Milwaukie and Grand Ronde leaders dedicate First Fish Herons at Milwaukie Bay Park

City and tribal leaders on the banks of the Willamette dedicated three seasonal public sculptures known as First Fish Herons at Milwaukie Bay Park, celebrating an Indigenous first‑fish practice and a formal city–tribal partnership.

David Harrelson, cultural resources department manager for the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde, said the herons are intended to mark the spring Chinook run and the tribe’s obligation to the salmon. “And when the first fish comes up the river and it’s caught, all fishing stops for five days,” Harrelson said, describing the ceremony that the artworks recall.

The project grew from a 2020 call by Portland’s Monuments and Memorials Committee and was selected for a public exhibition, Harrelson said. The city and tribe later agreed that Milwaukie Bay Waterfront was an appropriate public site. Harrelson said the tribe commissioned three artists this year—Greg Archuleta, Bobby Mercier and Travis Stewart—and that the pieces will be installed on plinths only while fish are in the river; when the run ends the artworks will be removed.

Scott Stauffer, city recorder and administrative services director for the City of Milwaukie, described the multi‑year process and city approvals that led to the public exhibition. He said the city council and the North Clackamas Parks & Recreation District supported the project and that city staff negotiated an intergovernmental agreement with the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde beginning in 2022; the agreement was signed in October 2024 and governs the seasonal public exhibition.

Artist Greg Archuleta, a member of the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde, spoke in the tribal language and recounted family connections to the Willamette and the annual ceremony that marks the fishing season. “The first fish ceremony is something that we’ve done annually now,” Archuleta said, explaining the cultural role of the heron as a watcher for the first returning fish.

Bobby Mercier, one of the commissioned artists, thanked attendees and described the significance of placing work back in the river landscape. “I’m one of the fishermen for the tribe,” Mercier said, speaking of his family’s ties to nearby villages and the river.

Milwaukie Mayor Lisa Beatty framed the artworks as part of broader habitat restoration efforts along the Willamette. “These new artworks are also emblematic of our collective work for a healthier Willamette,” Beatty said, and she noted ongoing projects including plans to remove Kellogg Dam and restore fish passage.

John George, secretary of the tribal council for the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde, recounted tribal history around Willamette Falls and said the tribe’s recent land purchases and programs aim to restore cultural connections and bring economic and tourism benefits to the area. “Our people have returned to the falls,” George said.

Organizers credited philanthropic support and local partners for making the project possible. Harrelson thanked the Miller Foundation, Oregon Community Foundation and Meyer Memorial Trust and noted assistance from the North Clackamas Parks & Recreation District. Attendees were invited to take photos at the herons; Harrelson said another set of herons will be installed next March as part of the program’s annual cycle.

The dedication concluded with gifts presented to city leaders and a closing performance of a Blue Heron song by the tribal singers. Officials said the seasonal installation is intended both to honor tribal cultural practice and to draw public attention to salmon habitat and ongoing park development efforts.