Joseph Ham
Salem,OR
Summary
Dedicated in intertwining my own understanding of my place in cultural landscapes with my communities' journey around me. I place strong emphasis on reclaiming, or sometimes just acknowledging, the shared experiences of colonization and Termination have on us a people and finding strength through artwork and relearning of our traditional ecological knowledge in my current role. We are all artists on a path of finding.
Overview
5
5
years of professional experience
Work History
Native Plant Nursery Assistant
Confederated Tribes Of Grand Ronde
04.2024 - Current
- Planted, cultivated and harvested various types of trees, shrubs, and plants.
- Evaluate harvesting conditions and identify obstacles.
- Managed wide variety of plants, from seedlings to mature specimens, keeping soils and planting beds healthy and conducive for growth.
- Utilize Traditional Ecological Knowledge to prioritize Indigenous practice and community building
- Named the nursery "tatis haws" , "flower house"
- Worked with multiple departments to create youth restoration program- "Meet the Thorns"
Cultural Resources Specialist
Confederated Tribes Of Grand Ronde
05.2021 - 04.2024
- Simultaneously grew in my own understanding of myself within my community, tribe, and homeland while fostering that growth in my community, coworkers, and external groups.
- Led tours of the museum and gallery space to diverse groups including schoolchildren, academics, other indigenous folks, and state and federal agencies.
- Processing and archiving of incoming and present collections and archives for the tribe.
Education
Associate of Arts -
Rogue Community College
Medford, OR06-2020
Skills
- Patience and empathy
- Featured in Chachalu's Ikanum exhibit for years 2022 & 2023
- Collaberated in the photography exhibit "The Land Remembers: Landscapes of the Rogue River Indian Wars" by Rich Bergmen, performing an original song for the artist's exhibit
- Featured in Paper Gardens, a publication of the Arts Alliance of Yamhill County under a pseudonym (2022)
- Featured in the 2021 Signs of Spring @ Table Rocks "Collected Poems of the Table Rocks & Nature" by The Nature Conservancy
- Featured in the Grand Ronde Zine, published by Chachalu Museum & Cultural Center (2025)
- Featured in "My Ancestors Are Here", publishing a poem for IPKA Fellow Leland Butler's exhibit (2025)
- Featured in an Oregon Humanities article with prose titled "Upqwena Men" centered on camas in our current communities
Timeline
Native Plant Nursery Assistant
Confederated Tribes Of Grand Ronde
04.2024 - Current
Cultural Resources Specialist
Confederated Tribes Of Grand Ronde
05.2021 - 04.2024
Associate of Arts -
Rogue Community College