Representatives from seven of Oregon’s nine federally recognized Native American tribes reflected on the past and expressed hope for the future during a May 26 dedication ceremony for the Oregon State Capitol Plaza, where the words of their ancestors are engraved into the new landscape.

Eleven giant, natural boulders are scattered throughout the revamped plaza and chiseled with inspiration from tribal leaders, elders and culture bearers. The installation is titled “Oregon Voices.”

“We are the landscape,” one boulder reads.

“We help each other. We will live well,” reads another.

Dr. Phillip Cash Cash (Cayuse, Nez Perce) selected the collection of words and worked on the project in collaboration with landscape architecture firm Mayer/Reed. A total of 50 texts were chosen; the other 39 will eventually be presented in a digital exhibition.

The dedication celebrated the completion of the plaza and works commissioned through Oregon’s Percent for Art in Public Places Program, managed by the Oregon Arts Commission. The program was established by the Oregon Legislature in 1975, setting aside 1 percent of state construction budgets for the commission and acquisition of art.

Artists for indigenous installations in the courtyards and concourse stairwells also attended the event.

“Land, Air, Sea” is a set of two cast bronze paddle groupings displayed in new courtyards on the main floor of the Capitol that will be open to the public. Artists Shirod Younker (Coquille/Miluk Coos/Umpqua) and Tony A. Johnson (Chinook) worked with master carver and fabricator Adam McIsaac on the pieces.

Etched glass by Sara Siestreem (Hanis Coos) and Oliver Casillas decorate the two main stairwells on the main floor.

“Oregon’s tribes are a foundation of Oregon’s identity,” Oregon Arts Commissioner David Harrelson (Grand Ronde-Kalapuya) said. “This work helps this symbolic building of our state reflect the values and creativity of Oregon’s diverse first peoples.”

Some plaza features were relocated, while others remained in place.

Passersby have had a welcome unobscured view of the building for nearly a month while finishing touches were added to the plaza, which is the Capitol’s ceremonial front yard on Court Street.

The paved and landscaped area had been at least partially fenced off since January 2020 during the second and third phases of the Capitol Accessibility, Maintenance and Safety construction project.

The new plaza was designed to better host and manage civic gatherings, public protests and official ceremonies. The space is larger following the removal of a vehicle lane that was previously in front of the Capitol steps.

The Oregon Veterans Medal of Honor Memorial was relocated to a more prominent place, with a semi-circle of granite pillars for recipients on each side of the plaza surrounding flagpoles.

Still anchoring the space are the two large rectangular marble sculptures, one featuring Lewis and Clark on horseback and led by Sacagawea, and the other a pioneer family with a covered wagon. They flank each side of the steps leading up to what was once the Capitol’s main entrance.

Capitol officials say the trio of revolving doors at the front, north side of the Capitol are now exit-only due to new security protocols. The central doors on the building’s State Street side have served as the main entrance during the CAMS project and will continue to do so.

Officials weighed the option of installing security screening equipment inside the revolving doors, but the equipment would have spilled into the rotunda and obscured views of people entering that space.

Visitors can still enter from Court Street through a door around the corner and to the right of the revolving doors when facing the Capitol. The left side is restricted to badge-only access. Security screening is conducted inside both.

Editor’s note: This article first appeared in The Statesman Journal and then was distributed on the USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect.

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