TARWEED FOR KALAPUYA PLACEKEEPING
David Eckert
Tarweed was purportedly a common plant in South Corvallis prior to colonial settlement. And Tarweed was a critically important first food for the local Ampinefu Kalapuya. Learn about this culturally and ecologically important plant that is reawakening in Corvallis by watching this locally-important webinar.
TARWEED FOR KALAPUYA PLACEKEEPING
2026 Champinefu Series
Wednesday, December 3rd
7:00-8:30 pm
Free Zoom Webinar
Registration required in advance at this link:
Everyone who pre-registers will receive by December 5th a link to the raw recording of the webinar.
Join Dr. Molly Carney and David Harrelson to learn the cultural history of native Tarweed in the Willamette Valley and how the planting, tending and utilization of Tarweed acts as a cultural placekeeper in the homeland of the Kalapuya people. And learn why Tarweed has recently become such a focus of interest in the Corvallis-Benton County area. The presentations will be followed by a Q & A.
Co-sponsors are the Marys Peak Group Sierra Club, the Spring Creek Project, Corvallis-Benton County Public Library, Corvallis Sustainability Coalition and the OSU School of Language, Culture and Society.
Champinefu is the Kalapuya word for the Land of the People of the Marys River.
Corvallis and much of Benton County IS Champinefu.
Ampinefu is the Kalapuya word for the People of the Marys River.
Pinefu is the Kalapuya word for the Marys River. Source: Shawala (William Hartless), 1913 oral history
Shawala means “Little Tarweed” and is a term of endearment.
Dave Eckert
Corvallis Sustainability Coalition Water Action Team
www.sustainablecorvallis.org/action-teams/water
dec...@willamettewatershed.com