This is not a gothic movie. It isn’t the Dust Bowl, nor heavily-industrialized India. This is Oregon in 2025, grappling with the perpetual drought and disaster brought on by climate change. And according to experts, the Trump administration’s policies will only worsen the problem.

In July, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) introduced a proposal to void the endangerment finding, a crucial decision that granted the government authority to regulate greenhouse gas emissions. Issued in 2009, the finding established that certain greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide, “threaten the public health and welfare of current and future generations.” 

This finding, which was largely backed by the scientific community, has fueled the agency’s actions in the years since, paving the way for policies such as the regulation of tailpipe greenhouse gas emissions in American vehicles.

Opponents have long claimed that the finding is an overstep, granting the EPA far too much power over industry. However, its legitimacy has been supported by the U.S. court system: In a 2010 case, the Circuit Court of Appeals in Washington, D.C. ruled in favor of regulations imposed under the finding, and the Supreme Court declined to review the case.

For members of the climate advocacy community, a rollback of the endangerment finding is not only distressing, but a perplexing negation of the scientific consensus.

“I think it’s very disappointing to see the rollback on what was very well-supported, scientifically-supported policy that’s been in place for a long time, almost 20 years,” said Neil Baunsgard, Climate Policy Manager at the Bend Environmental Center.

Baunsgard, who has worked in the sustainability field for over a decade, described the EPA’s actions under the Trump administration as a “vibes-based decision-making process” rather than one informed by scientific fact.

Dr. Erica Fleishman, a professor at Oregon State University and director of the Oregon Climate Change Research Institute, shared similar concerns.

“Climate change is creating warmer and drier conditions in general in Oregon and across most of the Western United States,” Fleishman explained. “It’s important to clarify that it’s not what I think. It’s what there’s overwhelming evidence about: that wildfires are becoming larger and that they are becoming more frequent.”

These risks have been felt acutely in Central Oregon, a region that has in recent years been wracked with destructive wildfires. In fact, a recent study conducted by the University of Washington Bothell named Bend the third-smokiest city in the nation. Two other Oregon cities, Medford and Grants Pass, ranked first and second, and Klamath Falls, Roseburg and Eugene were situated in the top 10.

Overturning the endangerment finding would only worsen this problem, allowing manufacturers to resume the production of inefficient and high-emission vehicles. This projected jump in greenhouse gas emissions would be felt globally, but especially in the vulnerable and water-starved West.

“The effects of climate change are likely to happen faster, and they’re likely to be more severe,” Fleishman said of a post-endangerment finding future.

This accelerated progression becomes even more concerning when one considers a recent study on the deadly nature of wildfires. The researchers, who hail from universities nationwide, found that if climate change continues on its projected path, wildfire smoke is expected to kill 70,000 Americans by the middle of the century.

According to experts, studies such as this one support the assertion that the endangerment finding has enshrined for over a decade: Climate change, if left unregulated, will elicit a public health crisis of unbelievable magnitude.

Moves to dismantle the finding are not the only controversial shift in climate policy since President Trump’s inauguration in January. In fact, on the first day of his second term, the president issued an executive order withdrawing the United States from the Paris Agreement, an international treaty dedicated to climate change mitigation (Trump also removed the United States from the pact during his first term; Joe Biden revived the country’s involvement immediately upon his inauguration in 2021).

Trump has also vowed to expand fossil fuel production in the United States, carrying out a pro-oil agenda that can best be described by its rallying cry: “Drill, baby, drill.” In October, the administration drew rancor from environmental advocates for its decision to open Alaska’s Arctic Wildlife Refuge, a swath of historically-protected land, to fracking.

“I think a lot of people are rightfully feeling disempowered with some of the rollbacks and actions on the federal level,” said Baunsgard.

So what can concerned citizens do in this era of policy upheaval? According to Baunsgard, the answer is simple: Get involved.

“We’re really lucky in Central Oregon that we have a lot of great nonprofit advocacy organizations,” he explained.

Involvement is especially important for young people, he said. After all, this world of smoke and struggle is in the younger generations’ hands. However, in a political climate where the average age of U.S. senators is 64.7 years and the average age of representatives is 57.9, their voices are often absent from the policymaking process.

With this in mind, Baunsgard emphasized the importance of seeking out groups that support one’s environmental interests and contacting political representatives with concerns.

Today, the proposal to repeal the endangerment finding remains in review. In the meantime, there is no doubt that Central Oregonians are living in a changed world: one of wildfire, warming and the everpresent risk of natural disasters. And so, as fires crackle across the West and a snowless winter serves as an omen for summers to come, Central Oregonians wait for the EPA to decide their fate.

The post How an Altered EPA May Impact Central Oregon appeared first on Obsidian News | Oregon Youth Voices.

Camp Fire, a century-old nonprofit dedicated to community-based learning and outdoor leadership, is responsible for a broad base of educational programs nationwide. But for the children of Central Oregon, it is associated with one program in particular: Tumalo Day Camp.

For 36 years, Camp Fire’s local branch has hosted three weeklong summer camps at Tumalo State Park, providing local youth with an opportunity to forge relationships, learn new skills and connect with both their community and the outdoors.

Supported by a dedicated group of volunteers, campers explore the Deschutes River, sing traditional Camp Fire songs and participate in creative activities.

A group of campers participate in a craft project at Tumalo Day Camp on July 21, 2025. / Photo Credit: Laney McDonald

For volunteer Kari Szukalski, the most valuable part of Camp Fire Camp is “watching the kids get more independent as they grow.” 

The camp curriculum is designed to build on itself over the years, and Szukalski said that this concept is particularly striking when it comes to the campers’ paracord bracelets: Each year, as the children advance their knowledge of knot-tying, the bracelets become more complex.

A Counselor-in-Training demonstrates tie-dying techniques to his group at Tumalo Day Camp on July 21, 2025. / Photo Credit: Laney McDonald

Though the camp’s programming ends when campers reach eighth grade, participation is still encouraged. The Counselor-in-Training (CIT) program enables dedicated campers to assume leadership roles, guiding younger attendees through activities with the help of adult volunteers.

According to Camp Director Cece Valceschini, it is the CITs who make Camp Fire Camp special. Serving as role models for young campers, they encourage continued involvement and contribute their own unique flavor to the camp’s culture.

“I wanted to stay involved in it because I thought the CITs were really cool people,” said Mars Thiel, a recent graduate of the CIT program who served as a counselor this summer.

Counselor Mars Thiel shows off their wood cookie, a Camp Fire tradition, at Tumalo Day Camp on July 21, 2025. / Photo Credit: Laney McDonald

Like many who return to camp, Thiel was drawn not just by tradition, but by the energy, friendships and memories that make it feel like home. From skits and campfire songs to arts and crafts, the fun is what keeps kids coming back.

However, for many, Camp Fire offers more than summer entertainment: It’s where lifelong bonds begin.

“New friendships are built here,” said Valceschini, who met her best friend at camp 34 years ago. Now, she helps new campers find connection, encouraging them through silly songs and skits. The goal of Camp Fire Camp, she said, is to provide a space where all participants’ voices are heard and even shyer children have an opportunity to forge friendships with their peers.

“My favorite part of summer camp is hanging out with my friends,” said 9-year-old camper Alta.

Campers make mud pies at Tumalo Day Camp on July 21, 2025. / Photo Credit: Laney McDonald

However, as Bend’s population continues to grow, the camp faces increasing challenges in securing space. Valceschini noted that Tumalo State Park, where the camp occurs, grows “fuller and fuller” each year, making it increasingly difficult to reserve the site. 

Yet, despite more construction, higher demand for public spaces and limited access to outdoor facilities, Valceschini is optimistic about continuing traditions. After all, she said, the camp runs largely on community support, and as long as there is a need in Central Oregon for Tumalo Day Camp, she trusts that volunteers will step up to keep the camp alive.

“Come to camp,” Valceschini said. “New volunteers are always welcome.”

Camp Director Cece Valceschini and Counselor-in-Training Director Cayden Jones celebrate pajama day at Tumalo Day Camp on July 21, 2025. / Photo Credit: Laney McDonald

Over 30 years have passed since the inaugural Tumalo Day Camp, and over that period, little has changed. It has seen generations of children pass through — including Valceschini’s three children and her grandchild — and the camp’s relevance to Central Oregon youth hasn’t waned. Instead, it continues to encourage connection, allowing campers to experience nature, friendship and fun in a way that, for many, is all too rare.

The post Community, Connection, Camp Fire: Tumalo Day Camp Makes Lasting Impact on Bend Youth appeared first on Obsidian News | Oregon Youth Voices.

Sawyer, a dedicated member of the Caldera High School staff, serves alongside two other hall monitors with the primary responsibility of keeping students safe. Her presence is imperative to the school’s security, she said, and she takes her role seriously.

“Me and two other individuals are in charge [of] the safety of every single human being in that school,” said Sawyer, who reported walking around 20,000 steps each day and referred to herself as the “mistress of detention.”

However, over the past several years, Sawyer has found it increasingly difficult to carry out her responsibilities. Since the pandemic, she has noticed a significant rise in behavioral concerns, leading to feelings of burnout among both educators and support staff.

Additionally, underfunding in schools and Bend’s high cost of living have left many employees with financial worries. Sawyer, for example, earns $23.04 an hour compared to an average income of $31.74 in the city of Bend. As a part-time employee, her gross salary is only $23,943 per year.

“It would be a huge morale boost for us to get paid fairly,” Sawyer explained.

Achieving fair pay is a primary objective in the current bargaining process between Bend-La Pine Schools and the Bend Education Association (BEA) and Oregon School Employees Association (OSEA), unions representing local educators and support staff. This spring, school district officials and union representatives have met to discuss a variety of issues in local schools, but salaries have remained at the center of negotiations.

As this process unfolds, many are left wondering why Bend-La Pine Schools would choose to black out the message on Sawyer’s shirt. According to Scott Maben, Director of Communications for Bend-La Pine Schools, the answer lies in the context of the event.

“In our view, the statement detracts from the primary purpose of Excellence in Education, which is to recognize a select group of educators and support staff who go above and beyond in the work they do in our schools,” said Maben.

Sawyer, however, has a very different view on the matter. With concerns regarding compensation and workload hanging over the school district, she felt that a ceremony recognizing incredible employees was the perfect time to draw attention to the common issues faced by the honorees.

“Good people are getting burnt out, truly,” Sawyer emphasized. “And I’m one of them.”

In Sawyer’s eyes, Bend-La Pine Schools’ choice to post the edited — in her opinion, censored — photos shows a refusal to recognize the complex issues faced by public school employees.

“It’s cowardice to [avoid talk of pay inequity] instead of embracing that this is a conversation that we need to have and being bold and trying to make sure that your employees are being taken care of,” Sawyer explained.

While the district’s funding is largely determined at the state level, Sawyer feels that the school district’s decision to erase the message on her shirt demonstrates a lack of transparency and an unwillingness to work alongside school employees in pursuit of a brighter, more equitable future.

The post Bend-La Pine Schools Conceals Call for Increased Pay appeared first on Obsidian News | Oregon Youth Voices.

As Öztürk departed from her off-campus apartment, the 30-year-old Fulbright Scholar was detained by an entourage of black-clad agents from the Department of Homeland Security. In a minute-long video captured by nearby security cameras, Öztürk was handcuffed and marched away, leaving any semblance of normalcy on the sidewalk behind her.

Öztürk, who was pursuing a doctoral degree in Child Study and Human Development at Tufts University prior to her arrest, is only one in a disturbing series of student deportations under the Trump administration. The crackdown began on March 8, when pro-Palestinian activist and former Columbia University graduate student Mahmoud Khalil was detained at his home in New York City and moved to an ICE detention center in Louisiana. At the time, Khalil had a valid green card and his wife, an American citizen, was eight months pregnant.

Since then, the alarming phenomenon has spread nationwide, impacting nearly 1,700 students at Columbia, Stanford and numerous other institutions. Some, like Öztürk and Khalil, have been detained by immigration officials. Others have gone into hiding or “self-deported” due to the resounding fear of arrest.

At a glance, the individual cases seem disconnected, no more than a series of moves in Trump’s ongoing war on immigration. However, when one looks closer, many of the students whose visas have been revoked share one remarkable similarity: association with the pro-Palestine movement.

Khalil, of course, was a leader of the cause during his time as a graduate student at Columbia. Yunseo Chung, a Columbia undergraduate whose visa was revoked on March 10, and Momodou Taal, a Cornell graduate student who has fled the country, were members of similar protest groups. Özturk’s involvement is much less substantial, though she did co-author an op-ed in Tufts’ student newspaper demanding that the school recognize Palestinian oppression and cut financial ties with Israel.

While the administration has yet to share its reasoning in some of the visa revocations, many of the cases are brought under an obscure clause of the Immigration and Nationality Act, which states that “an alien whose presence or activities in the United States the Secretary of State has reasonable ground to believe would have potentially serious adverse foreign policy consequences for the United States is deportable.”

Though the law has never been challenged in the Supreme Court, a 1996 lower court ruling from Judge Maryanne Trump Barry, Trump’s elder sister, found it unconstitutional. In the ruling, she stated that the passage affords far too much power to the Secretary of State and poses a major risk to the freedom and futures of immigrants, even those who live in the country legally. So long as this law remains in place, immigrants must live in fear, terrified that they may soon meet Öztürk or Khalil’s fate.

Judge Trump Barry’s decision closely echoes the claims of the clause’s modern opponents, including the 19 state attorney generals who have urged a federal judge to block further visa cancellations: The wording is simply too vague, allowing for unfettered executive power over deportations and interfering with personal freedom in the process. After all, how can a democracy constructed on the idea of self-determination allow a single man, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, to determine the futures of the nearly 48 million immigrants in our country? That doesn’t sound like life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness to me.

More specific threats to freedom, namely those laid out in the Constitution, must also be taken into consideration. The First Amendment, a document which largely shapes our country’s democracy and legal process, sets aside five crucial rights: free speech, free press, freedom of assembly, freedom of religion and the freedom to petition the government. 

Was Khalil not exercising his Constitutional right to free speech and assembly when he participated in pro-Palestine protests at Columbia? Was Öztürk’s op-ed not protected under freedom of the press? America is built on the ideal of freedom, but if our country was truly free, participating in a protest or co-authoring an article in a student newspaper would not be considered a threat to national security.

Beyond the blatant constitutional violations, the detentions of Öztürk, Khalil and others set an unfortunate precedent for our colleges and universities, whose school environments are enriched by the presence of international students. By threatening the students’ ability to study in the United States, the Trump administration has jeopardized the incredible exchange of cultures and knowledge that occurs on America’s college campuses.

“For me, it’s pretty sad, because I feel like having a chance to study abroad is just amazing,” said Maëlys Wayaffe, a Belgian exchange student attending Summit High School. “You share cultures, languages, and I just think it’s a really great thing.”

Without international students, our universities will be missing a richness of perspectives that they cannot live without. These students remind us that the world is so much wider than the borders of the United States. They remind us that there is more to the pursuit of knowledge than simply reaffirming our own opinions. Perhaps the Trump administration could learn a valuable lesson from them.

The restriction of international students from our campuses is more than a threat to education — it directly undermines  the ideals on which our nation is built. It is a threat to free speech and freedom of the press, freedom of assembly and the freedom to learn as we please. Khalil, Öztürk and the hundreds of other international students who have been threatened with deportation may not be citizens of our country, but we must protect them nonetheless. After all, if their fundamental freedoms are ignored, then what will prevent the administration from ignoring the freedom of all immigrants or, perhaps, all Americans?

The post Student Deportations Call First Amendment Into Question appeared first on Obsidian News | Oregon Youth Voices.

On Jan. 17 and 18, Bend High Theatre presented a series of 10 minute plays, performed in Summit High School’s black box theatre. Ranging from a comedic and inspiring story about a group of superheroes with untraditional “powers” to a profound commentary on life and death, the short scenes bridged a variety of topics and themes. The seven cast members delivered a high quality show, particularly impressive in light of the extenuating circumstances.

For Bend High’s performing arts programs, this year has been unusual to say the least. Following the destruction of the auditorium and theatre classroom, theatre classes, auditions and rehearsals were held in the choir room, a much smaller space than the students and cast members were accustomed to.

The 2024–25 school year represented a period of change for Bend High Theatre in yet another crucial way: This fall marked the beginning of theatre teacher and director Madeline Williams’s time not only at Bend High, but in the profession. Starting out as an educator and taking over a theatre program would be difficult no matter what, but the lack of performance space presented an unanticipated challenge.

“It’s been really, really weird,” said Maddie Taylor, a junior who played Carol in the production. “We use the auditorium every single day. For class, we would go in there, and obviously for productions and rehearsal.”

However, Taylor and her fellow cast members recognize Williams as a guiding light in these dark times, fostering positivity and making the process as smooth as possible. The students involved in the production came armed with passion and determination, and Williams’s leadership helped them turn this into something extraordinary, regardless of the challenges faced along the way.

“I think it just really shows what we can do and how we can adapt,” said Bend High freshman Avery Brown, who played Wabbit Woman, Jessica and Teddy.

But for the program to grow and improve, continuing without designated performance space is not a viable option. Their latest production was impressive, but much smaller-scale than the plays they could put on prior to the loss of their auditorium.

Although members of the theatre department hope that a new auditorium will be built quickly, they recognize that this day will likely not come before they depart Bend High. As it stands now, the reconstruction of the auditorium is slated to occur between June 2026 and August 2028, long after Taylor’s graduation this year and potentially after Brown graduates in 2028.

“If [the Bend High Theatre] were to do something well-known, like a musical or a more well-known play, then I would really hope that they would have a proper auditorium for that,” said Brown.

However, as uncertain as Bend High Theatre’s future remains, they are here to stay. Having successfully executed the series of 10 minute plays, Williams hopes to direct another production this spring. Although plans are not yet set in stone, Williams and her students have made it clear that they will continue to make their mark on the local performing arts community, with or without an auditorium.

As Williams put it, “When the time comes that we do have [an auditorium], it’ll be a great celebration of what we’ve accomplished without one.” An auditorium is important of course, but Williams and her cast of actors have proved that it is not what makes or breaks a theatre group. Passion is the heartbeat of the arts, and as long as dedication flows through their veins, Bend High Theatre will remain, stronger than ever.

The post The Show Must Go On appeared first on Obsidian News | Oregon Youth Voices.

The lawsuit, United States v. Skrmetti, was brought against the state of Tennessee in response to the state’s recent ban on gender-affirming care for minors. The plaintiffs include Nashville residents Samantha and Brian Williams and their 15-year-old transgender daughter and Dr. Susan Lacy, who practices medicine in Memphis. Two additional plaintiffs filed anonymously.

Gender-affirming care, which includes puberty blockers, hormone replacement therapy and surgery, is a part of gender transition for many transgender people, including youth. These forms of treatment help alleviate gender dysphoria, a condition defined by the Mayo Clinic as “a feeling of distress that can happen when a person’s gender identity differs from the sex assigned at birth.” 

A decrease in gender dysphoria is often correlated with improved mental health and general happiness. According to a study performed by the University of Washington, gender-affirming care can decrease depression among transgender youth by 60% and suicidal ideation by a shocking 73%.

“You may have heard folks describe it as life-saving care, and that might sound dramatic…but it really is true for a lot of folks,” said Erin Rook, program manager of GenderHive, a Central Oregon nonprofit working to support transgender youth.

While these statistics are difficult to argue with, gender-affirming care has become yet another point of contention in the culture war regarding transgender rights. Critics question whether these interventions are necessary, especially for those below the age of 18. To supporters of gender-affirming care, the answer seems quite obvious.

“Why wait for something that you know could be helpful now?” asked Rook. This philosophy applies particularly well to puberty blockers, which can temporarily suppress the development of secondary sex characteristics, such as breasts and facial hair, if started before the onset of puberty.

If the Court rules to uphold Tennessee’s law, transgender youth in the 24 states with full or partial bans on gender-affirming care for minors will have no hope of seeking treatment in their home states. A decision in this vein would be devastating, advocates say, potentially leading to a continued exodus of transgender teens from red states to places like Oregon, in which legislation has been passed to protect gender-affirming care access.

“If I never had the hope of transitioning to where I’m happy, I wouldn’t want to continue living to be unhappy forever with something that I can’t change,” said Grey, a transgender teen who is currently receiving hormone-replacement therapy in Bend. “Now, I know I will be able to change it, so I have hope.”

However, this case stands to decide far more than gender-affirming care access for teens like Grey—it will set a precedent for all future cases regarding transgender rights. In order to reach their decision, the Court must consider whether or not the 14th Amendment’s Equal Protection Clause applies to transgender people. 

The clause, which asserts that no state must “deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws,” has been applied to numerous landmark Supreme Court cases regarding race or sex-based discrimination, including Brown v. Board of Education and Obergefell v. Hodges, which established same-sex marriage as a constitutional right. 

The plaintiffs argue that, as the Tennessee law places no restrictions on the same forms of care for cisgender youth, the law violates the Equal Protection Clause based on a person’s gender. However, the state of Tennessee claims that the clause does not apply to this case, or rather, to transgender people in general. After all, they claim that their law does not make distinctions based on biological sex.

If the Court rules that the Equal Protection Clause does not apply to transgender youth, the future ramifications could be devastating. If transgender people are not guaranteed equal protection under the law, LGBTQ+ advocates worry that it will become much easier for state governments to restrict their rights. A decision to uphold Tennessee’s ban will not only embolden opponents of gender-affirming care, but possibly allow for restrictions to bathroom access and the ability to compete on athletic teams matching their gender identity.

This last point is particularly relevant following the passage of a bill in the House of Representatives which will prevent transgender girls and women from competing in women’s sports at the high school level. If the bill succeeds in the Senate, any future challenges will likely mirror the Court’s ruling in this case.

The Court is expected to announce their decision on United States v. Skrmetti this June. Although many analysts suspect that the ban will be upheld, there is little to do but wait. In the meantime, trans people and their allies have a message for those who have politicized their existence and fought to restrict their rights:

“Trans people are just normal people,” Grey emphasized.

The post Gender-Affirming Care on the Chopping Block appeared first on Obsidian News | Oregon Youth Voices.

According to Summit junior Van Russell, who is playing Damian, “Mean Girls” takes on a greater meaning when performed in a high school. The play is a satirical comedy based around teenage drama and social dynamics, and although it is dramatized, the plot rings true to the experiences of many local students.

“It means a lot to share [“Mean Girls”] with high schoolers, especially when the story that it’s telling is a very real thing,” said Russell. “I think that it also shows the message that we generally echo in theater, which is ‘be you.’”

In addition to the relevant themes, “Mean Girls” will feature guest performances from a variety of Summit staff members, including principal Donna Servignat and social studies teacher Marni Spitz. 

“I have a hard time thinking anyone wouldn’t come in and come and just be completely blown away,” said Spitz, who will play a tap-dancing lunch lady and Mrs. Heron, the main character’s mom.

While the cast is made up entirely of Summit students and staff, all Bendites are encouraged to attend. So clear your calendars—there is no doubt that Summit Theatre Company will turn this show into one worth seeing.

The post ‘Mean Girls’ Comes to Summit appeared first on Obsidian News | Oregon Youth Voices.

Boulley’s influence reached Central Oregon on Sunday, Oct. 6, when the author visited Bend’s High Desert Museum to deliver a speech chronicling her journey to publication at the age of 55 and sharing the importance of Native American voices in literature. The event drew a large audience and copies of Boulley’s books sold out within minutes afterwards.

The event was part of the High Desert Museum’s Indigenous Speakers Series, an initiative designed to highlight Indigenous voices from Central Oregon and beyond. As a proud member of the Ojibwe nation and Michigan’s Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians, Boulley was thrilled to participate in the series and educate members of the Bend community on the importance of Native American storytelling.

“I think that books are good medicine,” Boulley said. “Good medicine is when you read a story and you learn, you feel connected to people maybe very different than yourself, and I just think storytelling has that power to connect us to universal humanity.” 

Dana Whitelaw, Ph.D, executive director of the High Desert Museum, shares Boulley’s opinion on the power of literature to connect people across cultures and backgrounds. 

“We love the literary arts at the Museum and when we can bring in fabulously acclaimed authors like [Boulley], we get excited because they are people that we have read, that have informed our work, and it elevates our work so much,” said Whitelaw.

Additionally, Boulley emphasized the value of reading Indigenous stories by Indigenous authors rather than the glossed-over and inaccurate versions so often perpetuated in mainstream literature. According to the Cooperative Children’s Book Center, a branch of University of Wisconsin–Madison’s School of Education, 55 children’s or young adult books about Indigenous people were published in 2016, just 1.6% of all children’s books published that year. Of those books, only 23 were written by Indigenous authors. This has been a longstanding trend in the publishing industry, and despite the efforts of Boulley and her fellow Native American writers to rectify it, the issue remains prevalent.

“I think it’s very important for Native authors to be telling Native stories and that those be the stories that people are reading rather than a whitewashed or trauma-focused version that doesn’t bear resemblance to what I know to be true,” Boulley explained.

Whitelaw is a strong supporter of Boulley’s sentiment, and hopes that the Indigenous Speakers Series, which is set to continue for the foreseeable future, will bring truth about Native American experiences and identity to the people of Bend. While learning about Indigenous culture is important in any part of the nation, it is especially relevant to Central Oregonians, as Bend is built upon the ancestral land of the Warm Springs, Wasco and Northern Paiute peoples. Members of these tribes now reside just over an hour away on the Warm Springs Reservation, but their culture and legacy still play a major role in Bend’s history.

“The more that organizations like the High Desert Museum bring these stories and the awareness to our audience, the more well-versed we all are in the depth of stories and knowledge that we have,” said Whitelaw. “It’s an incredibly rich array of cultures that we have here.”

There is much to learn from Boulley’s groundbreaking portrayals of Indigenous women and communities, but as it turns out, there is just as much to learn from the author herself. She got the publishing deal for her first book, “Firekeeper’s Daughter,” in her fifties, and as she puts it, the story was 36 years in the making. 

The idea for the book was sparked by an experience with a local drug investigation at the age of 18, and although the plot and characters continued to percolate in her mind for years following the incident, she did not believe that she could make it as a writer. Instead, she found a different passion: supporting Native American students in the public school system. However, as the years passed, she realized that her desire to write did not fade with time, and made the decision to start the first draft of her book.

“There are so many people that feel like they have a story to tell and feel like, ‘Oh, maybe I’m too old, maybe I missed my chance,’ and really, I was a debut author at 55,” said Boulley. “Sharing my experience really might give hope to other people that want to tell their stories that it’s possible.” 

Through her speaking engagements, Boulley hopes to convey that literary success is not limited to people of a certain age or demographic. She didn’t start writing creatively until her forties. Her undergraduate studies were in Business and Political Science. She has no workshop experience or prestigious Master of Fine Arts degree to put on her resume. She is just a woman with a story to tell, and that is all it takes to be a writer.

In the end, Boulley’s writing and speaking serves a dual purpose: to bring representation to the members of her tribal community and to help white readers understand what it means to be Indigenous in modern America. Telling Native American stories may not reverse the damage of the past or fix the struggles faced by tribal communities today, but it sparks awareness, and that spark can start a flame. As the daughter of a traditional Ojibwe firekeeper, this flame is one Boulley is well equipped to keep.

The post ‘Stories Are Good Medicine’: Angeline Boulley on Representation, Success and the Power of Storytelling appeared first on Obsidian News | Oregon Youth Voices.

Once Norman has confirmed that everything is in its place, the crew members pile into their truck, which has a pride flag draped over the dashboard, and discuss their plans to clean up the Cultus Lake day use area and do fire mitigation work around the Fall River Guard Station. One crew member, Grace Lickwar, takes her turn calling out to dispatch on the truck’s radio, stating their schedule and intended destination. Afterwards, they cue up a playlist of their favorite songs and lapse into a comfortable silence.

In many ways, this group of dedicated youth is just like any other COYCC crew working around Central Oregon this summer—they are teens aged 16–18, working for eight weeks and earning $15 per hour, all with a mission of familiarizing themselves with the conservation field. But there is something unique about Norman’s crew that sets them apart: Every member is part of the LGBTQ+ community.

The LGBTQ R.I.S.E. (Respect, Inclusion, Strength, Equity) Crew was founded this year through the efforts of Norman and her colleague Madi Cunningham, Summer Programs Manager for COYCC’s parent organization, the Heart of Oregon Corps. Cunningham was the one to propose the idea, and Norman was thrilled to receive an invitation to lead the crew. 

Coming from a wildland firefighting background, Norman knows firsthand what it’s like to work for the Forest Service as a queer person, and she has made it her mission to teach the members of the LGBTQ R.I.S.E. Crew that there are opportunities for them in the conservation field. They participate in the same activities as any other COYCC crew, including cleaning up local recreation areas, maintaining trails, mitigating fire risk and managing invasive species. Over the course of the summer, they explored many out-of-the-way places across Central Oregon and learned valuable skills that could put them at an advantage in a variety of careers. However, in addition to their hands-on conservation work, the crew has met with a variety of LGBTQ+ representatives and Forest Service employees. By introducing the teens to older queer role models, Norman hopes to inspire them to pursue their dreams.

LGBTQ R.I.S.E. Crew members and crew leader Mack Norman spend a day at Lava Butte with OUT Central Oregon President Lauren Rose and Vice President Stefanie Siebold. Credit: Mack Norman

“I think that the major [difference between the LGBTQ R.I.S.E. Crew and other COYCC crews] right now is just [that we are] getting people to show up and be who they are and show the youth that it’s possible to be out and it’s possible to be a strong leader in a workplace, even as an LGBTQ person,” Norman explained. “[Conservation] is grueling work and it tends to be a more stereotypically masculine, tough space, and I think it’s important to have the diversity and be able to find different strengths within the affinity space.”

The conservation field may not always feel like a safe space for queer people, but the LGBTQ R.I.S.E. Crew certainly has been. For Alexander Haley, a transmasc Redmond Proficiency Academy (RPA) student, the program has been an incredible chance to explore his interest in forestry and conservation in a queer-friendly environment.

“I’ve felt nothing but acceptance, I feel comfortable, I feel no hatred towards me or my identity, and I feel safe,” said Haley.

Lickwar, a transfem Realms High School graduate, has had a similarly positive experience with the R.I.S.E. Crew. When she began thinking about summer jobs in the spring, she was concerned that she may not feel comfortable in her workplace. After seeing an informational flier about the crew posted at her school, Lickwar quickly made the decision to apply.

“Being with other queer people is always great because you already have that base level of shared experience,” she said. In addition to the strong sense of community she has felt as a member of the LGBTQ R.I.S.E. Crew, Lickwar has appreciated the opportunity to spend time outside and explore remote areas of Central Oregon.

“I think that having spaces where people can learn about themselves and express themselves at the same time is great, and I think being outside is a wonderful place to have that [experience],” she said.

Mountain View High School student Makenna Lambert also appreciated the opportunity to be open about her identity in the outdoors and in the workplace.

“I feel like I can be a part of the team and do my job without constantly feeling like I need to hide,” said Lambert. All the members expressed satisfaction with their time working on the LGBTQ R.I.S.E. Crew this summer, and encourage other teens to consider the program.

RPA student Hannah Waldeck, for one, hopes that her peers will take a chance and apply, even if they aren’t sure that they will like it.

“[I would recommend the LGBTQ R.I.S.E. Crew to] anyone who’s queer, even if you’re not an outdoorsy person,” said Waldeck, who was pleasantly surprised by how “welcoming and open” the crew has been.

The LGBTQ R.I.S.E. Crew poses with a pride flag in Drake Park. Credit: Mack Norman

Norman echoed this sentiment, saying “I think if any youth wants to [join the LGBTQ R.I.S.E. Crew], it could be a really amazing start to their career and it could also be a really amazing start as a human being, entering the world and into their adult life.” This is Norman’s main goal of the program, after all—to show the next generation of queer people that there’s a place for them, both in their career and in their lives as a whole.

“It’s really exciting to be a part of this,” said Norman. “Being queer and being out is still a very new thing. There are still some places where we are not safe in our own country, and I think it’s really amazing to be a part of something where we can actually make it happen and be out and show people that it’s okay to be different.” The LGTBQ R.I.S.E. Crew is an incredible opportunity for Central Oregon’s queer teens, and its first summer was a resounding success. With Norman at the lead, it will surely be the first of many.

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