MONMOUTH, OREGON —Western Oregon University and the Instituto de Cultura Oregoniana proudly announce the launching of “Hispanic Origins of Oregon,” a collaborative work that tells of the time of commerce between Native Americans, Hispanics, British and Russians along the Pacific coast of North America. The launch will take place at Western Oregon University’s Hamersly Library on Wednesday, May 25, 2022, from 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm.

This publication provides more than 250 years of little-known history of the Pacific Northwest coast, offering examples of the ethnic diversity of the Hispanic expeditionary crews and featuring histories of the exploration of the Pacific Northwest that are not normally presented in history books. “Hispanic Origins of Oregon” is the first academic publication about the early modern Pacific Northwest that has been issued in both the Spanish and English languages and contributes to the cultural and historical empowerment of the Hispanic population of the United States.

“This book is special because it exposes the reality that the Hispanic presence has existed in what today are the states of Oregon and Washington for hundreds of years,” said Executive Director Matías Trejo De Dios of the Instituto de Cultura Oregoniana. “We are excited to present a more comprehensive cultural perspective of the Pacific Northwest’s past that will change the way we think about the history of our states and of our nation.

 

About the Instituto de Cultura Oregoniana
The Instituto de Cultura Oregoniana is a non-profit organization that promotes Oregon’s Spanish-
speaking cultures and promotes the benefits of multilingualism in society.

 

Media contacts
Instituto de Cultura Oregoniana Contact: Matías Trejo De Dios, 503-569-3358, trejodediosm@oregoniana.org

Western Oregon University Contact: Jaime Marroquín Arredondo, 202-905-1406, marroquinj@wou.edu