What I Love About Oregon

Written by Alex Biegel

​​​Teacher: Carrington Light, 7th Grade
Riverdale Grade School

Oregon is a magical, dream-like land. Full of biodiversity, amazing culture, and traditions. These are just a few reasons that make Oregon special. I have grown up in Oregon for over ten years, and in all those years I have had tons of fun learning about what has happened in Oregon over time - from the Indigenous Tribes to modern-day politics.

As a 7th grader, I have had a lot of time in school dedicated to learning about the Indigenous people and who tended the land before us. We have had field trips, class lessons, and more. I have been very fortunate enough to visit many places, where I learn more and more about them, whether it is the Delta Park Powwow, the “Navajo Skies” planetarium show, or just a place to learn about how they lived off the land. My family has encouraged me to learn about the Indigenous people and the different Tribes, with my mother working with them on helping salmon return and teaching me how Tribal members live in the present.

My favorite experience learning about Indigenous peoples was the Salmon Homecoming at Oxbow Regional Park, where I ate traditional fried bread and a delicious soup. Another spot my family and I visited was a Tribal longhouse, where we sat in the firelight watching Tribal members dance in traditional masks that they would wear at a ceremony or a special event. Each mask represented a story about the land where we live.

​ Had I not lived in Oregon for most of my life, I would have personally missed out. From visiting the mountains and the ocean on the same day, but from the time I had here. I would have never learned about Indigenous people’s ways and habits of life from the past to the present.

Next: Azara Willits >​