Paiute tribal member—and new board member—Wilson Wewa is bringing a native perspective to the Land Trust's work.
On a recent Land Trust outing to southern Oregon, Wilson Wewa walked into a sloping sea of bitter brush. He had never been to this particular swath of the Trout Creek Mountains. But he still knew its history. And he still felt at home.
A member of the Northern Paiute Tribe, Wilson is an oral historian and the last fluent speaker of the Paiute language at the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs. He grew up in the presence of “horse and buggy” elders whose memories reached back into the late 1800s. They knew the old ways. Wilson learned the history of his people, which is entwined with the history of the land itself.
Wilson’s intimate knowledge of the land, its ecology, and its cultural significance has made him a respected speaker and valuable resource for anthropologists, historians, botanists, linguists, and policy makers. “Every day, I hear from people from all corners and all walks of life,” he says.
Wilson has lectured on native history at University of Oregon. He spoke at the College of William and Mary, the nation’s first land grant college. At the White House, he discussed issues surrounding aging Native Americans. In November of 2021, Wilson was the featured speaker for a storytelling webinar for the Central Oregon Confluence Project. Wilson’s event drew hundreds of listeners from across the U.S. as well as a few international attendees.
Legends of the Northern Paiute: as told by Wilson Wewa was published in 2017 and shares and preserves twenty-one original and previously unpublished Northern Paiute legends. They were recorded, transcribed, reviewed, and edited by Wilson Wewa and James Gardner. These legends were first told around the fires of Paiute camps and villages during the story-telling season of winter in the Great Basin of the American West. They were shared in Paiute communities as a way to pass on tribal visions of the animal people and the human people, their origins and values, their spiritual and natural environment, and their culture and daily lives. These legends are best read and appreciated as they were told—out loud, shared with others, and delivered with all of the verve, cadence, creativity, and humor of the original Paiute storytellers on those clear, cold winter nights in the high desert.
Wilson Wewa and members of the Oregon Desert Land Trust board at the Trout Creek Mountains. From left to right: Brent Fenty, Wilson Wewa, Sarah Kelly, John Sterling, Angela Sitz, Nancy Pobanz (guest) and Bruce Taylor.
Trust Building
Wilson Wewa confesses to being skeptical of land trusts in the past. “I thought they were no different than private landowners,” he said. “I thought trusts acquired land to lock it up—and lock out people.”
Brent Fenty, Executive Director for Oregon Desert Land Trust, offered Wilson a different vision: conserving land for the benefit of wildlife and people, including Tribes. Brent piqued Wilson’s interest with his desire to “do more” than typical land conservation. A rafting trip on the Owyhee River with Brent and a handful of board members deepened the connection and prompted Wilson to join the board. “I got to know everyone well. They got to know me. And I saw how I could contribute a native perspective,” he explained. “We had a lot of fun together, too.”
As he gains familiarity with land trust issues, Wilson is comfortable with uncomfortable conversations. He readily admits, “Anytime you talk about land with a Native American, it’s going to be a difficult conversation.” But his intentions are driven by a sincere effort to understand. “I am a naturally inquisitive person,” he explained. “When I have a question, I challenge people to provide a satisfactory answer.”
Land Trust Board Member
Learn More
- Hear Wilson Wewa discuss Legends of the Northern Paiute in a video by Four Rivers Cultural Center that was part of the annual Tradition Keepers Festival
- Watch Patagonia’s animation with Wilson Wewa telling the story of The Battle of Coyote and Nuwuzo’ho about the area known as Smith Rock.
