Indigenous Peoples’ Day: Honoring Native Heritage
Indigenous Peoples' Day is a holiday that celebrates and honors Native American peoples and commemorates their histories and cultures. It's observed on the second Monday in October, coinciding with the federal holiday of Columbus Day in the United States.
The idea for Indigenous Peoples' Day was born in 1977 at a United Nations conference on discrimination against indigenous populations in the Americas. It was first adopted as a holiday in Berkeley, California in 1992, on the 500th anniversary of Columbus' arrival in the Americas.
Many Native Americans and allies have long criticized the celebration of Columbus Day, arguing that it glorifies an exploitative and violent history of colonization. Indigenous Peoples' Day offers a way to reframe the narrative, focusing instead on the rich cultures and contributions of Native peoples.
The holiday encourages reflection on the complex history of the Americas and promotes recognition of indigenous peoples' resilience, wisdom, and ongoing contributions to our shared communities. It's a day for education, celebration, and advocacy for indigenous rights and cultural preservation.
In recent years, a growing number of cities, states, and institutions have chosen to recognize Indigenous Peoples' Day. This shift represents a broader movement towards acknowledging historical injustices and fostering respect for Native American perspectives and experiences.
Indigenous Tribes in the Ashland, Oregon Area
Our area has a rich indigenous history. The primary Native American groups who have traditionally inhabited this region include:
- The Takelma: Also known as the Dagelma, they were the primary inhabitants of the Rogue Valley. The Takelma people lived along the Rogue River and its tributaries, with a culture deeply connected to the local ecology.
- The Shasta: While primarily associated with northern California, the Shasta peoples' territory extended into southern Oregon, including parts of the Rogue Valley.
- The Latgawa: A subgroup of the Takelma, the Latgawa lived in the uplands of the Rogue Valley and along the Upper Rogue River.
- The Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe: While primarily associated with areas north of Ashland, their ancestral territory extended into parts of the Rogue Valley.
Today, many descendants of these tribes are part of the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians and the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde, which include multiple bands and tribes from western Oregon.
As we observe Indigenous Peoples' Day, we're invited to learn more about these original inhabitants of the lands we now call home and to consider how we can contribute to a more inclusive and equitable society. It's an opportunity to acknowledge the ongoing presence and contributions of Native peoples in our community and to honor their enduring connection to this land.
More Co-op News
Mushrooms for wellness
You may have heard about the fascinating discovery that trees can communicate with each other. What’s the secret? The mycelia - tiny strands of fungus - in the soil form a vast underground network through which trees send chemical signals to their neighbors.
The mycelia differs from the fruiting body of the mushroom, which is the reproductive component that contains spores and is thought to be higher in Beta Glucans.
Meet class instructor, Joette Calabrese
This class instructor profile is connected to the February 27 free lecture, "You, Too, Can Beat the Flu!"
On an early Kolkata (Calcutta) morning, thick crowds gather outside the gates of the hospital while officials yell out "Brain tumor, kidney failure, cancer patients form a line here!” Hopeful patients, family members and caregivers arrange themselves by disease symptom.
What to do with all this citrus?!
So you grabbed a few too many extra oranges and grapefruits and lemons (and some finger limes, and some satsumas…), and rather than watch them go bad, we want to provide you with some ideas on how to reduce waste. You’ll also get to enjoy citrus in a lot of new ways!
There are many guides and recipes across the internet (like this one by our friends at Grow Forage Cook Ferment), so here are a few ideas to get your creative and citrus juices flowing.
Update from the General Manager: "Food for Paradise" campaign
Ashland Food Co-op's General Manager, Emile Amarotico, ends 2018 on a very uplifting note with a report back on the "Food for Paradise" donation campaign. Watch the video below, or read on for an extended written update.
Hello, this is Emile Amarotico, the general manager of Ashland Food Co-op with an update on the Co-op’s Food for Paradise initiative.
5 Fresh Ways to Save at the Co-op
We’ve all been there: your bank account is looking thin after a month of celebrations, but you’ve made a New Year’s resolution to save up for a big purchase later in the year
Now’s the time to make some changes to your spending - but that doesn’t mean you have to skimp on quality goods at the Ashland Food Co-op.
These are some lesser known ways to save at the Co-op. Think of them like ordering off the secret menu.
Savings Level: $
Board Report: How "Food For Paradise" Got Started
By Mira Wonderwheel, Board of Directors
4 Ways to Reduce Your Food Waste
It’s the New Year, our favorite time for goal-setting, making positive resolutions, and shifting our impact. One of the Co-op’s goals is to become a Zero Waste facility. Our staff works to divert as much food waste as we can - and we hope our member-owners will join us in this goal too.
2019 Community Grant Applications
The funding cycle for the 2019 Co-op Community Grants for nonprofit organizations begins in February.
Meet Cooking Class Instructor Charlie Douglass
Many talented local chefs share their expertise in the Co-op Kitchen. Charlie Douglass is no exception. As the former Master Chocolatier at Harry and David, Charlie knows a thing or two about chocolate and candy making.
Tell us how your love of cooking and food began.
Meet Cooking Class Instructor Tiazza Rose
Tell us how your love of cooking and food began.
Give the Gift of Wellness
Finding the perfect gift for a friend or loved one is an art. This winter, we carefully selected these assortments for those who love some good self-care, are working in partnership with their gut health, or for those making efforts to reduce their pain. Each of these gift ideas will help you make your loved ones feel extra special and extra healthful.
Give the Gift of Good Food
During the month of November, Co-op shoppers can nourish their own families and help fight hunger in the Rogue Valley. We’ve teamed up once again with Smart Chicken® for the Smart Giving Holiday Challenge.
Here’s how it works.
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For every 10 pounds of Smart Chicken® you purchase from the Meat Department or the Deli, Smart Chicken® will donate one pound of chicken to a local non profit
We're All Turtles
By Dean Williamson, Board of Director
My grandmother loved to talk. Oh, could she talk! And she had one expression that I’ve always really liked. “If you come across a turtle on top of a fence post, you can be pretty sure it didn’t get there by itself.”
The Power of Principle Seven
By Emile Amarotico, General Manager
As we approach the holidays, I’d like to invoke the spirit of the Seventh Cooperative Principle: Concern for Community. The International Cooperative Alliance defines Principle Seven as when “cooperatives work for the sustainable development of their communities through policies approved by their members.”
So how does that work? How does Ashland Food Co-op demonstrate concern for community?
The Co-op is Certified Organic! What does that mean?
By Barry Haynes, Store Manager
Did you know that the Ashland Food Co-op is the only Certified Organic Retailer in southern Oregon. Well, that’s great! But what does that actually mean?