Dear LCC Community,
At Lane County Community College (LCC), we are honoring October 12th as Indigenous Peoples’ Day by celebrating the rich histories, cultures, and contributions of Indigenous communities. This day is a time for recognition, reflection, learning, understanding, and community building while we acknowledge the resilience and enduring presence of Indigenous peoples. We also renew our commitment to our values of respecting the dignity of all individuals and fostering an inclusive educational environment..
In the 2020 Census, 185,723 people in Oregon identified as American Indian or Alaska Native, according to the State of Oregon Blue Book. The Kalapuyans, the Siuslaw, and the Tututni people are native to Lane County with additional tribes and bands overlapping the county. Tribal governments have sovereignty as nations and govern their lands, protect their people, and determine membership into their communities. Tribal members are citizens of their tribal communities, Oregon, and the United States of America. (State of Oregon Blue Book and Eugene Cascades and Coast).
LCC pays tribute to the nine federally recognized tribes in Oregon most visibly through the Longhouse on the main campus. The brief history of the Longhouse (on the college’s website) is as follows:
“In 1994, Frank Merrill, a member of the Karuk Nation in Northern California and founder of the Native American Program at LCC, had a dream of having a Longhouse on the college campus. The Longhouse Project was supported largely by students and many local, State, and tribal governments and organizations. On December 3, 2010 Merrill’s dream came true; Lane Community College was the first in the State of Oregon to open the doors of a Longhouse on a community college campus. Situated in Kalapuya territory, the Longhouse is a sovereign space where Native American students and the community can share their values and cultures to create mutual learning relationships.”
Indigenous Peoples’ Day reminds us of our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. We have more work to do as we strive to foster a culture of belonging for all.
As we celebrate, let us commit to ongoing learning and action, listening to and uplifting Indigenous voices, and working towards a more just and inclusive society. We honor the invaluable contributions of Indigenous communities today and every day.
My best,
Stephanie