Community Gathering Elevates Tribal Stewardship

Published November 4, 2025

On Saturday, November 1, Lomakatsi was honored to co-host a public event to celebrate Native American Heritage Month and elevate tribal stewardship at Blue Heron Park in Phoenix, Oregon. The gathering brought together over 100 participants, including tribal members and cultural practitioners, community leaders, local nonprofit organizations, and community members at this special site along Bear Creek where much great work has been done to help the ecosystem recover following the 2020 Almeda Fire.

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The day opened with traditional song and drum, and remarks from tribal and community leaders around healing, unity, and the importance of ecocultural stewardship—guided by Lomakatsi Tribal Partnerships Director Belinda Brown. The morning included presentations about the Oregon Peace Trail movement, tribally centered ecosystem restoration and workforce training initiatives, and a keynote presentation by Dr. David Lewis, Assistant Professor of Anthropology at Oregon State University about the tribal history of the area and the need for collaboration to build community and ecosystem resilience.

Participants then joined tours to view restoration efforts by Save the Phoenix Wetlands, Rogue River Watershed Council, and others to reconnect a natural cold water spring revealed by the Almeda Fire back into Bear Creek and reestablish a healthy streamside forest to benefit salmon and other wildlife. An inter-tribal crew from Lomakatsi helped stake willow cuttings to stabilize the banks of the spring channel and spread native seeds .

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Co-hosting organizations include Ashland Culture of Peace Commission, Lomakatsi Restoration Project, Rogue Valley Metaphysical Library, Art & Culture Phoenix Oregon, Save The Phoenix Wetlands, Rogue River Watershed Council, Red Earth Descendants, and the Inter-Tribal Ecosystem Restoration Partnership

We are very grateful to the many tribal community members who traveled from near and far to participate and share, and to everyone who joined in to make this a special day.