Did you know there are nine sovereign Native American nations located in Oregon? In fact, Portland has the ninth-largest Native American population in the country, and the city is built on the lands of the Multnomah, Kathlamet, Clackamas, Chinook, Tualatin Kalapuya, Molalla, and many other tribes.
If you’d like to educate yourself on their diverse culture and history, give these resources a try.
The Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde Center for Native American Art is located on the second and third floors of the Portland Art Museum , and consists of 3,500 prehistoric and historic objects created by some 200 cultural groups throughout North America.
Painted Sky Northstar Dance Company is a local nonprofit that preserves Indigenous traditions and culture through music, dance, and storytelling. Keep an eye out for the group’s performances at various community events throughout the year.
The Native American Youth and Family Center (NAYA) also hosts camps and programming focused on academic and cultural enrichment.