Friday marked the rededication of local nonprofit Confluence’s Vancouver Land Bridge that spans Highway 14 near Fort Vancouver.
About 100 people gathered to hear prayers, stories and speeches that celebrated the land, river and people to whom the bridge is dedicated.
The bridge actually reopened last month after refurbishments to replace eroded granite walkways and install new features, including new artwork of the word “people” in nine different Indigenous languages and new stone columns carved with Native American artwork. All of those works are now available to view.
“This land bridge has connections: the land to the water. Connections on so many levels,” said Tanna Engdahl, Cowlitz tribal elder and spiritual leader.
Colin Fogarty, executive director of Confluence, honored founding director Jane Jacobsen for her work on making the bridge project a reality. Confluence planted a sugar maple tree to honor Jacobsen, who died last year, near the northern end of the bridge.
“It was planted with a good spirit,” Fogarty said.
Fogarty also announced a new program in honor of Jacobsen: The Jane Jacobsen Cultural Scholarship for Indigenous Women in Clark County to create a cultural project to advance their education. The scholarship will give $2,000 to three Native women with cultural or family ties to Clark County.
The video of the ceremony is available at https://www.confluenceproject.org/event-post/land-bridge-refurbishment-dedication-ceremony/.
This story was updated to correct the description of the artwork on the bridge.
