2004 Ecotrust Indigenous Leadership Award
Honoree: Ivan Jackson, Sr.
"I think by sharing with and educating the whole community and government officials, more will know of and appreciate the importance of our hunting and gathering camps. I would love it if our cultural ways were more valued and appreciated and supported by the entire community?"
—Ivan Jackson, Sr.
Ivan Jackson, Sr.'s efforts keep the cultural traditions of the Klamath Tribes people alive. Honored as a finalist for the 2004 Ecotrust Indigenous Leadership Award, Jackson's technical applications of traditional knowledge provide the Tribes a culturally grounded presence for their restoration process. He is Klamath/Modoc and lives in Klamath Falls.
Jackson's mission is to teach and share the old Klamath, Modoc and Yahooskin traditions that existed prior to 1820. He gained his knowledge from family members, Tribal elders and documentation produced by linguists, archeologists and anthropologists. Jackson speaks the Klamath and Modoc languages.
Since 1995, Jackson has served as an artist and cultural instructor at the Klamath Tribes Culture Camp. He also serves as a workshop presenter for Chiloquin high school students at the U.S. Forest Service Chiloquin Ranger Group camp.
Jackson has handpicked tribal members to apprentice under him as a way to build a bridge for future programs. He documents old customs with photos, videos, presentations and demonstrations. Jackson spends his days making tools, clothing, weapons, and basketry for use in demonstrations, interpretive displays and for the book he would like to publish on cultural traditions. He teaches construction of various traditional houses, like the earth lodge, tribal house pit, winter houses and tule mat houses.
Since 2001, Jackson has coordinated the Modoc Cultural display that is currently under construction for the Tulelake-Butte Valley Museum and the Tulelake-Butte Valley Fairgrounds. Numerous museums and galleries including the Pacific Northwest Museum of Natural History, Klamath Tribes Museum and the High Desert Museum have shown his work.
Jackson teaches a variety of classes and workshops including bow making, traditional basketry, weaving and mat making, traditional clothing, tool making and reed boat making. He has presented these traditional arts at various locations including the Klamath Basin Bald Eagle Conference, Southern Oregon University Anthropology Club, Central Oregon University Multi-Cultural Gathering and the Klamath Community College Adult Learning Center.
Jackson has served as a cultural authenticity advisor to the EulaLona Native American Arts Center project, High Desert Museum and Tulelake-Butte Valley Museum. From 1991 to 2001, he served as the chair of the Klamath Tribes Native American Graves Protection Repatriation Act committee.
