On October 28, 2022, Donald Slyter, Chief, ConfederatedTribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw Indians (CTCLUSI), Dennis Comfort, Coast Region Manger, Oregon Parks and Recreation Dept., and Joanne Kittel, View the Future, co-chair and Yachats trails leader made a presentation to the Oregon Outdoor Recreation Summit.
Robert Kentta, Tribal Council Member and Cultural Resources Director of the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians (CTSI) was also scheduled to join the panel but needed to cancel to host Governor Brown at CTSI.
This presentation focuse on building a trusting and equitable relationship with CTSI and CTCLUSI to bring the historic truth about local Indigenous history to the Yachats residents and visitors through naming of a trail and creek, developing interpretive signage along the trail, creating events, ceremonies, composing music, and literally and figuratively building bridges together.
This panel demonstrated the importance of Tribal involvement in order to present accurately and respectfully THEIR history, gaining understanding their process of sharing their history and how essentially important it is to preserve archaeological sites where trails are built and rehabilitated. Additionally, trail groups need to strive toward how a trail project and history associated with that trail will benefit Tribal Communities. The Amanda Trail, its sister trail, the Ya’Xaik Trail, has brought hikers from all over the world to experience these solemn and spiritual trails that remember in perpetuity the government-sponsored genocidal policies that led to the death of many Coos, Lower Umpqua, Siuslaw and Alsea Peoples imprisoned at the Alsea Subagency. It is also has become trails about healing and bringing together a previously divided people. This would not have happened without the collaboration and supervision from the CTSI and CTCLUSI.
