View the artwork featured throughout Three Rivers Health Center and learn more about it’s meaning and cultural significance for CTCLUSI Tribal members.
Three Rivers Health Center Logo
Each component of the Three Rivers Health Center logo has special meaning and symbolism for the Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw Indians.
The caduceus is a well know symbol of medicine. Morgan has taken this recognizable insignia and “Indigenized” it to represent a more culturally appropriate take on health and wellness by the Tribe, for the Tribe, and general community.
The Eagle represents strength and resilience. He brings wisdom and is a guardian for the Health Center, its patients and staff.
The Leister spear staff is a traditional tool created “hiis haiyach” (with a good heart) and represents the modern tools of medicine that the Health Center staff will wield “hiis haiyach.”
The Lamprey are a traditional food source of CTCLUSI. Once abundant in the rivers of our homelands, the lamprey were nearly wiped out. Through their resilience and the stewardship of Tribal people and partnerships with other agencies, they are making a strong comeback. They represent the strength of the people and the importance of traditional foods as wellness encompasses mind, body, and spirit.
The Sun rays are made of a basket pattern called “Medicine Mountain.” This symbol is seen on many of our traditional woven baskets and represents health, wellness and prosperity.
The Three Rivers at the bottom of the logo are the same symbol used in the logo of the Three Rivers Casino Resort and Three Rivers Foundation. The Three Rivers are the Coos, Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw Rivers. The rivers run through the traditional territory homelands of the Tribes. Water is life.
Logo design by Morgan Gaines, Quuiich (Lower Umpqua) Tribal Member of The Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua & Siuslaw Indians.
Artwork
Photography by Morgan Gaines, Quuiich (Lower Umpqua) Tribal Member of the Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua & Siuslaw Indians. You can view all of the artwork below (hover each image to read the description) or view a PDF file of all the artwork.
Photo taken from the point of view of the canoe pullers. A traditional cedar canoe hat is wore by the person wrapped in the red blanket at center. These hats are wore to help keep the sun out of the eyes of the canoe pullers but still allow sight through the weave of the brim. This photo was taken during the 2016 Reconciliation Ceremony between CTCLUSI and the Tall Ships crew that sail through the bay area. They come to Coos Bay in a good way, asking permissions for the Tribe to come ashore in an attempt to reconcile the landing of the first visitors to the homeland and waterways of the Coos Bay area.
Cedar bark bailers are used to scoop water out of the canoe when needed. Pictured inside this bailer are myrtle nuts. These nuts are a traditional food source that is roasted; their are generally two takes on the taste. Some people think they taste of heavily roasted coffee or popcorn. Roses made of cedar strips and salal leaves also sit in the bailer. The bailer sits atop a beaded collar, a traditional piece of regalia worn by members of CTCLUSI during ceremony and other special occasions.
Pulling cedar dug out canoe Lottie along the Umpqua River outside of Reedsport, Oregon. Skipper Chief Doug Barrett steers the canoe with a paddle as the pullers use their leaf shaped canoe paddles to pull Lottie through the water.
Bundles of wrapped sage and lavender are pictured spilling out of a woven tule basket. Sage and lavender are a few of the traditional plants used for smudging to cleans a space or person or both in ceremonial or everyday practices.
A woven tule basket holds mug wort, the traditional smudging plant of the Quuiich (Lower Umpqua) members of CTCLUSI. An abalone shell holds myrtle nuts; a traditional food source of the Tribe. Also pictured is a hand drum made of a wood frame and deer hide.
Close up macro photography of a traditional basket cap. This basket cap is woven out of spruce root. The lighter section of the cap are overlayed with bear grass and the darker designs of the cap are overlayed with maiden hair fern. This basket cap has multiple designs incorporated around it for decorative purposes. Basket caps were worn for ceremonial use as well other special events and times.
Close up macro photography of a traditional basket cap. This basket cap is woven out of spruce root. The lighter section of the cap are overlayed with bear grass and the darker designs of the cap are overlayed with maiden hair fern. This basket cap has multiple designs incorporated around it for decorative purposes. Basket caps were worn for ceremonial use as well other special events and times.
Close up macro photography of a traditional basket cap. This basket cap is woven out of spruce root. The lighter section of the cap are overlayed with bear grass and the darker designs of the cap are overlayed with maiden hair fern. This basket cap has multiple designs incorporated around it for decorative purposes. Basket caps were worn for ceremonial use as well other special events and times.
Close up macro photography of a traditional basket cap. This basket cap is woven out of spruce root. The lighter section of the cap are overlayed with bear grass and the darker designs of the cap are overlayed with maiden hair fern. This basket cap has multiple designs incorporated around it for decorative purposes. Basket caps were worn for ceremonial use as well other special events and times.
Salmonberry flower: These are the first berries to ripen in early summer and were a welcome treat after a winter of eating dried foods. The young green shoots were also eaten after peeling the outer skin from the stem. They were eaten raw or roasted, and were often dipped in seal oil. Some Tribal members also refer to them as “Bear Candy” as ti’ii (black bear) also enjoys eating them as a sweet treat.
Tiger Lilies: These flowers have and a sweet, edible bulb. Tribal people have and continue to value this plant as food a traditional food source. The starchy bulb has a smooth creamy texture (after cooking) and mild, sweet taste - said to be reminiscent of sweet chestnut. However, Tiger Lily is also known (and actually enjoyed) for it’s bitter aftertaste. Tiger lilies also have medicinal benefits.
Labrador Tea (Swamp Tea): Tea can be made from this plant year round using either the freshly picked or dried leaves.
Wild Iris: The leaves of the wild iris plant were made into tough cordage preferred for fishing line.
Spruce Tips: The tips of spruce trees can be brewed into a fragrant and medicinal tea. The roots of spruce trees are one of the traditional basketry materials still used by weavers today.
Trillium: The blooms of this woodland flower signal the time for cedar bark and other traditional plant resource harvesting. Trilliums indicate the change of the seasons and renewal of resources. A very fitting symbol of behavioral health and wellness.
Yarrow: The plant was used medicinally mainly in teas and poultices for issues that could occur in people with a uterus. Members of CTCLUSI continue to use and grow yarrow in the community garden on the Tribal reservation in Coos Bay, Oregon.
Camas: The root bulbs of these lilies were highly valued for food throughout the Pacific Northwest and was one of the most widely traded foods in pre-contact times. Very slow cooking in (traditionally in earth ovens) make the bulbs very sweet.
Wapato: This plant is a traditional food for CTCLUSI. Also called Indian Potato, the tubers of this plant were gathered in the shallow waters of lakes and river banks. The tubers are often roasted in ashes before eating. CTCLUSI has worked hard to help restore this traditional plant back to abundance in the Coos Bay and surrounding area. This photo was taken of wapato growing in a stream on the CTCLUSI reservation.
This cedar strip canoe is named Tyee II Bowen after CTCLUSI Chief Edgar Bowen. Names of those that have walked on before us are reused after at least a year long mourning period. Their names are typically gifted to individuals who show similar character to honor both those who came before and the recipient. In this case, the canoe was named to show respect to Chief Bowen and to have his legacy continue to carry the community forward in a good way, providing us daily teachings of the world around us and the need to work together for the wellness of the next seven generations to come.
Color seed beads make up the sunset design at the bottom of these beaded earrings. Porcupine quills were also harvested and used to created this modern jewelry piece for daily wear.
Tubes of seed beads are arranged in a rainbow to be used to create beautiful regalia for ceremony and pieces for everyday wear. Rainbows are often symbolic of the LGBTQ+ community as well as the 2 Spirit members of Tribal communities. Two spirit people are sometimes traditionally scene as folks that walk in both worlds and have closer ties to the spiritual world.
Color seed beads make up the sunset design at the bottom of these beaded earrings. Porcupine quills were also harvested and used to created this modern jewelry piece for daily wear.
Seed beads make up this spiral woven pattern necklace. The macro view of this necklace makes the seed beads appear similar to salmon row.
This is the start of a woven basket make out of cattails. Cattail is a great provider. Not only was it often gathered and used for basket material or matts but makes for a delicious meal. All parts of the cattail are edible when gathered at the appropriate stage of growth. Both nutritious and delicious, cattail is truly a versatile plant. Cattails also have numerous medicinal qualities, in particular the gelatinous substance between the leaves has antiseptic, coagulant and pain relieving attributes.
Olivella is a genus of small predatory sea snail. The purple olive snail can be found in the intertidal and subtidal to 50 m deep, on sandy, open shorelines. Traditional and contemporary uses of Olivella shells include embellishments on regalia to tools.
The necklace in this photo is quite the mixture of traditional and contemporary beads and shells. Olivella shell is featured and was traditionally worn and included as embellishments from regalia to tools. The long white dentalium shells were traditionally a symbol of wealth and traded for goods and resources. Wearing necklace strands of dentalium shell was a sign of wealth and prosperity.
This is a macro view of a necklace. This section features a juniper berry. Juniper berries have many ceremonial and medicinal uses. Juniper branches were burned liked sage for cleansing mind, body, and spirit. Teas were made as well as dried and powdered versions for promoting digestion and gut health. Juniper promotes healing and is good for building up the immune system.
Drumming was traditional done on hollowed out stumps. Some coastal tribes used the sounds of the ocean waves for keeping time (like a drum) as it was considered the heartbeat of the coast. Once hand drums became introduced through trade and innovation, frames were crafted into squares. Modern drums now take many shapes but are popularly round. Deer and elk hides are the most common hides stretch to make the drum heads on these hand drums.
Cedar bark bailers are used to scoop water out of the canoe when needed. Pictured inside this bailer are myrtle nuts. These nuts are a traditional food source that is roasted; their are generally two takes on the taste. Some people think they taste of heavily roasted coffee or popcorn. Roses made of cedar strips and salal leaves also sit in the bailer. The bailer sits atop a beaded collar, a traditional piece of regalia worn by members of CTCLUSI during ceremony and other special occasions. Also pictured is a braid of sweetgrass. Once gathered and dried, leaves are braided together for smudging at home, at work and in our ceremonies. Combined with prayers, smudging brings us closer to the Creator and our Ancestors.
Cedar Canoe bailer used for scooping water out of the canoe pictured holding dentalium shells and draped with dentalium and carved bone necklaces. The long white dentalium shells were traditionally a symbol of wealth and traded for goods and resources. Wearing necklace strands of dentalium shell was a sign of wealth and prosperity.
Cedar bark buckets are made when cedar is freshly pulled from the tree. The soft inner bark is separated from the rough outer bark. The outer bark is then used while it is still wet and pliable to create swiftly crafted containers or buckets. The inner bark is further process and used to weave baskets, matts, jewelry and regalia including items such as cedar bark skirts and capes. Pictured are cedar buckets, bailers, raw cedar spiral, and a woven cedar headband atop cedar boughs.
This cedar bark bucket is pictured with dentalium shell necklaces and a beaded collar.
Wrapped sage smudge sticks and abalone shell. Some people believe that smudging should be done in stone or ceramic vessels and not in shell and it is thought that the fire and water elements clash and can confuse the prayers sent up in the smoke. Other prefer the abalone vessel. Smudging should be done "hiis haiyach" (with a good heart)
A cedar bark bailer filled with dentalium shells, with dentalium and carved bone and bead necklaces.
A traditional clamming shovel made from ocean spray sits across a muscle shell, sea urchin shell, clam fossil, red abalone shell, atop a tule woven tule matt with a braid of sweet grass. Salal and huckleberry sprigs sit across the back with every item atop cedar boughs.
Chiefs Island (commonly know as Gregory Point) can be seen from a vantage point out Cape Arago Hwy past Sunset Bay. Chiefs Island can be seen in the background were the decommissioned light house still resides. This area is now home to many different migratory sea birds. The island for women and children can also been seen. The cave located at the bottom of this island could be reached at low tide and was used to hide women and children from being rounded up by military and colonists.
Chiefs Island (Gregory Point) was officially returned to the stewardship of the Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw Indians who continued to care for and use the land in a good way.
Sunset over Upper Empire Lake in Coos Bay, Oregon.
The Hollering Place located in Coos Bay, Oregon is pictured here at the Empire boat ramp and dock. The Hollering Place is the narrowest part of the bay and was traditionally a heavily used site by the Tribe for gathering and moving up and down the bay.
A misty morning on the Umpqua River near Scottsburg, Oregon
A beautiful afternoon during the golden hour at Loon Lake.
This dentalium cap is worn by Morgan Gaines' Grandmother, Anna Campbell (Macy), a Quuiich (Lower Umpqua) Elder of the Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw Indians. It was hand made by her cousin, beloved and missed Tribal Elder Sue Olson. This dentalium cap is worn during ceremony as a special piece of regalia. It is made of rows of dentalium shell, seed beads, abalone shell and leather. An Eagle feather is attached to the top of the cap and hangs to the side.
This dentalium cap is worn by Morgan Gaines' Grandmother, Anna Campbell (Macy), a Quuiich (Lower Umpqua) Elder of the Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw Indians. It was hand made by her cousin, beloved and missed Tribal Elder Sue Olson. This dentalium cap is worn during ceremony as a special piece of regalia. It is made of rows of dentalium shell, seed beads, abalone shell and leather. An Eagle feather is attached to the top of the cap and hangs to the side.
This dentalium cap is worn by Morgan Gaines' Grandmother, Anna Campbell (Macy), a Quuiich (Lower Umpqua) Elder of the Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw Indians. It was hand made by her cousin, beloved and missed Tribal Elder Sue Olson. This dentalium cap is worn during ceremony as a special piece of regalia. It is made of rows of dentalium shell, seed beads, abalone shell and leather. An Eagle feather is attached to the top of the cap and hangs to the side.
This dentalium cap is worn by Morgan Gaines' Grandmother, Anna Campbell (Macy), a Quuiich (Lower Umpqua) Elder of the Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw Indians. It was hand made by her cousin, beloved and missed Tribal Elder Sue Olson. This dentalium cap is worn during ceremony as a special piece of regalia. It is made of rows of dentalium shell, seed beads, abalone shell and leather. An Eagle feather is attached to the top of the cap and hangs to the side.