By Joanne Kittel
View the Future has had a commitment to cultural preservation since its beginning. Our mission statement acknowledges the connection between cultural and environmental preservation.
Perhaps the most tangible symbol of these efforts has been the Amanda Creek Suspension Bridge, its major theme being ‘Bridging Cultures / Healing Hearts’. Our strong commitment to heal old wounds is vital to our mission.
Here are just a few of the many ways VtF has empowered this cultural connection:
- Placed interpretative signs throughout Yachats.
- Set up Travel Oregon kiosk at Yachats State Park.
- Registered the name of Amanda Creek with the U.S. Geological Survey telling the tragic story of the forced relocation of Native People to this area.
- Helped fund the YaXaik Trail, suggesting its name as a permanent tribute to the people whose homeland this was for thousands of years.
- Partnered with Oregon Extension Service to create an interpretive map showcasing the native plants and wildlife that sustained the YaXaik People.
- Created land acknowledgments.
- Managed and funded the Amanda Trail Suspension Bridge.
- Sponsored the Amanda statue in the Amanda Grove, where celebrations of Indigenous people are conducted each year.
- Supported a history, written by local authors working with the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians (CTSI) and the Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw Indians (CTCLUSI)—First Nations of the Central Oregon coast.
These efforts have not only preserved the past, they have had a direct and healing effect on the present and, hopefully, the future. To insure that the past is not forgotten, VtF advocates for preservation of local archaeological sites. We are pleased that the City of Yachats has stepped up and is committed to protecting sites on City property.
