The Natural History Book Group was founded on the recognition that Indigenous peoples have maintained a deep and reciprocal relationship with the land now known as Lake Oswego for millennia, the group acknowledges this history as an essential grounding for its work. Through participant-selected readings that focus on Traditional Ecological Knowledge, members explore how literature and nonfiction can deepen our understanding of the watershed and its indigenous history, while inspiring practical steps toward a more just relationship with both the land we call home and its original caretakers.
Led by the Lake Oswego Watershed Council, this group meets bi-monthly on the second Tuesday of every other month (January, March, May, July, September, and November) at 5:00pm. We meet at the Lake Oswego Public Library in the second-floor conference room. New members are welcome.
Explore the deep and often overlooked history of Oregon’s Willamette Valley in Tribal Histories of the Willamette Valley.
When: Tues, Mar 10, 2026 | 5:00–6:30 pm
Where: Lake Oswego Public Library 706 4th St, Lake Oswego
Written by Oregon Indigenous historian David G. Lewis, this richly researched book blends oral traditions, historical documents, photographs, and maps to tell the stories of tribes such as the Kalapuya, Chinook, and Molalla—whose presence shaped these lands for thousands of years. Spanning first contact with settlers, forced land takeover, reservation establishment, and assimilation efforts, Lewis illuminates the resilience and continuity of Native communities often missing from traditional histories. This accessible and compelling narrative invites readers to understand the valley’s past from perspectives that have long been marginalized, making it a valuable addition to community and classroom reading lists.
Historian and author David G. Lewis