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Tribal representatives press to be part of Astoria library room-naming after competing proposals
Summary
Representatives of Chinook and Clatsop groups told the Astoria Library Advisory Board they want a formal role in naming rooms in the renovated library, presenting lists of honored elders and urging the board not to dismiss ancestral names; the board agreed to a follow-up meeting to continue the discussion.
Laura Parker, chair of the Astoria Library Advisory Board, opened the meeting and moved public comment earlier on the agenda so community members could be heard in person and online.
Todd Lawson, identifying himself as “a member of the Clatsop and Halem scribe,” said the tribe wants to be involved in the library design and room-naming process and told the board, “we as a tribe are excited to participate.” Gary Johnson, who said he is the past chairman of the Chinook Indian Nation and a current council member, presented five names his group proposed for library rooms and said the recommendations were approved by his council.
Members of both groups described deep historical ties to the Columbia River and local places. Johnson told the board the Chinook people had purchased the Tansy Point treaty grounds “where our treaties were signed in 1851” and said the funds and federal recognition tied to recent litigation were “hugely important” to his community. Another commenter, Genesio Isern Abing (who said he could be called Don), warned that dismissing ancestral names would dishonor the descendants the names intend to honor.
Speakers also addressed internal tribal disagreements about enrollment and parallel tribal organizations. Gary Johnson said a separate group formed by a former council member has created disputes over land and enrollment that his council hopes to resolve through dialogue; he offered to share additional documentation if the board wished to review it.
Board members acknowledged the depth of the issue and urged the tribes to meet directly to try to reconcile differences; Chair Parker and staff agreed to schedule a follow-up meeting so the board could continue the conversation while public participants remained engaged. The board did not adopt a final naming decision at the meeting.
Provenance: Public-comment exchange beginning with Todd Lawson and subsequent presenters (first introduced SEG 068; discussion carried through SEG 537).
