Last year, we celebrated “An Evening with Wisdom of the Elders” with 150 friends on Summer Solstice. It was a wonderful evening with outstanding art, cultural items, getaways and other items auctioned off. We also gave away 150 heirloom tomato plants that went home with our guests and kept on giving through last summer’s growing season.
This year promises to be better yet. We have planted 20 species of heirloom tomato plants to prepare for this year’s tomato giveaway. We are also currently inviting our friends who have attended in the past to join us again for an evening of Native American cultural programming, a salmon dinner and another exciting silent auction. We will show photos shortly at our website of art and cultural items that have already been donated.
We look forward to celebrating Summer Solstice with you again. If you purchase your dinner by April 30, you will be able to take advantage of a special purchase of two tickets at a reduced price. More details and an order form are at our website along with photos from past events.
This year we are fortunate to have keynote speakers who will share with us their life’s work which links with the work of Wisdom.
David G. Lewis, PhD is an enrolled member of the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde and is the Tribe’s historian. He has a PhD in anthropology from the University of Oregon. David has worked tirelessly with the Tribe to develop the Chachalu Tribal Museum and Cultural Center which opens in June 2014. It will “preserve, protect and revitalize the traditions, history and art” of the unique culture of the Grand Ronde Tribal community. Chachalu will provide a forum to assist with the “transition of knowledge,” as Tribal Elders pass on their culture to younger Tribal members. By strengthening this living history, countless generations of Tribal members will forever have a place to honor the past, present and future, and honor the Elders who kept Tribal traditions and dreams alive during the years of Termination. It will be a center where the Tribe’s Restoration is celebrated and their culture is revitalized.
Our relationships with our sponsors continue to grow as we prepare for our annual celebration. Special thanks to our friends at Providence Health and Services, Metro, Oregon Health and Science University’s Center for Diversity and Inclusion, and City of Portland’s Bureau of Planning and Sustainability.
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