Visit the complete website of the Kalapuya Cultural Project and Wetlands Preservation!

“Willamette Wetlands of the Kalapuya,” is a long-awaited mural project due to begin painting on May 2nd 2022. It is an integral part of a public collaborative project sponsored by citizen groups, non-profits and the City of Eugene in collaboration with the Kalapuya tribes of the Willamette Valley. Students at Boys & Girls Club and community volunteers will assist painting under the direction of the artists (See Creative Team below). The mural will illustrate the Kalapuya people harvesting native plants, preparing plants for food, medicine and spiritual observance through the annual seasonal round in the traditional manner that are still practiced today.

The mural is part of a larger project called the “Kalapuya Cultural Project and Wetlands Preservation” sponsored by Beyond Toxics and Friendly Area Neighbors Equity Action Team. The project includes an informational kiosk, this web page, development of environmental and cultural curriculum, and enhancement of the park wetlands to preserve and expand the presence of the significant native plants within these sites.

The mural will be painted on the east wall of the Dr. Edwin Coleman Jr. Community Center that houses the Boys & Girls Club of Emerald Valley. The building was renamed for Dr. Coleman in honor of his life and legacy as a University of Oregon professor, musician, and strong advocate for civil and human rights. These prior murals, sponsored by Friendly Area Neighbors Equity Action Team and the City of Eugene, feature visual statements on inclusion and social justice (Visit https://www.friendlyareaneighbors.org/dr-edwin-coleman-jr-center-mural-project.html for more information). This newest mural on the Coleman Center reaches back into history to commemorate the Kalapuya presence on this land prior to European pioneers.