Places we’re inspired by: The Five Oaks Museum
This week’s inspiration comes from a local gathering place of vibrant art, culture and storytelling — The Five Oak’s Museum. Formerly the Washington County Museum known primarily for its celebration of pioneer history, Five Oaks has embraced a more complete narrative of its history, elevating underrepresented stories in Washington County. The historic Five Oaks site “has been a place of gathering, exchange and preservation in this valley for centuries” and the Museum honors “those deep roots and we do our part to move history forward.”
We were initially drawn to one of Five Oak’s digital exhibitions, This IS Kalapuyan Land. A deep excavation of how history is shaped and in what ways information is presented as “fact,” the exhibit invites the viewer into a journey of rethinking, particularly into the differences between Native and non-Native versions of history.
Featuring artwork by Indigenous descendants who are contributing to contemporary Indigenous culture today in its many forms, the exhibition is the genius of its guest-curator, Steph Littlebird Fogel. Born and raised in Banks, Oregon, Littlebird Fogel is Kalapuyan, two-spirit and an artist.
“Ultimately, I want to challenge the way we recall our shared histories and examine how biased narratives can be perpetuated through archeology and academic institutions like museums and universities. This is my effort, as a descendant of the Kalapuyan people, to offer a more holistic representation of the past, present, and future of Oregon’s Indigenous community.” Steph Littlebird Fogel, Guest Curator.
In the 60 years prior to this exhibit, Five Oaks Museum acquired, collected and preserved Native artifacts that were largely donated by settler-pioneer descendants —groups who may not have known local tribal communities’ true wishes for their peoples’ artifacts. All over the world, these Native objects are the basis for exhibitions and curriculum shared with the public, but while they are an incredible resource, too often, Native culture is discussed in the past tense.
With that in mind, Five Oaks Co-Directors Molly Alloy and Nathanael Andreini made the decision to shift the narrative to one that celebrates “what it means to be Native American in contemporary society and tells the stories of Indigenous descendants who are contributing to cultural survivance today.”
We are inspired by their vision and the resulting story that unfolds, and we encourage Willamette Falls Trust supporters to experience for themselves the inspiring storytelling that emerges from this bold, local, cultural institution. Or you can participate in the museum’s Bring the Museum to Our Place program where you and your neighbors can host the This IS Kalapuyan Land exhibition in your own neighborhood, on your street, or in your windows. You can order kits that include yard signs, social media support, and a Stay Learning guide to share and learn with your neighbors.
Please also take a moment to visit their latest exhibition, Gender Euphoria: Contemporary Art Beyond the Binary.
We’d love to hear your thoughts and responses to the This IS Kalapuyan Land exhibition on our Facebook page. We look forward to hearing from you.
