A sculpture unveiled; a vision for the future
On December 14, 2024, the Native American Youth and Family Center (NAYA) celebrated a momentous event in Portland’s cultural landscape — the unveiling of a new public art installation, Raven’s Welcome. This stunning sculpture, created by Terresa White, a Yup’ik and mixed European artist from rural Oregon, stands as a symbol of healing, community, and cultural resurgence for the region’s Native people. Commissioned by NAYA in partnership with the City of Portland and the Regional Arts and Culture Council, Raven’s Welcome is the first of the planned public art pieces aimed at enhancing the city’s connection to Native heritage and creating spaces for healing and transformation.
The event began with a blessing from Cowlitz Indian Tribe Spiritual Leader Tanna Engdahl read by Violet (Tohono O’odham), a youth resident of Mamook Tokatee, followed by the Portland All Nations Canoe Family who offered a prayer and sang a Water song. Esteemed guests Portland City Commissioner Carmen Rubio and Kristin Calhoun, Director of Public Art for the Regional Arts and Culture Council shared remarks about the importance of representation and access to public art, and why this installation meant so much to them. More than 70 community members and nearby residents joined NAYA in the unveiling ceremony at Mamook Tokatee.
The Artist’s Vision: Raven as a Messenger of Healing and Unity
Raven’s Welcome is a stunning 8-foot-tall bronze and basalt sculpture that was installed along NE 42nd Avenue in Cully, one of Portland’s largest neighborhoods. Situated just south of the Columbia River and near the confluence of the Willamette River, Cully has long been a gathering place for Indigenous people — a place to live, work, trade, and play. However, the land, air, and water of the area have suffered from pollution and contamination over the years. It is in this context that Raven’s Welcome holds deep significance.
From her blog post titled “Public Art”, Artist Terresa White shares that Raven is a Relative tied to transformation, healing, and spiritual connection. “The Raven sculpture recalls the cultural significance of this special place and its proximity to the Rivers,” she explains. “Raven will join the active call of Cully neighbors, businesses, community organizations, the City of Portland, and allies to join together in community and good stewardship of the Rivers, Land, and air to benefit all.”
Raven has long been an important figure in Indigenous stories. In many Alaska Native cultures, Raven is seen as both a trickster and a messenger, often embodying change and transformation. Through White’s lens, Raven becomes a force for healing and a catalyst for change within the Cully community, one that seeks to restore balance between people, the Land, and the Rivers that have long sustained them.
The design is rich with symbolism. The central human face of the sculpture represents both a human person and Raven’s Yua, or spirit. White crafted the face with the intention of invoking healing, goodwill, and friendship, much like the Friendship Amulets she creates. The hands of the sculpture, with their truncated thumbs and the hole in the center, are a common element in Yup’ik material culture. Here, the hands are not merely decorative; they act as a gesture of invitation and connection, reaching out to the viewer with the openness of an arm or wing. The hole in the palm, an open circle, symbolizes a portal—a space through which healing and transformation might flow. This image of an open hand offers an invitation, pulling the viewer into a relationship with the sculpture, with the community, and with the spirit of Raven. It is not just an object to be viewed but an experience to be felt.
Public Art as Cultural Empowerment and Representation
The installation of Raven’s Welcome is about more than just beautifying a public space; it is about empowering the Native community and correcting misrepresentations. Public art is a critical tool in reclaiming Native voices and creating visible representations of Indigenous peoples in urban environments. In a city like Portland, with a Native population of around 70,000 — one of the largest urban Native communities in the U.S. — art is a way to assert Native presence, pride, and cultural identity.
Public art is a form of joy that should be accessible to all, regardless of background or economic status. For NAYA, public art is a vital means of ensuring that the cultural wealth of Native communities is both seen and celebrated. It provides an opportunity for cultural expression, reconciliation, and public education, all while engaging both Native and non-Native populations in meaningful dialogue about the past, present, and future of Indigenous peoples in this area.
In this light, Raven’s Welcome is not just a work of art; it is a living, breathing testament to the power of Native people to shape the city in which they live, work, and raise their families. NAYA is taking a stand for Indigenous cultural representation in public spaces, ensuring that future generations can see their heritage reflected in the urban landscape.
Empowering Communities through Culture
NAYA was founded by the community, for the community. NAYA works to sustain Native traditions while building cultural wealth. With a holistic, wraparound approach to support families — youth-centered, family-driven, and elder-guided — NAYA provides culturally-specific programs and services to empower Native families and help them achieve balance, success, and well-being.
NAYA’s work is rooted in the belief that cultural identity is key to personal empowerment and community resilience. Through art, education, and other life-affirming programs, NAYA helps to build a sense of belonging and pride among the Native community in Portland, ensuring that Native voices are heard and valued. The unveiling of Raven’s Welcome is part of this larger effort to bring Indigenous culture into public spaces, to make beautiful that which has often been overlooked, and to promote cultural healing and transformation.
The unveiling of Raven’s Welcome is only the beginning. NAYA is planning at least two more public art installations in the coming year, creating a cultural corridor in Cully, and continuing to expand the presence of Indigenous art in the city. Each installation will carry its own unique story, vision, and message—yet all will share the common goal of honoring Native heritage, promoting healing, and building stronger, more inclusive communities.
As Raven’s Welcome stands tall on NE 42nd Avenue, it will remind the people of Portland of the importance of stewardship, community, and cultural resilience. It will invite all who pass by to reflect, engage, and become part of the transformation that is happening in the heart of the Cully neighborhood—and beyond.
NAYA thanks the City of Portland and the Regional Arts and Culture Council for their partnership and support in bringing Raven’s Welcome to Cully.