The City of Hillsboro has adopted a land acknowledgment statement recognizing the Atfalati-Kalapuyans as the ancestorial people of the Tualatin Valley and the role government has played in colonization of indigenous people.  

The land acknowledgment statement could be read at City events and activities, including groundbreaking ceremonies, ribbon cuttings, cultural celebrations, meetings, and more.

The statement was developed by an indigenous community engagement group with representatives from nine tribes in partnership with Washington County. Hillsboro is the first city to adopt the statement approved by Washington County in 2022.

Mayor Steve Callaway was the first to read the land acknowledgment statement for the City of Hillsboro at the dedication of Hidden Creek Park West, Hillsboro’s new inclusive park and playground. It was also read by City Councilor Beach Pace at OrenKoFest, an event that celebrates the cultural heritage of local Swiss German communities.

“Lifting up the voices of indigenous communities is very important, especially as we are talking about things like land use, parks, and natural resources,” said Marcus Ford, City of Hillsboro Community Engagement Manager.

Procedures and best practices for reading the statement are being developed and will be shared with City staff, officials, and interested parties. 

City of Hillsboro land acknowledgment statement:

We want to acknowledge the people on whose land we live—the Atfalati-Kalapuyans also known as the Tualatin Band of Kalapuyans—the first inhabitants of Washington County. We are grateful for the land we are on, Kalapuyan land.

Signers of the Willamette Valley Treaty of 1855 were removed from their homelands to the Grand Ronde Indian Reservation. Today their descendants are tribal members of Grand Ronde and Siletz tribes, carrying on the traditions and cultures of their ancestors.

We acknowledge and express gratitude for the ancestors of this place and recognize that we are here because of the sacrifices forced upon them. In remembering these communities, we honor their legacy, their lives, and their continuation in our community. Please reflect on the role government has played in the painful, colonial history and reflect as well on the resilience and healing of the Indigenous land and communities.

We would like to invite everyone to collaborate and work together with the tribes to take care of the land and water and the people who inhabit these spaces.

Image: Wapato Woman by Travis Stewart located at Rood Bridge Park, created through an intergovernmental agreement with the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde.

Other recommendations from community engagement

In addition to adopting the land acknowledgment statement, the City of Hillsboro continues to pursue other recommendations that came from the indigenous community engagement group: 

• Host a powwow
• Offer learning sessions
• Increase culturally responsive services
• Include indigenous names in places
• Fund indigenous art
• Provide gather spaces for indigenous community
• Exhibit indigenous art
• Host quarterly guest speakers