A new mural now graces the side of the Warm Springs Commissary building. The mural is part of a Visit Central Oregon project that has funded murals in towns across Central Oregon, including the ‘Welcome to Madras’ sign on Fifth Street.
The mural features art by local Warm Springs artists Charlene Dimmick, Alyssa Scott and Winona Garrison. The design was created by the artists and project coordinator Starla Green. “We wanted it to show who Warm Springs is and what we are,” said Green.
The colors were inspired by the natural landscape around the reservation. The large outline shows the Warm Springs ceded lands, which covers from the Cascade Mountain range to the Columbia River to the north and Blue Mountains to the east, with a small inset of the current reservation’s boundaries.
The motifs include local plants and flowers, including traditional foods and medicines. Two women are shown digging roots and picking huckleberries.
“The Native Women are traditional food gatherers that provide for our families and our people,” said Green. “We still go out and gather the traditional roots, berries, and medicines today, just like the Indian women before us. Our people always have their trusty pets with them, hence the dog next to the woman.”
The mural also depicts two men dip netting salmon. “Our men still fish in this old way of fishing today. They provide for our people with sustenance. We wanted to include the different wildlife that is on our Reservation as well. Things that Mother Earth gave us and we work hard to protect,” said Green. The mural includes animals like elk, wild horses and a soaring eagle.
It also includes the rich rodeo history of Warm Springs, with a rider on a bucking bronco.
The murals across the region mimic vintage postcards. Most include “Welcome to...” The mural in Warm Springs instead showcases the Ichishskiin language, reading Niix Pam Wiyanaqi Warm Springs, which translates to Greetings from Warm Springs.
The 40 foot by 16 foot mural was painted on panels that now adorn the side of the ongoing commissary project. The $5.5 million Warm Springs Community Action Team project plans to bring a food cart pod, retail space and a business incubator space to the restored commissary building.
The murals in this project now dot every town in Central Oregon.
“Having our local artists complete such a beautiful piece of art is inspiring. They created a piece that shows the world that the talent of our Native People is immense, and they can compete with any artist anywhere,” said Green. “When the boards went up for the first time and I stood in front of the blank canvas, the size was enormous. I thought to myself that it would be nearly impossible for the project to get completed. But the ladies took on the challenge and made it happen. They created a beautiful masterpiece that they should be very very proud of.”
WSCAT director Chris Watson added "Since 2019, Visit Central Oregon has helped WSCAT fund 3 beautiful murals, all painted by Warm Springs tribal members. For this round of murals, Visit CO commissioned work in Bend, Redmond, Madras, and every other Central Oregon community, hiring two very talented women to make the art. Our team, however, knew that it was vital, in line with tribal values, to have local Native artists do the work. Visit Central Oregon was, and has always been, really understanding about tribal sovereignty, and was happy to accommodate this request. Murals like this, organic to community and authentic to tribal members, draw in locals and visitors alike. I think art like this inspires people to dream, and it makes people feel more attached to, and embedded in, their community."
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