Land Acknowledgment

We acknowledge that Sherwood Public Library is located on Tualatin* Kalapuya Land, or as they call themselves: Atfalati (pronounced ah-TFAH-lah-tee)*. We express our respect for all indigenous people and the important connections they have to their homelands across Oregon and throughout the world.

As library staff, we endeavor to share resources that reflect accurate portrayals of local and regional indigenous heritage and contributions. Visit us in person to see our Tribal Nations Maps with traditional names and locations of the Pacific Northwest and what is now known as North America.

We share this information out of humility and respect for this indigenous homeland and the Atfalati peoples who continue to live and thrive in what is now called the State of Oregon. Atfalati and Kalapuya peoples' homeland was stolen by the U.S. Government and white settlers over several years, but most notably in treaties made between 1851 and 1855. At the time of these treaties, Kalapuya peoples were forcibly removed to what are now the Grand Ronde and Siletz reservations. Today’s Kalapuya and Atfalati peoples are members of the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde and the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians.

We give special thanks to David Harrelson, Cultural Resources Manager of The Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde, and to Kalapuya Linguist, Henry Zenk, for their support and knowledge sharing.

* Pronunciations from Linguist Henry Zenk. Also note pronunciation of Tualatin (TWAH-luh-tun). More pronunciations can be read here, or listen to pronunciations here.

Further reading about the Kalapuya: 

• Seaburg, W. R., & Amoss, P. (2000). Badger and Coyote were neighbors: Melville Jacobs on Northwest Indian myths and tales. Corvallis, Or: Oregon State University Press.
• Suttles, W. P., & Sturtevant, W. C. (1990). Handbook of North American Indians: Volume 7. (Handbook of North American Indians, 7.) Washington: Smithsonian Institution.

Recommended reads celebrating Native American Heritage:

• For Adults
• For Teens
• For Children