Monumental traditions

On March 3, Gov. Ted Kulongoski signed the “Monuments for Tribes” Senate bill, directing state officials to “plan, erect and maintain one or more monuments to commemorate Indian tribes” on the grounds of the state capitol.

Introduced Feb. 4, sponsors include Sens. Rick Metsger and Ben Westlund and Reps. Deborah Boone, Jean Cowan, Arnie Roblan and Brad Witt. Both the Senate and House were unanimous with “aye” votes.

During this three-week special session, the Legislature also debated other — more divisive — bills, including driver’s licenses for illegal immigrants, increased prison sentences for property crimes and whether health care is a right.

The monument bill, effective July 1, requires state officials to consult with the Commission on Indian Services and all nine of the federally-recognized Tribal governments within the state — Burns Paiute Tribe, Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua & Siuslaw, Coquille Indian Tribe, Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Indians, Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde, Klamath Tribes, Confederated Tribes of Siletz, Confederated Tribes of Umatilla Indian Reservation, Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs.

The bill also mandates private, not state, funds be raised for these efforts.

Funding and labor should not only create a monument, but make its messages visible to all people — Oregonians and beyond.

These voices should be heard in Oregon schools, National Endowment for the Arts grants, performing arts, festivals, historical societies, the recently announced Oregon Encyclopedia Project and especially in our homes.

The 2000 Oregon census recorded 45,211 Native Americans — 1.6 percent of the population.

There are records of indigenous people living in what is now called Oregon for at least 10,000 years, according to the Legislative Commission on Indian Services.

The state and all nine tribes can use this opportunity to not only reflect upon the past, but define the future with these monuments.

Without a doubt, it will be difficult to find one monument, one quote or one image to tell the entire history of indigenous people.

However, we hope one can be found that accurately and honestly reflects all of their stories.

Just as the state will recognize tradition and wisdom borne from local history, we can be inspired by OSU alumnus Linus Pauling, who “always wanted to know as much as possible about the world,” as quoted in Barbara Marinacci’s 1995 book, “Linus Pauling in his Own Words.”

Originally written for and published in The Daily Barometer.Â