Peace Hike

2025 NEW YEARS DAY PEACE HIKE

Yachats, OR- On New Year’s Day, the 15th Annual Peace Hike will be held in Yachats, Oregon. The Peace Hike commemorates the genocide at the Alsea Subagency (1860-1875) through the true story of a blind Native American (Coos) woman named Amanda who was forcibly taken away from her daughter and marched 80 miles with other captives, all barefoot, over the rocky terrain to the Alsea Sub-agency prison camp in what is now Yachats, in 1864. This event is a remembrance of those many who died, and recognizes and celebrates the descendants of those survivors, some of whom participate in this annual event.

To truly understand the government sponsored genocidal policies that led to the murder and suffering of the Coos, Lower Umpqua, Siuslaw and Alsea Peoples, watch a video narrated by Patricia Whereat Phillips, Miluk Coos, member of the Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw Indians (CTCLUSI) and Donald Slyter, late Chief of the CTCLUSI at www.youtube.com/watch?v=N6D-wkqXGy0.  Also read the deeply researched curriculum about Amanda’s Trail at https://ctsi.nsn.us/sb-13-curriculum/#7th-grade created by the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians.

Each year, as part of the ceremony, sprigs of cedar, a sacred tree for many tribes of the Pacific Northwest, are provided for anyone to set their intentions for peace and walk holding their vision of peace and its meaning. This year’s Peace hike is sponsored by the Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw Indians, City of Yachats and their Trails Work Group, View the Future, Yachats Ladies Club, Oregon Parks and Recreation Department, Yachats Chamber of Commerce, and Oregon Coast Visitors Association with contributions from the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians. 

9:30AM - The Yachats Community Drum will be available, and drumming will start at the Yachats Commons.

10 AM - Fire will be lit at the Commons and the ceremony will begin in part led by Tribal members, including the telling of the Amanda story.

10:30 – Trail walks: In addition to the hike to the Amanda Gathering Area, there will be several trail options. Participants may choose any of the trails indicated on a map designed by the Yachats Trails Committee to allow everyone to hike where they are most comfortable. They will then return to the fire at the Commons and place their cedar sprig in the fire.

There will also be a fire at the Amanda Gathering Area. For those hiking to the Amanda Gathering Area, which is 2.2 miles south from the Commons, there will be several options for parking for those who don’t want to walk the full distance. (Please see volunteers at the Commons for instructions.)

12 PM – There will be a ceremony conducted by Tribal members at the Amanda Gathering Area and a fire on which to lay one’s cedar sprig.

1:00PM – Both locations will have a ceremonial fire in which to place the cedar sprigs - one near the picnic shelter and one at the Amanda Gathering Area for those who hike the Amanda Trail. There will be a closing of the fires at both locations. Committee members will be on hand to answer questions and provide maps and guidance at the Yachats Commons.

Water, energy bars and delicious cookies prepared and generously donated by the Yachats Ladies Club will be available at the Commons and the Amanda Gathering Area

This year's Peace Hike button has been beautifully created by artist Morgan Gaines, Quuiich (Lower Umpqua), Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw Indians. All participants will be given Peace Hike buttons.

More information on the 2025 New Years Day Peace Hike can be found online at www.yachats.org

CONTACT: Joanne Kittel 

EMAIL: jnkittel@peak.org 

WEB: www.viewthefuture.org or www.yachats.org