Let’s come together to celebrate art and culture in our community! Join us Saturday, July 9th for the Honoring Ceremony for Eugene’s newest mural project, “Willamette Wetlands of the Kalapuya.” The program starts at 11:00 a.m. Complimentary snacks will be provided by Beyond Toxics.
Wetland native plants are important to the Kalapuya People who have always lived in the Willamette Valley and use the wetland plants for food and basketry, ceremony, and relationship. The 64-ft. Kalapuya Culture mural painted on the east side of the Edwin Coleman Center Community Center depicts a seasonal round, an annual cycle of storytelling, gathering plants for their roots, seeds, and fibers and celebrating the gifts of nature through ceremony.
The mural was designed in consultation with Esther Stutzman, a Kalapuya descendent and legendary Kalapuya storyteller. The mural artist is Susan Applegate.
What: When: Saturday, July 9, 11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.Where: The Edwin Colman Jr. Community Center located in Westmoreland Park, 1545 W 22nd Ave, Eugene, OR 97405
The Honoring Ceremony will feature:
· Rayna Viles, member of the Confederated Tribe of the Siletz Indians and board member of Beyond Toxics.
· Mayor Lucy Vinis, giving a Land Acknowledgement and statement on behalf of the City
· Senator James Manning, sharing words of appreciation.
· Kalapuya elder and cultural consultant, Esther Stutzman and her daughter Shannin Stutzman sharing Kalapuya cultural narratives.
· Dr. David Lewis, professor of Ethnic Studies at OSU and former curator of the Chachalu Tribal Museum and Cultural Center.
· Susan Applegate, mural artist, sharing insights into the creation of the mural.
· The Splachta Alla Singers sharing songs and drumming of Willamette Valley tribal people.
· Lisa Arkin will give closing remarks.
A walking tour of the two wetlands located in Westmoreland Park will be led by Eugene Parks and Open Space staff.
We invite you to help celebrate this unique project as we join together to foster a sense of belonging and inclusivity for all people in Eugene while underscoring the significance of Indigenous Tribes that live throughout the Willamette Valley since time immemorial. This highly visible mural and educational kiosk displayed in the heart of the wet prairie area indicates our community’s commitment to inclusivity and respect for Native American cultural, historical, and environmental knowledge.
