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U.S. Authorities Commit to Revitalizing Sacred Native American Land Ravaged by Oregon Infrastructure Project

by Lucas Garcia
7 comments
Sacred Native American site restoration

After more than a decade and a half of legal disputes culminating in a U.S. Supreme Court case, the United States government has consented to take part in restoring a significant Native American site. Located on the slopes of Mount Hood in Oregon, this spiritual area was desecrated during a road expansion project. Official court filings revealed that multiple federal agencies, including the U.S. Department of Transportation, have pledged to reforest the area and assist in reconstructing a religious altar situated alongside U.S. Highway 26. Indigenous communities claim that this location has been vital for spiritual practices for an immeasurable span of time.

The impacted tribes, including the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation as well as the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde, indicated that a 2008 initiative to widen the highway led to the obliteration of a space referred to as the Place of Big Big Trees. The area contained not only a burial site but also a historical campground, medicinal flora, ancient Douglas Firs, and a ceremonial stone altar.

Carol Logan, a senior member of the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde and one of the litigants in the case, expressed her hope that this settlement would act as a deterrent against the future devastation of such culturally essential sites.

Logan emphasized, in a statement circulated by the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, which represented the tribes in the lawsuit, “Our sacred locations may not resemble the conventional places of worship familiar to the majority of Americans, but they warrant equal protection, dignity, and respect.”

The defendants in the case encompassed the Department of Transportation and its subdivision, the Federal Highway Administration; the Department of the Interior along with its Bureau of Land Management; and the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation. Neither the Federal Highway Administration nor the Department of the Interior opted to provide comments on the finalized settlement.

Legal documents trace back to the year 2008, when the lawsuit was originally filed. Both Logan and Wilbur Slockish, a hereditary chief of the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation, stated that they frequented this site for spiritual activities such as prayer, gathering of sacred plants, and paying homage to their forefathers, until the area was eradicated.

The federal government, under the terms of the settlement, committed to planting nearly 30 trees within the affected land parcel and sustaining them via regular irrigation and additional care for a minimum of three years. Furthermore, they agreed to aid in restoring the stone altar, erecting an informational sign about its significance to Native American culture, and ensuring that Logan and Slockish have cultural access to the adjacent areas.


Claire Rush is affiliated with the Big Big News/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative, a philanthropic program dedicated to embedding journalists in local media outlets to shed light on underreported issues.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Sacred Native American site restoration

What federal agencies are involved in the restoration of the sacred Native American site in Oregon?

The U.S. Department of Transportation and other federal agencies, including the Department of the Interior and its Bureau of Land Management, are involved in the restoration efforts.

What led to the destruction of the sacred Native American site?

A 2008 project to add a turn lane on U.S. Highway 26 in Oregon led to the destruction of the area known as the Place of Big Big Trees, which contained a burial ground, historic campground, medicinal plants, old-growth Douglas Firs, and a stone altar.

How long did the legal battle last before reaching a settlement?

The legal dispute spanned more than 15 years and culminated in a case that reached the U.S. Supreme Court.

What are the specific measures agreed upon in the settlement?

Under the terms of the settlement, the federal government has agreed to plant nearly 30 trees and maintain them for at least three years. The government will also assist in rebuilding a stone altar and install an informational sign explaining its cultural significance to Native Americans. Additionally, access to the surrounding area for cultural purposes will be granted to specific tribal members.

Who are the Native American tribes affected by the destruction?

The affected tribes are the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation and the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde.

What is the stance of the federal agencies on the settlement?

The Federal Highway Administration and the Department of the Interior declined to comment on the settlement.

What legal grounds were cited by the Native American tribes in their lawsuit?

The tribes accused the federal agencies of violating their religious freedom and the National Historic Preservation Act, which mandates tribal consultation for federal projects affecting tribal lands or sites of cultural or historic significance to a tribe.

Who represented the Native American tribes in the lawsuit?

The Becket Fund for Religious Liberty represented the Native American tribes in their lawsuit against the federal agencies.

Will the settlement impact future infrastructure projects affecting sacred sites?

Carol Logan, a senior member of the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde, expressed hope that the settlement would act as a deterrent against the future devastation of culturally significant sites.

More about Sacred Native American site restoration

  • U.S. Department of Transportation
  • Department of the Interior and its Bureau of Land Management
  • U.S. Supreme Court
  • The Becket Fund for Religious Liberty
  • National Historic Preservation Act
  • Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation
  • Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde

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7 comments

MikeWilliams October 6, 2023 - 10:00 am

restoration is good but can you really restore something so sacred? just asking.

Reply
KarenMiller October 6, 2023 - 10:55 am

It’s reassuring to see justice served, even if it took more than a decade. This should set a precedent for future cases.

Reply
TomBrown October 6, 2023 - 2:19 pm

The details on what they’re actually gonna do to restore the site are a bit vague, more trees and an altar, but what about the rest of the area?

Reply
EmilyHarris October 6, 2023 - 5:40 pm

This is a huge win for cultural preservation. It’s about time these sacred sites get the respect and protection they deserve.

Reply
JaneSmith October 6, 2023 - 10:30 pm

kinda sad it took so long for the government to do something right. these sites are sacred and should’ve been protected from the get-go.

Reply
SarahJohnson October 7, 2023 - 1:06 am

why did the Dept of Interior decline to comment? seems like a big enough deal to warrant a statement at least.

Reply
JohnDoe October 7, 2023 - 5:29 am

Wow, 15 years of legal battles just to reach this point? Glad to see some justice finally, but man, what a journey!

Reply

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