The Common Acre Begins With the Soil

We reconnect humans with nature through the medium of restoration, conservation and growing culturally relevant foods, and seek to restore a living food system that feeds our minds and nourishes our communities. With Indigenous Landscape Designer Demarus Tevuk, TCA is redirecting some of our collaborative programs to center Native plants and first foods. This is part of a broader effort aiming to make our programs more inclusive to local Urban Indigenous and Coast Salish peoples.

In October 2022, TCA began to Indigenize one of our core program sites. We took a trip in September to gather common camas bulbs, and afterward, transplanted the bulbs with BIPOC community members at our site “The Green Line.”

The Green Line is a community stewardship project taking place in the transmission corridor of Seattle City Light in upper Rainier Beach. This is the space under high-voltage power lines and previously, it was primarily inhabited by invasive weeds. We took an additional trip in May 2023 to gather blooming camas and chocolate lily, at the Pacific Rim Institute and at the Gates Foundation. We transplanted camas and chocolate lily at our Native Plant Celebration with over 30 BIPOC community members and our BIPOC Youth Conversation and Restoration cohort.

Culture Camps for Intergenerational Teaching of First Foods

Upon reflecting on the success of this program, during a strategic planning retreat, TCA’s board agreed the next step for TCA is to focus our programming on culture camps. One of the workshops at our first culture camp will focus on canning chocolate lily we planted at The Green Line, an important first food to Unangan people of Alaska as well as Coast Salish people.

During WWII, some Unangan/Unangas that lived in Alaskan villages on the Aleutian Islands were evacuated, and placed into internment camps. Our Executive Director, Talia London's Great Uncle William Ermeloff, was a survivor of the internment camps. When Unangan/Unangas were finally set free, some people went back to their villages, however, a majority of people left their villages and sought to live in Urban areas for safety.

This historical event has impacted Unangan/Unangas ability to transfer Indigenous knowledge and culture onto the next generation. TCA staff Talia London and Ashley Alvarez, who are both Unangan, would like to organize culture camps in Seattle, WA in 2024. Currently, 5 culture camps operate in Alaska but many Unangan moved to Coast Salish lands after WWII. Culture camps provide an opportunity for Unangan/Unangas of all ages to learn about their culture through hands-on cultural activities and build relationships with other Unangan/Unangas. TCA staff plan to host culture camps in the PNW in 2024, at The Green Line and TCA seeks to make Unangax̂ culture accessible to our community living as guests on Coast Salish lands.

We are excited to connect with our partners to host culture camps in 2024.

We know that together we can initiate a culture camp in Seattle - this is where you come in!

Can you help us join Unangan/Unanagas efforts to revitalize Unangax̂ culture - by supporting our organization and efforts?

Give to TCA and help us connect youth, adults and elders to culture knowledge keepers, and revitalize Unangax̂ culture.

The common acre is a 501c3, your gift will be tax deductible. Upon giving you will receive a tax-deductible receipt. This donation receipt will act as official proof of the contribution, and help you claim a tax deduction.

Support The Common Acre and Unangan Culture Camps

Team Members