Second Sundays in 2021 will be virtual and can be viewed on the event dates on the Friends Facebook and after on our Youtube Channel.
11 AM: Join the Friends and Staff of Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, Sunday, August 8th, at 11 AM virtually for a robust day of programming. Traditional Technologies Day customarily features a variety of activities all over the landscape, however, this year we are offering multiple skills to view including indigenous archery and bowmaking, native games, and ancestral fire starting, online!
“Today, with my wife, Christine, we will share with you the culture from long ago and of today. I have learned from family, elders, other tribal mentors and from nature throughout my life. I am compelled to share my culture with you and provide information; showing we still exist and help you understand us a little bit more. History books do not teach about our perspective. Since time immemorial, this land was home to many people with a rich culture and ways of life filled with abundant natural and healthy resources. These Indigenous people still are here. By sharing my culture, I hope that you can find things we have in common.”
-Clifton Bruno
10 AM: Start the day with us at 10 AM for family activity demos with the Brunos, and Trail Tips with the Fish & Wildlife Service! Family activity bags will be available to pick up ahead of time, starting Saturday, August 1st and throughout the week, at Seasons Coffee in the Old Liberty Theater, while supplies last!
Seasons Coffee Shop at the Old Liberty Theater is located in Historic Downtown Ridgefield. Stop by to get your activity bags, and pick up a coffee, or pastries and gifts! Gifts for sale inside the coffee shop are all local artists and authors, shop and support within our area!
Family activity kits for August will include what you need for some Cornhusk games! Make your own cornhusk game piece: Across Indian country, cornhusks were used for all types of children’s toys and community games. By using this paper bag to mimic a cornhusk, you too can create your own gaming piece. Help us continue to celebrate Pacific Northwest First Foods and receive everything you need for this month’s craft inside of a SkakhwƏl/SamƏn color-it-yourself canvas bag.
Tune in to our Facebook page at 10am for a virtual craft demonstration with the Brunos!
Craft Kit includes:
Learn how to use a brown paper grocery bag in a new way! We will provide what you need for making a cornhusk toy out of prepared materials.
Inside of a color-it-yourself canvas bag.
Clifton and Christine Bruno – Native games
Clifton and Christine Bruno are lifetime Oregonians, working with youth, family programs and events for over 25 years. Sharing the Indigenous culture of the Pacific Northwest, with a focus on Mid-Columbia River Tribes. They have 4 adult sons and several grandchildren, who often work with them. They share with schools, parks departments, land restoration projects and nonprofit organizations. Ongoing projects include the Native Gathering Garden at Cully Park in Portland and Native Educators for the Confluence Project. The Brunos can be seen cooking salmon over a fire at events with an Indigenous food focus. The Brunos are Trainers of Indigenous Sports and Games.
Joshua Hood – Modoc bow making and Indigenous archer
Joshua Hood Marvin has been teaching archery for over 13 years and has led bow making workshops for 6 years for multiple organizations as well as one-on-one. He is a certified level 2 archery coach through USA archery. Currently he is employed through the Native American Youth and Family center in Portland, Oregon as a youth advocate to support and encourage indigenous students to graduate from school. Josh connects them to culture through traditional skills, native gatherings, and healthy life choices. He created Modoc Bows in order to teach bow-making from an indigenous perspective.
Peter Bauer – Friction Fire
Peter Michael Bauer (he/him/his) is an anthropologist, experimental archaeologist, and historian. His work focuses on the social and environmental impacts of the neolithic revolution, and how understanding these impacts can provide us with solutions to the sixth mass extinction. He has been a practitioner and teacher of friction fire since the late 90’s. He currently serves as the Executive Director of the nonprofit Rewild Portland.
Event hosted by Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge Complex and its partners, the Friends of Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is committed to providing access to this event for all participants. Please direct all requests for sign language interpreting services, closed captioning, or other accommodations needs to Josie Finley HERE, or call 360-887-4106.
TTY 800-877-8339 with your request, by close of business two weeks before the event.
When Amazon removed AmazonSmile, we lost our Amazon Wishlist access. Now, we have finally started one back up! Shop for items that the Friends and the Refuge Complex need to help with everything from habitat restoration to events like BirdFest & Bluegrass, and help support wildlife in little and big ways.
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Sign up for the Community Rewards program by linking your Fred Meyer Rewards Card to Friends of Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge (PK822). For more information, please visit the link below.
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