Rooted in Tradition
Nancy Nusz To understand how the land and environment help to shape traditions that people use in their daily lives, one simply has to take a trip to Sherman and Gilliam counties. Steep rolling hills, defined by narrow, winding ravines with swift flowing rivers, limited rainfall, and constant wind are steadfast companions of those living… Continue reading Fieldnotes: Columbia River Gorge Folklife Survey
by Adrienne Decker Photo courtesy of Douglas Manger The Oregon Folklife Network (OFN) is proud to present its new exhibit Buckaroo Traditions of Oregon. This exhibit celebrates the continuity of occupational traditions in rural Oregon and encourages audience understanding and appreciation of art forms arising from ranching practices. The exhibit was made possible by funding from the National Endowment… Continue reading New Exhibit: Buckaroo Traditions of Oregon
by Jules Helweg-Larsen Living in Eugene, it is impossible to escape Duck Pride as Oregon football fandom. Church sermons invoke the Ducks and refer to the team’s hard work and dedication. Grocery store transactions and chats at local cafes or gas stations conclude with “Go Ducks!” Fans wear school colors and jerseys, as well as shirts… Continue reading It’s a Hard Duck Life
by Adrienne Decker Tall tales, jokes, and mythical stories are some of our oldest and most beloved forms of folklore. OFN recognizes the legacy of one of Oregon’s greatest storytellers, Mark Lewis, who passed away unexpectedly on December 7th. Lewis inspired confidence and a deep appreciation for the power of the imagination, promising to always… Continue reading Tribute to Mark Lewis, Storyteller
Come on out for a FREE Community Day featuring fisherpoets Moe Bowstern, Jon Broderick, Jay Speakman, and Cary Jones on Saturday, December 13 at the Oregon Historical Society. OFN is proud to co-sponsor this event with our partners. Community Day takes place on Saturday, December 13 at the Oregon Historical Society (1200 SW Park Avenue, Portland) with… Continue reading Community Day at OHS with FisherPoets!
By Adrienne Decker, OFN Assistant Folklorist On November 1, the Oregon Folklife Network joined Confluence for a “Day of Sharing” at Fort Vancouver. Confluence is a multi-year endeavor to complete public art installations at significant points along the Columbia River, a collaboration between Pacific Northwest tribes, renowned artist Maya Lin, civic groups from Washington and… Continue reading OFN at Confluence “Day of Sharing”
By Nikki Silvestrini In late September, a flag raising ceremony at the EMU amphitheater saw the flags of Oregon’s Nine Confederated Tribes go up. I sat down with Gordon Bettles, the Many Nations Longhouse Steward, to follow-up on the project. The flag raising was a student driven project that started two and half years ago… Continue reading EMU Tribal Flag Raising
Documenting Tradition in Klamath and Lake Counties By LuAnne Kozma, contract folklorist, Southern Oregon Folklife Survey, funded in part by a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts I returned to southern Oregon for the Oregon Folklife Network’s Southern Oregon Folklife Survey and traveled the high desert, along Lake Klamath, and in the downtowns and storefronts of Klamath,… Continue reading Documenting Tradition in Klamath and Lake Counties
Southeastern Oregon Folklife Survey in Malheur County By Douglas Manger, contract folklorist, Southern Oregon Folklife Survey, funded in part by a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts Scratch the surface a bit in Malheur County–the second largest in Oregon–and you’ll discover a wealth of folklife traditions, from the buckaroo rodeo, to the Mexican American panaderia (bakery),… Continue reading Southeastern Oregon Folklife Survey in Malheur County
The National Endowment for the Arts has awarded the Oregon Folklife Network funding to identify and document cultural traditions in the Columbia River Gorge counties of Hood River, Wasco, Jefferson, Sherman, Gilliam, Morrow, and Umatilla as well as with the Confederated Tribes of Umatilla and the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs. As Oregon’s designated Folk… Continue reading Announcement: NEA-funded Folklife Survey of the Columbia River Gorge