Remembering, Recognizing, and Responding

The Patricia Reser Center for the Arts is examining its role as an arts institution in remembering, recognizing, and responding to the systems that have disempowered, dehumanized, and denigrated Indigenous People. We recognize the resilience and strength of the Native Tribes, particularly the Atfalati Kalapuyan People, the original guardians of the land we are on. They have managed to keep keeping on in spite of these systems.

We seek to remember our collective United States’ history.

We seek to recognize the transformative power of the arts to educate and inspire.

We seek to respond in an intentional, mission-aligned, and ethical way.

Over this year, the Board, staff, and invited members of the Oregon Indigenous Community will explore what it looks like for the Reser to remember, recognize, and respond. As part of this effort, we begin by “showing our work” on this site. We approach this work with curiosity, humility, and a commitment to learning. Our goal is to update this site every quarter.

As of September 25, 2026

The following questions have led us here. If you would like to share your recommendations and resources, please email our executive director Chris Ayzoukian at cayzoukian@thereser.org. 

1. How might The Reser authentically take action to acknowledge the land’s history and the contributions of the Native community?
2. How might The Reser better understand what is being done and what needs to be done in relationship to the land, its resources, and the people, including Indigenous People and other communities?
3. How might The Reser embed Indigenous lifeways across all its work?
4. How might The Reser meaningfully engage tribal communities as true partners, rather than limiting its effort to symbolic gestures?
5. How might The Reser connect and engage with Indigenous communities? How do we identify which tribal groups are least heard and listened to?
6. How might The Reser share its work on all efforts towards equity and access?