Days
- :
Hrs
- :
Min
Days
Hrs
Min
We recognize the land to express gratitude and appreciation to the traditional stewards of the land, and to honor the Indigenous Peoples who have been living and working on the land from time immemorial. Collectively, we should understand the long-standing history that has brought us to this land and seek to understand our place within that history.
In its strategic plan, PLA is committed to advancing the principles of equity, diversity, inclusion and social justice in our association’s leadership, staffing, values, mission/vision, strategies, and operations. We recognize that this land acknowledgment, and using PLA’s presence in Portland to celebrate library values and educate and inspire action, are first steps, and more work is needed. We look forward to building on these efforts at future PLA events, and we encourage all PLA members and conference attendees to take action to advance equity and social justice in our organizations and communities.
The Portland Metro area rests on traditional village sites of the Multnomah, Wasco, Cowlitz, Kathlamet, Clackamas, Bands of Chinook, Tualatin, Kalapuya, Molalla, and many other tribes who made their homes along the Columbia River. Indigenous people have created communities and summer encampments to harvest and enjoy the plentiful natural resources of the area for the last 11,000 years.
We want to recognize that Portland today is a community of many diverse Native peoples who continue to live and work here. We respectfully acknowledge and honor all Indigenous communities—past, present, future—and are grateful for their ongoing and vibrant presence.
We also acknowledge the systemic policies of genocide, relocation, and assimilation that still impact many Indigenous/Native American families today. As settlers and guests on these lands, we respect the work of Indigenous leaders and families, and pledge to make ongoing efforts recognize their knowledge, creativity, and resilience.
Land acknowledgement provided by Travel Portland.