Without opening a history book, it can be hard to see the presence of the Cowlitz villages that once dotted the Cowlitz River.
Now, a vibrant reminder of the area’s first inhabitants is located in downtown Longview, less than a mile from one of the local waterways the tribe once called home.
Sarah Folden, a tribe member, has completed The Broad Strokes Project’s eighth mural, this time showcasing the traditions of the Cowlitz Indian Tribe on Commerce Avenue on the side of the Pals for Hair building, near Keebler Coffee Roasters.
“We are honored to be hosting the artwork,” said Liz Borders, president of The Broad Strokes Project. “It’s definitely the first Cowlitz mural in the Kelso-Longview area, and we feel that it’s such a crucial part of our identity that it deserves to celebrated.”
The tribe’s land is located in what is now known as Clark, Cowlitz, Lewis and parts of Pierce, Skamania and Wahkiakum counties.
While previous Broad Strokes murals have highlighted Longview history, this time the nonprofit aimed to feature the community who called the area home before Longview was dedicated as a mill town in 1923.
“Part of the goal is to put up artwork that represents the place where you live, and the Cowlitz tribe is a huge and original part of that,” Borders said. “I think often in Longview, we see lots and lots of representations of the mill and lumber works, but we weren’t the first ones here, so it’s really nice to showcase what came before and still exists now.”
‘Our culture is still alive’
The tribal artist, who lives in Toledo, reached out to the nonprofit with interest in painting a mural earlier this year, and recently completed another mural in Olympia featuring her contemporary Coast Salish style.
Folden said her personal goal is show people the tribe’s culture isn’t a relic of the past.
“I knew I wanted it to be really representative of our tribal people, and I’m passionate about showing the community that our culture is still alive and thriving,” she said. “I know it breaks down stereotypes that Native Americans are something that used to be here.”
Folden focuses on nature. In her Longview mural, look for plants such as fireweed, yarrow, Oregon grape and the madrone tree to also make an appearance in front of mountains and a canoe journey.
The clouds in the sky feature a Cowlitz basket weaving design within them, and in the texture and shadows of the mountains, she incorporates art styles found on 4,000-year-old Coast Salish artifacts.
“It’s cool because it gives a little whisper of our ancestral heritage here,” Folden said.
Integrated with the images of the natural world is a Cowlitz canoe family undertaking a traditional Pacific Northwest canoe journey, which still occurs today and typically draws at least 100 canoes from as far as California, Alaska and British Columbia, along with thousands of spectators.
Folden said tribes take turns hosting other tribes at villages’ sites, performing traditional landings and providing potlucks, prayers, songs and dance in traditional regalia. These journeys restore culture and build strength in their communities, she said, on top of being a powerful spiritual experience.
“They’re culture keepers, which is just pivotal to our survival,” she said about the canoe families. “I wanted to honor them and the Cowlitz River and all the foothills and mountains around us.”
Folden said she specially focuses on creating pieces along the historic Cowlitz Trail.
The trail ran between the Columbia River and Puget Sound to create a major north-south trade route in the area now known as the Interstate 5 corridor, according to a Historylink.org article. The southern part was on the water leaving the Columbia River to the Cowlitz River to present-day Toledo, where tribes left canoes and headed on foot to Puget Sound.
‘Know our story’
The mural at 1146 Commerce Ave. is roughly 22 to 25 feet high and 100 feet long, Folden said.
It takes about a week and a half to put up a mural like this, weather permitting.
Typically Broad Strokes identifies a building owner who would like to have a mural and pairs that person with an artist who hopefully has a similar vision on what should be part of that artwork.
Although the building owner has a chance to request revisions on the design, Borders said the owner did not make any changes to Folden’s plan.
“It’s really our function as an organization to make good matches between artists and building owners, and when we do our job right, the artist gets lots and lots of creative freedom,” Borders said.
People from all around the community have helped bring these murals to life through grants, donations from individuals and civic organizations and in-kind donations from businesses.
Borders said a lot of the paint was donated from Miller Paint, and United Rentals provided the equipment for this mural. Sunbelt has also provided equipment in the past.
The mural should last at least five years, but it may stick around for longer, depending on the weather. Borders said she hopes to start adding a clear coat to the project’s murals to protect them from the elements.
Next up on The Broad Strokes plans to use vinyl wraps to decorate electrical boxes. Borders said she hopes to involve the Kelso and Longview public schools in that venture. She’s still working out the details, so they might not be completed until next year.
Many volunteers also came out to help Folden fill in the paint on her design, including Native youth who she thinks might like to get additional exposure to their culture. Folden estimated the project had 50 to 60 volunteers.
“I like to make people in the community feel involved with project. I think it gives a sense of pride and ownership,” Folden said.
She thinks a lot about the impact her work can have on young people.
“I want people to know our story, and I really, really want Native youth in the community to see this as a point of pride and identity,” Folden said.
