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JULY 1, 2022
9
‘It has truly been a collaborative effort’
PARK continued
from front page
“It’s outdoors and also outside the
urban area.”
The dedication ceremony began
with a rattle song performed by
Harrelson, Chachalu Museum &
Cultural Center Manager Travis
Stewart, Cultural Policy Analyst
Greg Archuleta, and Tribal artists
Bobby Mercier and his son, Nakoa.
Metro Council President Lynn Pe-
terson thanked the Tribe and other
partners for their efforts during the
park construction process.
“It has truly been a collaborative
effort,” she said. “This is the second
largest park in our system and
it’s an investment in our region’s
future. It’s not just a great place to
experience nature, it’s a space with
clean air, water and also respects
those who have called this home
since time immemorial. … Tribal
partners worked with our staff so
we could understand the history
and stories of our Tribal partners
… and honor Indigenous history,
connection and relation to place.”
Harrelson said that the process
of meeting with Metro staff about
the park project began 11 years ago.
“It’s an exciting process and from
the beginning Metro was really
reaching out and talking with the
Tribe and seeing how to make this
place come alive and be the type of
place Tribal people want to come
to within our homelands,” he said.
“It’s been really wonderful that
Tribal members, Elders and staff
have been able to walk the land
and advise on different restoration
activities. … I feel very privileged
to come and speak to that authentic
Photo by Timothy J. Gonzalez
The welcome power figure, designed
by Tribal member Nakoa Mercier,
is one of three genderless figures
that were installed at Chehalem
Ridge Nature Park. The park’s
grand opening celebration was held
on Friday, June 17. The artwork
was placed on land inhabited by
Wapato Lake Indians, one of the
Kalapuya bands that make up the
Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde.
Bobby and Nakoa Mercier served as
Tribal artisans and designed sculp-
tures known as “The Three Elders.”
Chehalem Ridge is in the home-
lands of the Atfalati, who are part
of the Kalapuyan people. The three
figures featured throughout the
park’s 10 miles of trails are meant
to share Kalapuyan stories from
when Coyote was changing the
land, and Deer was digging wapato
and dentalium from nearby Wapato
Lake, according to an inscription
next to one of the statues.
“Each of these anthropomorphic
figures located throughout the park
are intended to share the tradition-
al art form and stories with visitors
at Chehalem Ridge Nature Park,”
the inscription reads.
Bobby Mercier talked about his
work and explained the figure
near the entrance of the park was
designed to welcome people.
“When our people do so, we al-
ways have our hands out, hoping
all will be OK for them while they
are in our space,” he said.
Mercier said the next figure vis-
itors would see had wapato leaves
engraved on its chest to honor the
Wapato Lake people who came from
a nearby village.
He continued, “The dentanium
shells in the chest of the third
figure, that’s what was used for a
form of currency, it’s our old mon-
ey. … I raise my hands to you guys
for being involved with the Tribes.
Hopefully this sets a precedent.
These are places where we come
from and so being able to put art
back is something very big for me,
and I’m thankful my son could be
a part of that.”
The ceremony closed with Har-
relson performing an atudship
ceremony. Atudship means the
heaping up of earth and rocks in
Chinuk wawa.
“We place rocks in important
places worth returning to,” Har-
relson said to the crowd of approx-
imately 60 people. “I’m inviting
people to come and place a rock on
the mound to set the intention of
this park, joining into fellowship
with everyone else.”
Stewart said it had been an enjoy-
able experience to work with Metro
on the park project.
“Consulting with local Tribes
is definitely not always the case,
but here we’ve been involved for
11 years,” he said. “I sat on the
art selection committee and wrote
the inscription for ‘The Three
Elders.’ ”
Chehalem Ridge Nature Park
includes trails for walking, off-road
cycling, running or horseback rid-
ing. The 1,260-acre park features
Oregon white oaks, Pacific madrone
trees and a variety of shrubbery
where wildlife live.
The park is located in Gaston
and is the largest Metro park on
the west side of Portland. Parking
is free and it is open from dawn to
dusk daily. For more information,
visit oregonmetro.gov/parks/che-
halem-ridge-nature-park.
relationship building today.”
The Grand Ronde Tribe also has
its imprint on the park’s artwork.
Natural Resources Guide
Did you know?....
You can apply online for hunting tags.
https://weblink.grandronde.org/Forms/traskhunting
You can now get a free shellfish license for the Trask
Unit!
We sell Salmon and Steelhead tags for $33. (Cash
Only)
Card carrying tribal members are exempt from needing a permit. If/when en-
tering Multnomah Falls via the I-84, Exit 31 parking lot or if traveling through the
waterfall corridor between Exits 28 and 35, simply show your ID card and you
will be waved through
Call 503-879-2424 for details or an appointment.
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