opening of the Willamette Falls
Locks.
The Willamette Falls Heritage
Area Coalition was formed in 2006
to begin a community process that
supports the preservation and
enhancement of the cultural and
heritage sites in and around the
Willamette Falls area. n
Includes information from the
Portland Business Journal.
April 15 meeting materials available
Tribal members who were unable to attend the April 15 special
Tribal Council meeting regarding MicroGREEN Polymers held in
executive session can request a copy of the meeting materials by
contacting Tribal Council Chief of Staff Stacia Martin at 503-879-
2304 or stacia.martin@grandronde.org.
The materials will be provided free of charge.
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