Photos by Ben Anang via FLI Social and Howard Draper
Essay by Alisha Howard, Sabrina Cerquera, and Emilie Chen
From September 2023 through May 2024, Ecotrust partnered with several organizations to host a series of gatherings called the "Restoration Through Storytelling Series." These events were designed to elevate ancestral innovation and the agricultural wisdom of Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) in the Portland, OR area.
Using storytelling to inspire engagement, this series also aimed to activate the resurgence of BIPOC land stewards in East Multnomah County. It offered aspiring BIPOC land stewards culturally specific educational opportunities for retaining and restoring cultural and community traditions related to lands and waters stewardship.
Black Futures Farm's Story
The first event in this series was held on September 12, 2023. Community members gathered at Black Futures Farm, to hear from one of the farm's founders, Malcolm Hoover. Located on unceded Clackamas and Multnomah First Nations Territory (Southeast Portland), the 1.15-acre farm offers 17 different fruit trees, vegetables, flowers, medicinal and cooking herbs.
As the event opened on a crisp fall day, participants enjoyed light refreshments.
Malcolm Hoover, co-founder of Black Futures Farm, told the story of how the farm was started. Afterward, Malcolm said, "I've been a storyteller and poet most of my life and so most of what I do in my professional life is an extension of my storytelling. Through learning to be a land steward and farmer, I have learned to listen to the land in different ways and have gathered more stories to tell. Storytelling is a way for us to connect, to find and build common ground and to teach one another about how our cultures shape us as individuals."
When asked what it means to participate in conservation efforts for future generations, Malcolm said, "Building a better world for the coming generations is the most important thing in my life. To be able to participate in concrete efforts to steward land, conserve resources and build community is 'what it is all about' for me."
"I truly enjoy gathering with folks and sharing stories, telling mine and hearing others. I loved having folks at the farm and sharing our message of Black unity and love."
A story of place and tradition at Oxbow Regional Park
The second event of the Restoration through Storytelling series took place on a brisk morning in early February. Attendees gathered at Oxbow Regional Park to hear from Ed Edmo and Savanha Jackson.
Ed Edmo, Shoshone-Bannock, is a traditional storyteller, poet, playwright, published author, actor, performer, instructor and tour guide who lectures on cultural issues at cultural sites in the Pacific Northwest, such as the flooding of Celilo Falls, as well as drug and alcohol abuse and mental health for Native peoples.
Savahna Jackson is an enrolled Klamath Tribal member and is from the Modoc, Klamath, Hoopa, and Washou People. Savahna has worked with community organizations, non-profits, state, federal, and other governmental agencies on Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) education and implementation of Indigenous techniques into their land management plans, while also teaching cultural art and knowledge to Native youth.
Afterwards, the attendees gathered for light refreshments, including fry bread and warm beverages.
One of our program partners at Oregon Metro said, "One of the most enjoyable things about the storytelling gathering at Oxbow was being pulled in to help share the story along with the rest of the audience. When the storytellers engaged everyone in attendance to come together, even for just a phrase or two, and add our collective voice to the space, I felt such warmth and gratitude to be able to share in such a beautiful, fun moment of community."
Sisterhood & Sustainability at June Key Delta Community Center
On February 22, 2024, women of the Portland Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Incorporated gathered at the June Key Delta Community Center (JKDCC) to tell the story of how their commitment to public service, vision, and strategic partnership have provided a safe and nurturing environment for Black communities in Portland.
Members of the Portland Alumnae Chapter, Quisha Light (left) and Lela Triplett-Roberts (right), shared the history of their organization and its mission.
Quisha Light is a Chapter member and former Chapter president who has been vital in ensuring that the JKDCC maintains its Net Zero status. Retired educator Lela Triplett-Roberts has been a steadfast member of the Portland Alumnae Chapter since 1981, including service as president, vice president, and many other offices within the chapter.
JKDCC was once a gas station, but through social action from the Chapter, has become an innovative community green building project that breathes new life into the Albina neighborhood of northeast Portland.
Quisha later shared, "The most enjoyable aspect of the storytelling gathering was the sense of community and connection I felt.
Sharing the rich history of the June Key Delta Community Center, from its inception to its evolution, allowed us to reflect on the collective efforts and achievements of our sorority and the broader community. It was deeply gratifying to see how our story encouraged and generally resonated with attendees, inspiring pride and a deeper understanding of our shared heritage."
"Participating in conservation efforts is very meaningful as it ensures that future generations inherit a world that is as rich and vibrant as the one we enjoy today. It is our duty to safeguard these resources, not just for ourselves, but for those who will come after us. As African American women leading these efforts, it also affirms our commitment to environmental justice and sustainability, demonstrating that our voices and actions are integral to the broader conservation movement.
For those interested in this work, I would advise them to start by deeply understanding and appreciating their own stories and the histories of their communities. Engage with elders, listen to their experiences, and document these narratives. Embrace storytelling as a living tradition that evolves while preserving the essence of our heritage. ...Remember that every story shared contributes to a larger tapestry, reinforcing our connections to each other and to the land and waters we protect."
Mapping the meaningful at the Historic Alberta House
For the fourth and final gathering of the Restoration through Storytelling series, Ecotrust partnered with Vanport Mosaic during the 9th Vanport Mosaic Festival that honors the city of Vanport, its residents, flood survivors, and their descendants.
As part of the festival, Ecotrust displayed an art installation at the Historic Alberta House. With a map display made by artist Sophia Xiao-fan Austrins, this visual collection of memories aimed to uplift the places that nourished those who later became displaced from Vanport. The installation sought to acknowledge the effort it took for Vanport residents and their descendents to make new lives for themselves in the Portland Metro Area.
LaVeta Gilmore Jones, co-organizer of the Vanport Mosaic Festival, said, "Stories do not evolve in isolation. They happen within context — contexts shaped by political, religious, socio-economic, cultural forces. …Be open to the ways people share stories. Stories are shared in many forms and fashions, through speech, song, performance, ritual, etc. When someone is sharing, listen deeply and notice what is said and unsaid."
"Storytelling pushes against the mindset of othering and pulls us toward the understanding of belonging and community. Sharing in mutual conversations with people born after me is very important to me because it hopefully provides a roadmap for moving in the direction of a sustainable, thriving ecosystem.
These conversations broaden perspective, dispel untruths and unveil realities that shaped past decisions and actions. They also reveal what is shaping decisions that will impact future decisions and actions."
THANK YOU
to everyone who helped organize, shared their stories, and listened through the Restoration through Storytelling series.
