As we prepare for the naming ceremony this Saturday, I’m pleased to present a guest post by Reyn Leno, Chairman of the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde, about the significance of the name Whilamut Passage to the tribe.
We have appreciated working closely with the tribal government and its members to plan this meaningful ceremony and to shape future design enhancements that will help tell their story for generations to come.
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The word “whilamut” is attributed to a Kalapuya pronunciation of the word Willamette. The Kalapuyas were one of the original tribes and bands in the Willamette Valley that make up today’s Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde. Many of our people are descendants of the Kalapuyas and they are recognized in our Willamette Valley Treaty of 1855. Willamette comes out the Chinuk Wawa language and describes the way the river riffles in some areas. Essentially it means "place where the water riffles."
Using the world “whilamut” for this new bridge acknowledges its current use of the area as a transportation crossover and thoroughfare for modern society while honoring the historic use of the area by the Kalapuya people as a village, and trade location for native peoples traveling the river. This location is a transportation passage for all humans from throughout our histories.
The Grand Ronde people who’ve inhabited the Willamette Valley since time immemorial are pleased to honor the memory of our ancestors with this special name.
- Reyn Leno, Chairman
Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde
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