Nearby Nature acknowledges that our work in this community is rooted in the traditional homeland of the Kalapuya people. In our role as the City of Eugene’s Alton Baker Park Host, we care for and share with community members the Whilamut Natural Area, so named in 2002 to honor of the Kalapuya people who have lived here for thousands of years.
For more information about the Kalapuya, as well as other native peoples of Oregon, check out the following resources.
Nearby Nature’s Land Acknowledgement: Read here the full text of Nearby Nature’s formal Land Acknowledgement.
Whilamut Natural Area: The eastern portion of Alton Baker Park was renamed the Whilamut Natural Area in 2002 as a gesture of honor and respect for the Kalapuya people who hunted, fished, and gathered camas bulbs on that same land for thousands of years. You will find a park kiosk with information about the Kalapuya at the south end of the Frohnmayer Footbridge.
Talking Stones: Take a walk in through the Whilamut Natural Area of Alton Baker Park and you will find these 15 basalt boulders along park pathways and by the riverside. Each is carved with a Kalapuya word and an English translation. A Talking Stones Map and Brochure (updated in 2022) is available that will help you locate the stones as well as learn more about the Kalapuya people. See also Nearby Nature’s July 2020 Talking Stones article (on page 18-19) in the Oregon Family Magazine about discovering the Talking Stones with families.
Kalapuya Story Told by Esther Stutzman: Visit this website to hear the story of the beginnings of the Kalapuya people told by Kalapuya-Coos Elder Esther Stutzman.
Kalapuya Dictionary Available: New in late 2021, Kalapuya Elder Esther Stutzman, her family, and others in the Kalapuya community have created a Kalapuya Dictionary. It is available for purchase through Esther. For more information, please email Esther at kalapuya71@live.com. For more information about the project, see this news story from KPIC-TV in Roseburg, Oregon.
Indigenous UO: This map highlights the key points of interests related to Native American and Indigenous history on the University of Oregon campus. This project was created and developed by the Native American and Indigenous Studies Academic Residential Community in 2018.
Many Nations Longhouse on the University of Oregon campus: The Longhouse provides welcome and respite for American Indian students at the University of Oregon, respecting the diversity of numerous American Indian cultures and beliefs. Check here to learn about events happening on campus.
University of Oregon Museum of Natural and Cultural History: Includes an exhibit that features Oregon’s story, from the archaeology of the First Americans to the dynamic cultures of today’s Tribes.
University of Oregon Library Land Acknowledgement: Find here the UO Library’s statement Honoring Native People and Lands. Also find here a list of Library and University resources available to help people learn more about the Oregon’s native peoples. Also of interest, see the Oregon State University Library’s guide to Land Acknowledgements and Tribal Communities in Oregon. For an oral history of Oregon’s native peoples, see the OPB documentary Broken Treaties.