Gorge Culture

Of Salmon and Basketball: A Conversation with Buck Jones
2025-02-12 19:00 - 20:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | Columbia Center for the Arts, 215 Cascade Ave., Hood River, OR, 97031, United States
Sense of Place presents Buck Jones enrolled Cayuse member of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR) and longtime staff of Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission (CRITFC)

Buck Jones is an enrolled Cayuse member of one of the bands of the Confederated Tribes of The Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR). He is a multi-decade Columbia River Treaty Fisherman. Buck, who has been employed since 2004 for the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission (CRITFC), started as a Fisheries Technician and now serves as Salmon Marketing Specialist. He works on product development, classes on Cold Water and Boat Safety, and provides quality-handling classes for approximately 700 tribal fishers. Buck is Co-Chair of the Food Sovereignty subcommittee for the Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians and a board member of Gorge Grown Food Network, Mid-Columbia Economic Development District, Columbia Gorge Tourism Alliance, and One Community Health. Buck also serves on the Executive Committee of the Local Catch Network. Additionally, Buck is a nationally honored basketball player. From his youth into his 50s, Buck played in All-Indian Basketball Tournaments across the country. He was honored by the National Indian Athletic Association Hall of Fame, Hoopa All-Indian Tournament Hall of Fame, and Hall of Fame in the Pendleton Linebackers Club; winning many tournaments throughout Indian Country, including the All-Indian Nationals 4 times.

Date: February 12, 2025 at 7 pm
Location: Columbia Center for the Arts, 215 Cascade Ave, Hood River, OR 97031

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Beyond the Scrub: New Attention on Oregon White Oaks and Why They Matter
2025-03-12 19:00 - 20:30 | Columbia Center for the Arts, 215 Cascade Ave., Hood River, OR, 97031, United States
Sense of Place presents Lindsay Cornelius, East Cascades Oak Partnership Manager at the Columbia Land Trust
Oregon white oak trees seem abundant, almost weedy in the gorge. They are the least showy of our native hardwoods and often look as though they are falling apart. So why in 2020 did a diverse group of stakeholders, band together for a closer look at these native trees? Why are oaks being called a lifeboat? A safe-zone for species trying to survive the subtle (and not so subtle) changes that are accompanying our changing climate?And how might new efforts to conserve and restore oak woodlands in the Gorge impact our landscapes, people, and even economy? Join Lindsay Cornelius, Manager of the East Cascades Oak Partnership, to learn why oaks make such excellent neighbors in a place prone to drought, fires, heat, and wind. And explore how these sometimes decrepit-looking trees are actually supporting vibrant life – more so than any other tree species in the Gorge.

Date: March 12, 2025 at 7 pm
Location: Columbia Center for the Arts, 215 Cascade Ave, Hood River, OR 97031
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Sense of Place Special Event: The Watershed Rock Opera
2025-04-01 - 2025-04-30
To celebrate 15 years of the Sense of Place series, Mt Adams Institute presents…

THE WATERSHED ROCK OPERA
A multimedia performance in 5 movements celebrating the Columbia River Gorge and its people. Featuring original music composed and performed by local musicians in accompaniment with original film, audio, and theatrical performances.
“THE GREATEST ROCK OPERA EVER PRODUCED ABOUT A WATERSHED*
IT’S LIKE A LOVE LETTER TO A PLACE, BUT WITH MORE PERCUSSION!”
And like all true love stories, there will be:
Passion, Tragedy, Humor, and Awe
Imagine a pear orchardist, ready for harvest when Mother Nature strikes!
Or high in the Cascade Mountains where a feisty scientist tracks mysterious creatures…
Even here, in our homes, schools, workplaces – there’s something mysterious, some might even say magical, happening right under our feet (and butts)…
And there, to witness it all, is our watershed. Come hear what it has to share.

Happening in Hood River, Oregon in April 2025

Your operatic guides: Sarah Fox – Producer, Molly Schwarz – Singer/Performer, Marcos A Galvez – Singer Performer, Erik Kaneda – Composer, Leila Kaneda – Musical Director/Musician, Lesley Tamura – Advisor/Movement 3, Jocelyn Akins – Advisor/Movement 2, Duncan Krummel – Contributor/Musical Composition, Joe Garoutte- A/V Tech Director

(*Wondering what a watershed is? No problem…try here for a quick explainer. For The Watershed Rock Opera, we’ll hear stories from watersheds on both the Oregon and Washington sides of the Columbia River. But the key here isn’t the exact location, but rather, to follow the course of water, moving through our watersheds, as a way to connect diverse perspectives from the Gorge. Just when we thought watersheds couldn’t get any more rad…)

When: April 2025
Location: Hood River, OR 97031

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