Tribe holds Facebook Live on Cultural Resources

By Nicole Montesano

Smoke Signals staff writer

The Tribe held a Facebook Live event Wednesday, June 11, to discuss the work of the Cultural Resources Department.

The department maintains Chachalu Tribal Museum & Cultural Center, holds classes on cultural practices, works with federal and state agencies on protecting cultural resources and offers research assistance, among other activities. It also has recently taken over the internship program for the New York American Museum of Natural History.

Chachalu Manager Travis Stewart and Cultural Education Specialist Cristina Lara joined Interim General Manager Bryan Langley for the discussion. Stewart reminded viewers that the Tribe offers the Indigenous Place Keeping Artists Fellowship to help enable the work of Indigenous artists of Western Oregon. This year’s recipients are Tribal member Douglas Burgess, a glassmaker, and Chantele Rilatos, (Siletz), a weaver. Stewart noted that Chachalu is currently hosting a photography exhibit by former IPKA Fellowship recipient Leland Butler, titled “My Ancestors Are Here.”

Lara noted that the department holds weekly drop-in classes at Chachalu every Thursday from noon to 5 p.m. for Tribal and community members.

Stewart said the department has “also been working on a number of staff blogs that will be published shortly, that will give a lot of information related to the work that we’re doing down there,” including cultural practices and information about how donations are accepted and processed.

Tribal member Sharrah Mckenzie, who recently completed her PhD in Spain, is working part-time on the project.

Stewart also noted that the Tribe is always looking to take on interns, or provide other opportunities for summer work, and encourages Tribal members who have an interest to come out and start to work with their team to learn more and see if it’s an interest worth pursuing.
“We’ve had a number of students over the years who have kind of  grown into their roles and established lifelong careers out of it,” he said.

The department also offers field trips, Stewart said, but they are sometimes short-notice due to weather and field conditions.