Honoring Indigenous Connections to the Clackamas River
For generations, Indigenous peoples have lived along and cared for the Clackamas River and the lands and waters of its watershed. Traditional artwork and carvings once stood along riverbanks throughout the basin, but few of these visible reminders remain today.
CRBC helped restore that visible connection through a series of Indigenous artwork installed at public parks along the Clackamas River. Created by traditional carver and Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde member Bobby Mercier, the sculptures invite visitors to learn more about the Indigenous history and enduring cultural connections of the Clackamas River watershed.
Three sculptures are installed at parks along the river:
- Milo McIver State Park
- Barton Park
- Riverside Park
Together, the installations create opportunities for visitors to encounter Indigenous artwork while spending time along the Clackamas River.
The artwork
Bobby Mercier is a traditional carver and a member of the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde. He created the sculptures as an independent artist through Bear Tracks. His work brings Indigenous artistry into public spaces along the Clackamas River and provides visitors with an opportunity to encounter contemporary Indigenous artwork in the watershed.
At Riverside Park, Mercier’s sculpture, The Headman, was dedicated during a ribbon-cutting ceremony on August 12, 2026. The celebration included Bobby Mercier and a drum and song performance by the Agency Creek Singers.
The sculptures at Barton Park and Milo McIver State Park extend this opportunity farther upstream, creating a series of places where visitors can encounter Indigenous artwork as they travel along the Clackamas River.
Why are we bring artwork to public places
The Clackamas River Basin Council is an environmental restoration and protection organization. So what are we doing bringing art into public spaces? We learned from Bobby Mercier that Indigenous art was once found all along the Clackamas River, serving as landmarks and cultural connectors used and respected by Indigenous Peoples. Nearly all of this artwork has been lost or destroyed.
We are aiming to restore not only our habitats, but also lost cultural elements that have deep meaning for local Indigenous communities. We believe that through these efforts, we can help with healing and recovery in a watershed we care so much for.
Our hope is that these installations encourage curiosity, respect, and a stronger connection to the Clackamas River and the people, plants, animals, and communities that depend on it.
Thank you to all who made this possible
We are grateful to the artists, partners, funders, and community members who helped bring this project to life.
Funding for the project came from Oregon’s Mt. Hood Territory, Sunrise Community Coalition, the Drinking Water Provider Partnership, and the U.S. Forest Service.
Interpretive Signage
In addition to the artwork and interpretive panels detailed above, Clackamas River Basin Council has created another series of permanent interpretive signs along the Clackamas River. CRBC designed the signs to educate park users about the Clackamas watershed, history and natural heritage of the region, salmon life cycle and habitat needs, native and invasive plants, and how individuals can support watershed health. Signs can be found at Barton Park, Carver Boat Ramp, Eagle Fern Park, and Metzler Park.
Thank you to our partners involved in this project including Clackamas County Parks, OWEB, ODFW, Clackamas County SWCD, and the Confederated Tribes of Grande Ronde and Warm Springs.
Email info@clackamasriver.org with questions or feedback on this project.
Download Sign PDFs:
Connecting people to the river
The sculptures and accompanying interpretive panels are intended to make Indigenous history and cultural connections more visible in places where we gather, recreate, and experience the river.
The interpretive panels share information about the cultural and ecological history of the Clackamas watershed, helping us understand that these lands and waters have long been connected to Indigenous peoples and communities.