3A SOUNDWALK SERIES: Heal the Land, Heal the People by Sarah Tiedemann
Cully Park
Jun 15

This land along Nichi'wana (the Columbia River) once held a Native trade center and gathering site near its intersection with the Willamette. Indigenous people from as far away as the territory many now call Alaska, the Dakotas, and the Desert Southwest all came together in this important place. As Indigenous inhabitants here in the Northwest were displaced and treaties were not honored, the land was reshaped and mistreated, taking on several different forms—most recently that of a landfill.

Now the most ethnically and racially diverse Census tract in Oregon, Cully is also the largest neighborhood in Portland. Cully Park is at its heart, and with its Native Gathering Garden and community of caretakers tending the land, it pulses with hope for regeneration and with Indigenous people's past, present, and future. 

This Soundwalk features voices of local Indigenous community members and a recorded performance by Nez Perce drumming group Four Directions.

 
 

Please consider making a gift to support the Native community's ongoing work restoring and tending the Native Gathering Garden via the Indigenous Traditional Ecological Knowledge (ITEK) of the PSU Foundation.

 
 

Quick Facts

  • The walk takes place at Cully Park (5810 NE 72nd Ave.) and begins at the NE end of the parking lot.

  • Walk at a leisurely pace. The audio track is 54 minutes, and you may choose to spend some extra time reflecting along the way.

  • The audio file is available two ways June 15th:

    • High-quality (WAV) and standard-quality (mp3) downloads through Google Drive, OR

    • Streamed directly from this webpage.

  • A brochure with the route map and further information can be printed from a link below (recommended), or referenced from this webpage.

  • Please come prepared for the elements. There is little shade, so sunblock is recommended. There are also several locations where you’ll stop to sit and listen, so in case of rain, please bring something dry to sit on.

  • Ideally, visit Cully Park on a day when the mountains are out.

  • The artist asks that you please avoid using electronic devices any more than necessary and put them in Do Not Disturb mode. To allow for full immersion in the park, they should only be used for accessing the audio track and map.

 

Download Heal the Land, Heal the People here:

 
 

Note: WAV file may take longer to download due to its size

 

Credits

VOICES

Thank you to those whose words, feelings, ideas, and histories are heard here:

Judy BlueHorse Skelton [Nez Perce, Cherokee]
Nichole Bruno [Oglala Lakota, Niimiipuu, Quinault, Eastern Band of the Cherokee Indians]
Joe Cantrell [Cherokee]
Lori Trephibio [Diné]
Shawna Zierdt [Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe]

MUSIC

Four Directions: Harold Paul, Harmony Paul & Victor Paul [Nez Perce]
Recorded live at Cully Park

GRATITUDE

Thank you to the community organizations and individuals who made this project possible:

Native American Community Advisory Council (NACAC)
Native Gathering Gardens Subcommittee
Portland Parks & Recreation
Tom Miller / Pretty Good Productions (audio of Shawna Zierdt)

Special thanks to Nichole Bruno, Shawna Zierdt & Judy BlueHorse Skelton for their support, patience, wisdom, and generosity.