Chemawa: Explore

Chemawa students come from all around the United States to live and study at a unique boarding school. Exploring our community meant traveling to different places in Oregon to connect with successful Native artists, scientists, entrepreneurs, and leaders!

Sitka Center for Art & Ecology

Students visited the renowned art residency center at beautiful Cascade Head to learn more about opportunities for Indigenous artists and be inspired by the work of current art residents. Photo credit to Sitka!

They spoke with David Harrelson from Grande Ronde about the importance of camas, and visited the garden plot in the coastal forest.

Finally, they practiced artistic expression and healing through a workshop led by the talented Kitana Connelly.

Learning from Sitka's resident artists

They connect art, activism, and ecology!

Painting with Kitana

A beautiful display!

OSU mentors lead the hike

A sunny walk to the camas plot

Learning about camas

ELK!!

Portland Native-owned businesses

Next, students spent an entire day in Portland visiting businesses that ranged from food to fashion to sports! They heard about the personal journies of these inspiring business owners, and even got a chance to practices some of the skills that made them so successful.

Bison Coffee House lives up to its name!

Owner Loretta is a real leader in community and political activism

This coffee shop is full of amazing art!

Many drinks are unique flavors

Palani Bearghost shares her amazing collection!

NEO designs incorporates sustainability and innovation in fashion

Acosia Red Elk shares her wisdom- "movement is medicine!"

We had so much fun it was hard to leave

Lunch at Javelina!

Taking pics of our food

Vegan popsicles for dessert

Learning from the Ice Queen, Rebecca!

Welcomed by Troy

Exploring the store

Learning about business, turns out it's a lot of math

Playing a profit margin game- make the most profitable shoe roster!

The Power of Photography

For our final EXPLORE session, Chemawa students visited the OSU campus to learn about different resources that would be available to them as they transition from "explorers" to "creators." Photography tied these adventures together as they used sublimation to custom-print mugs in the DAMLab, discussed the power of reclaiming storytelling with journalists from Underscore News, and spoke with Sydelle Harrison about her personal journey through art and community health activism. Amazing portrait photographer April Appah joined us at the end of the day to gift students with their own professional headshots!