(Woodburn, Ore.)—More than two cords of firewood from the Tillamook State Forest were dropped off by Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) staff at the MacLaren Youth Correctional Facility in Woodburn recently. The wood will be used in culturally sustaining services for incarcerated youth who identify as Native American.
“In these times of tight budgets, we are grateful for the wonderful donation to support our youth,” said Griselda Solano‑Salinas, Director, Office of Inclusion and Intercultural Relations for the Oregon Youth Authority (OYA). “Our office helps coordinate Native American special events, activities and celebrations at MacLaren and other OYA facilities. These include smudging ceremonies, powwows, sweat lodge, drum circles, arts and crafts, and more. A campfire is often the focal point of many of these activities.”
The OYA typically has around 50 youth at its facilities that identify as Native American. “Our goal is to connect them with their community through an explanation and exploration of their traditions and beliefs and help them better understand their roots and culture,” said Solano-Salinas. “Our hope is this reconnection helps them be proud of their heritage and become productive citizens by living their culture values after they leave OYA.”
The donation may make a big impact at OYA but is a relatively small amount of the firewood generated by adults in custody (AICs) at the South Fork Forest Camp in the middle of Tillamook State Forest. The camp is jointly operated by the Department of Corrections and ODF.
“Throughout the year our South Fork AIC crews cut up downed trees after storms and remove other hazard trees on or near roads, trails and recreational sites,” said Brian Burchfield, ODF’s shop foreman at South Fork. “Each year we provide our REI (Recreation, Education, Interpretation) program 100 cords of firewood to sell at Tillamook State Forest campgrounds.”
The $5 bundles of wood not only generate funds for ODF’s REI programs but also makes it easy to “buy it where you burn it” a best practice to avoid spreading tree diseases. ODF actively manages state forest land to provide economic, environmental, and social benefits to Oregonians and this donation is one of many small ways ODF strives to fulfill that management goal.
For more on OYA’s Native American Services see: Oregon Youth Authority : Native American Services : Office of Inclusion and Intercultural Relations : State of Oregon
For more on ODF and DOC’s South Fork Forest Camp see: Oregon Department of Forestry : Adults in custody rehabilitation : Forest benefits : State of Oregon