10/12/2026
On Indigenous Peoples’ Day, we honor the Indigenous peoples who have stewarded the lands and waters of the this place since time immemorial.
The Deschutes River and Budd Inlet are part of the ancestral homelands of the Squaxin Island Tribe, whose cultural traditions, knowledge, and relationships with these waters continue to thrive today.
As we work toward restoring the Deschutes Estuary, we recognize that ecological restoration and cultural restoration are deeply connected. We are grateful for the leadership of the Squaxin Island Tribe and remain committed to listening, learning, and supporting Indigenous voices in shaping the future of this landscape.
Today, we celebrate Indigenous resilience, sovereignty, and the enduring connections between people, land, and water.
Indigenous rights are essential to a just and lasting future for conservation.
Today, and every day, we honor Indigenous peoples past and present, and reaffirm the importance of listening, learning from and supporting Indigenous leadership.
