Oregon Origins Project VIII: Echoes of Eruption - Stories of the Northern Paiute

Oregon Origins Project presents a multifaceted exploration of Newberry Volcano in central Oregon, the largest volcano in the Cascade Range. The June 25-26, 2026 program includes a new work for contemporary dance inspired by the caldera, an evening of Northern Paiute legends and stories, and an exhibition exploring geology and transformation.

On Thursday, June 25, Oregon Origins Project presents Stories of the Northern Paiute, a special gathering led by Wilson Wewa, the tribe’s spiritual leader and an enrolled member of the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs. Wewa’s presentation will range widely across the central Oregon landscape, including Wayahoo Panoona, as he shares oral histories, legends, accounts of war, and recent events related to the Northern Paiute presence in the lands that have been their homeland since time immemorial. A Q&A will follow Wewa’s presentation.

Join us the next evening on Friday, June 26, for Echoes of Eruption, a new contemporary dance work inspired by Newberry Volcano followed by a geology presentation and Q&A. Also, don’t miss Visual Echoes, a companion exhibition of visual artworks at the Scalehouse Collaborative for the Arts Annex between May 1-June 26, 2026.

Oregon Origins Project VIII: Echoes of Eruption is supported by the Ronni S. Lacroute Fund of the Oregon Community Foundation, Clabough Foundation, Tower Theatre Foundation, Waypoint Hotel, Reed College Master of Arts in Liberal Studies Program, Brooks Resources, and the Central Oregon Geoscience Society.

About Oregon Origins Project

Founded in 2022, Oregon Origins Project is an innovative arts and culture nonprofit which explores the ancient origins of the state of Oregon through creative expression. The project provides a platform for Indigenous artists and culture bearers to share their living traditions and artistic work, and offers an opportunity for artists of all disciplines and backgrounds to create new work inspired by the state’s origins. Oregon Origins Project is headquartered in Portland and active across the state of Oregon, with an emphasis on reaching audiences in smaller communities with arts and culture events relevant to them. Visit oregonorigins.org and connect with the project on Facebook and Instagram.