Chinook Indian Nation

09/01/2026

A powerful gathering in Salem yesterday, standing together for Missing and Murdered Indigenous People. ❤️

Repost Smoke Signals

Around 150 people came to Salem’s Riverfront Park Sunday, Aug. 30 for Ampkwa Advocacy’s Missing and Murdered Indigenous People Awareness Walk.

09/01/2026

Repost from Oregon Coast Council for the Arts
•
ON DISPLAY THIS WEEKEND: Join us for TRANSGRESSORS, a special touring exhibition on display September 4 - October 18 in the Runyan Gallery at the Newport Visual Arts Center. The exhibit presents present and future Indigiqueer ancestors who move beyond boundaries in both life and art. Curated by Indigenous artists and advocates Felix Furby (Grand Ronde, Chinook) and Anthony Hudson (Grand Ronde, Siletz), Transgressors explores the long history, cultural roles, and evolving identities of Two Spirit people within their tribal worlds, while highlighting ongoing efforts toward cultural revitalization. The exhibition features work by a.c.ramírez de arellaño, Evan Benally Atwood, Geo Soctomah Neptune, Jeffrey Gibson, Lehuauakea, Qahir-beejee Peco, Roin Morigeau, Steph Littlebird, and Walter Scott.

Opening Reception & Artists Talks: Saturday, September 19, 5-7pm (PRIDE weekend). All are welcome; admission is free.

Learn more at coastarts.org/events/transgressors

08/28/2026

175 years after our ancestors gathered at Tansy Point and made clear their determination to remain in our homelands, we are still here.

This has not been easy. But we are stronger than ever, and the fight for federal recognition continues. ✊🏾

Thank you to reporter Chiara Profenna and The Oregonian/OregonLive for spending time with our community at Tansy Point and telling this story.

https://www.oregonlive.com/native-american-news/2026/08/we-will-get-it-done-175-years-in-chinook-indian-nation-is-still-fighting-for-federal-recognition.html

08/26/2026

“This is our place.”

Thank you to The Oregonian and reporter Chiara Profenna for this thoughtful coverage of our gathering at Tansy Point, 175 years since our ancestors negotiated to remain in our homelands, and of our continuing fight to restore federal recognition.

Read the story:
https://www.oregonlive.com/native-american-news/2026/08/we-will-get-it-done-175-years-in-chinook-indian-nation-is-still-fighting-for-federal-recognition.html

In 2001 Gary Johnson watched his tribe gain federal recognition, only to have it stripped away 18 months later. His son Tony now leads the fight to restore it.

08/26/2026

Indian boarding schools are part of our own Chinook history, with many of our people and families directly impacted by this system.

Ahead of the National Day of Remembrance on September 30, the National Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition has put together a helpful toolkit for anyone looking to learn more, share resources, or find a meaningful way to take part.

Repost from NABS - Boarding School Healing
•
September 30 is the National Day of Remembrance for Indian Boarding School Survivors, a day to honor the children who never returned home, survivors, families, and communities impacted by the Indian boarding school era.

Every action helps keep survivor stories and histories remembered while supporting the continued movement toward truth, justice, and healing.

Our Day of Remembrance Toolkit is here to help you take action in your community. From hosting an event and sharing resources to lighting your porch orange or working with your state to issue a proclamation, there are many ways to participate.

Explore the toolkit and find a way to take action! NABS - Boarding School Healing

Together, we can honor the past, support survivors, and build a future rooted in understanding, respect, and healing.

08/22/2026

We’re grateful to continue this work with our partners at the Necanicum Watershed Council and North Coast Land Conservancy

Restoring these places means caring for the lands and waters that have sustained Chinook people for generations, while creating healthier habitat for salmon and all who depend on these waters.

Repost from Necanicum Watershed Council
•
After removing a fish passage partial barrier and opening up access to 0.5 miles of fish habitat at Thompson Creek last year, we’re continuing restoration along the creek.

This summer, in partnership with the North Coast Land Conservancy and the Chinook Indian Nation, we removed the remaining asphalt and non-native Himalayan blackberry from the site and seeded the area with multifruit bulrush, blue wildrye, meadow barley, and California brome to help stabilize the soil and prepare the site for future planting of native trees, shrubs, and wildflowers.

Keep an eye out for a volunteer planting day in the Fall to help us continue taking care of Thompson Creek.

08/20/2026

A few moments from a very special day at Tansy Point.

On Saturday, Chinook families, friends, and supporters gathered together at Tansy Point, 175 years after our ancestors met with representatives of the United States there during the 1851 treaty negotiations.

Descendants of the treaty signers stood together, and witnesses were called to stand with us and bear witness. We shared stories and food, sang, drummed and danced. There was plenty of laughter, old friends catching up, new connections being made, and a lot of joy in simply being together.

The treaties negotiated at Tansy Point were never ratified by the U.S. Senate, but we never left our homelands. For 175 years, we have continued to carry our culture, our relationships, and our responsibilities forward.

Saturday was a chance to remember what happened at Tansy Point, to honor those who stood there before us, and to celebrate that we are still here.

hayu masi to everyone who came and shared this special day with us.

📸 Amiran White

08/18/2026

A beautiful reflection from Cliff Taylor, who joined us at Tansy Point on Saturday for the 175th commemoration.
Thank you, Cliff, for being there, for witnessing, and for sharing these words.

Repost from Cliff Taylor
•
SMUDGING OFF HISTORY

Two women minding the salmon
on the cook-fire. Several hundred
people nearby remembering the treaty
negotiations that occurred between
the Chinook Tribe and the US Government
175 years prior. “We have knowledge
of these lands from way before they
were occupied by humans. We have
our history of Coyote terraforming this
region long ago. Like my dad says,
‘175 years is just the blink of an eye.’”
The salmon smoke smudges off our
history and the land moves closer
to all of us in gratitude.

08/16/2026

Repost from Missing People in Washington
•
Missing Indigenous Person Alert (MIPA)- Young Bear - Benton County, WA *THIS POST IS NOT MONITORED. IF SEEN PLEASE CALL 911*