Tag: Paul Guernsey

Presenter(s): Tyler Young − Environmental Studies

Faculty Mentor(s): Sarah Wald, Paul Guernsey

Poster 195

Research Area: Humanities

Spreading from the Cascades to the Deschutes river, the Warm Springs, Wasco, and Paiute Native American tribes have been relocated by the U.S. Government to the Warm Springs reservation, a sovereign nation in itself which has a shaky relationship with the U.S. Government. My small team and I are researching the historical parallels, intricacies, and difficulties that exist between; The Warm Springs Reservation and its people, the Mt Hood National Forest which borders the reservation, and an organization by the name of BARK who has been a protector of the Mt Hood National Forest since 1993. These three entities have an intimate relationship with Mt. Hood and its surrounding area, and navigating those ancient waters has been challenging for the Forest Service, for BARK, and for the people of Warm Springs due to the diverse ideologies of these groups. We will be creating an introduction, and written history of these relationships for new BARK volunteers attempting to help protect the Forest. We will also be producing a short video for the BARK website which will highlight a few of these relationships. The tribe of Warm Springs, the Organization of BARK, and the U.S. Forest Service all have good intentions, but working together can sometimes be tricky, so we’re here to help!

Presenter(s): Doug Sam − Environmental Studies, Geography

Faculty Mentor(s): Sarah Wald, Paul Guernsey

Poster 180

Research Area: Humanities

When constructing a history of public lands and examining diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts on public lands, it’s important to recognize that all lands in the United States have an Indigenous history and that Indigenous peoples have a distinct relationship to both the land and to government entities. This study examines the nature of this relationship. Using case studies from around the state of Oregon, which contains nine federally-recognized tribes and various non-recognized peoples, it explores conflicts and collaborations between Indigenous nations and government agencies across space and time. These case studies range widely, including wars and reservations, the cancelled sale of the Elliot State Forest to a coalition including the landless Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribes of Indians, and traditional use of land in of the Mount Hood National Forest. As part of a greater project to illustrate the relationship between Indigenous peoples and public lands, this work hopes to show the conditions in which Indigenous nations and the government can build convivial relationships and the conditions which create disagreements and conflicts. In a time when tribal sovereignty is being again being actively eroded, this work also makes the case that the relationship between government agencies and Indigenous nations in the United States is a distinct one and one that resists merely recategorizing Indigenous issues as merely one of race.

Presenter(s): Amanda Ganje − Environmental Science

Faculty Mentor(s): Sarah Wald, Paul Guernsey

Poster 151

Research Area: Humanities

Attempts to conserve and preserve the environment in the United States have been around for over hundred years with roots in the Progressive Era. This time period, from 1890-1920s, saw notable figures like John Muir and Theodore Roosevelt rise up to speak out on the importance of preserving the environment, and under Roosevelt’s presidency came the formation of national parks and monuments. I’ve made a timeline capturing the most significant events from this time period to show the foundation of the conservation movement. This timeline is being used as a part of BARK’s, the watchdog organization for Mt. Hood National Forest, efforts to teach the community on the history of conservation. BARK’s mission is making Mt. Hood National Forest a place where local communities have social, cultural, and economic investment in its restoration and preservation which this timeline hopes to help accomplish this by engaging the community more with the natural environment through learning about the background of its management. The events included in this timeline were found using relevant scholarly journals and books. This information is significant as it is an essential part of the United States conservation history, and educational for the general public.