YACHATS – The Yachats community saluted a favorite citizen Wednesday night, with 200 admirers of Joanne Kittel filling the Commons multipurpose room to sometimes tearfully honor the tireless advocate for trails, land conservation and Native American truth-telling.
When she finally got to speak after all the accolades, the 72-year-old Kittel joked that the event had all the elements of what she has instructed for her memorial service – food, drink, a few words from friends and a good time.
“I have the privilege to be at my own memorial service,” she deadpanned to laughter from friends, admirers and community members.
The event was a quickly organized but poignant gathering that came just four days after Kittel received the President’s Award at the annual convention of the National Association of State Park Directors in Lake Tahoe.
Shelly Shrock and Bette Perman, the city of Yachats and the Yachats Chamber of Commerce pulled together food from the Drift Inn, drinks from Beach Daisy, and created a running display of Kittel-themed photographs on the room’s large-screen TV.
“To say I’m honored is an understatement,” Kittel told the audience, who laughed, clapped, gave her a standing ovation, and then hugs when speeches ended. “It’s overwhelming.”
Kittel was nominated for the national award by Oregon State Parks director Lisa Sumption, who praised her advocacy for land conservation, trails and for correcting local narratives on how Native Americans were mistreated and imprisoned in the 1800s.
Perman read Sumption’s nomination letter, Yachats mayor Craig Berdie read a proclamation passed just hours earlier by the city council, and interim city manager Rick Sant gave her a $750 check to help reimburse her for travel expenses to the parks convention.
View the Future co-chair John Theilacker and trails team member Bob Langley lovingly drew laughter from the crowd by joking of Kittel’s long memory, her running shoes (which she was wearing) and how quickly – and sometimes erratically — she responds to emails.
From Sumption’s nomination letter, Perman read: “In 1993 when Joanne moved to Oregon, she vowed to bring the true story of Amanda and other Native Americans to light. While this tireless work has sometimes been very thankless, and even controversial over the years, Joanne has never faltered, in fact, she has made this her life’s journey and will not rest until the truth is told and the healing can have an opportunity to occur. Joanne and her late husband eventually donated two acres with a vision to create a section of trail and tell the story of how Indians were marched to the top of Cape Perpetua, where for many, their death ensued. This later would be referred to as Oregon’s Trail of Tears, otherwise known as Amanda’s Trail. Even on the most tiring days, Joanne is the pollinator and the glue that has sewn together this place of bridging cultures with creating knowledge and understanding of the past and pathways to healing for all.”
From the city council’s proclamation, Berdie read: “Joanne Kittel has worked tirelessly with the City of Yachats and Lincoln County commissioners to promote land conservation and trail development in the Yachats area. She has developed partnerships with the Siuslaw National Forest, Oregon Parks and Recreation Department, Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board, Lincoln Land Legacy Program, Angell Job Corps, and other conservation-focused groups. Joanne’s leadership and organizational skills have been instrumental in the successful execution of numerous community projects and events.”
In her remarks, Kittel said she simply tries to “speak the truth and be truthful.”
“History is important; truth is important,” she said. “It took the community – all of you – to understand and appreciate the history. We built a trail and it became Amanda, and that started View the Future 20 years ago … ”
Kittel said it was important to for the community to work together and be persistent, saying the key to any of her success “is to find people who make up for all my deficits.”
“I’m not a leader, I’m part of a group,” she said. “I love you. I trust you. I’m honored to be a part of this community.”
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To see and hear a video of Joanne Kittel’s remarks Wednesday evening, go here