Coastal Land to be Returned to the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians

In 1855, the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians ceded much of their ancestral land as the U.S. ratified treaties across Oregon and drove Native people onto smaller parcels.

But now, a 6.82 acre area called Rocky Shores, located south of Yachats in an undisclosed area will be returned to the CTSI.

“This was part of our ancestral territories, and it was also part of the coast reservation,” CTSI Natural Resources Director Angela Sondenaa explained. “There was 100 miles of the central Oregon coast that was included in that reservation through treaty. And those promises were broken.”

The Siletz tribe won’t open up Rocky Shores to the public, a decision meant to protect its ecosystem from traffic. But some CTSI officials said they might hold organized events there for invited guests soon.

With lands returning to Native peoples, we can have hope that even more of the hierarchies that have dominated this country will be broken down, and in whatever ways possible, groups such as Native people can regain some of what was lost in the past. 

https://www.klcc.org/environment/2026-10-05/siletz-tribe-land-back-rocky-shores-yachats?fbclid=IwY2xjawUyni9leHRuA2FlbQIxMABwZG9mAWJyaWQRMWlMY2VVSHlQTUU5Um80SGhzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEebpXi5fXyZDkxUDwVG2Ij_3W5VpLuuDmGUo535cCjHtf3te-dh5cqolQyOEY_aem_BsRCg85R4Hkf-BWWSnV15g

Minneapolis - Turns Warehouse into 100 Tiny Homes

Taking seriously how our hierarchies favoring the wealthy are harming many of our citizens, Avivo Village was created in Minneapolis. designed to be a dignified, safe, and COVID-aware alternative to outdoor encampments, housing people experiencing unsheltered homelessness. The tiny homes were built in a warehouse. 

Since opening December 2020, and through July, 2026, Avivo Village’s success is measured by:

• 873 total individuals served since opening in December 2020
• 339 individuals moved on to safe, permanent housing
• 261 overdoses have been reversed
• 21 babies were born to Avivo Village residents
• 41% of people housed identify as Native American
• 49 veterans served
• 73 pets (dogs and cats) have lived with residents

https://avivomn.org/avivovillage/

Six Men with Down Syndrome Serve at Mass with Pope

Pope Leo XIV has confirmed the place for people with disabilities in the Roman Catholic Church. 

Six young men with Down syndrome served at Pope Leo XIV’s Mass at the Place de la Concorde in Paris on September 28.

A letter signed by the six young men asked for the privilege of serving at the Pope’s Mass during his visit to Paris.

Their participation highlighted the important contribution that people with Down syndrome can make to the life of the Church when given the opportunity to serve.

In our hierarchical society, we often disregard people who aren't high on the abilities hierarchy, and believe they can't contribute. Obviously, that assumption is incorrect.

https://catholicconnect.in/news/six-young-men-with-down-syndrome-serve-pope-leo-xivs-mass-in-paris 

We Don't Hold the Top of Our Hierarchies Accountable for Violence

We have all been programmed not to hold the top accountable for their negative actions, but to pass the blame down to "lower" groups. 

This Facebook post illustrates the trend:

https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=122113474461404112&set=a.122097265869404112

Portland, Oregon United Methodist Church to Expand into Affordable Housing

Montavilla United Methodist in Portland, Oregon is replacing a deteriorating building, and replacing it with Las Nuevas Rosas, an Affordable Housing apartment complex, with a new space on the first floor for the church to do ministry. 

"This allows the Church to just be the Church, not a landlord, or a service provider," Riggs said. "We get to know and love our new neighbors ,and craft with our neighbors, and develop new ministries that meet the needs, spiritual and otherwise, of the church God is calling us to be, instead of the church we used to be."

Church programs serving the community will also have designated space in the new building. 

https://www.umoi.org/newsdetail/montavilla-umc-to-be-torn-down-for-new-affordable-housing-complex-19952279?fbclid=IwY2xjawURO8pwZG9mAWV4dG4DYWVtAjEwAGJyaWQRMXQxbnZud3hXM1pNZ084b1lzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEeu4ikpQBSHOh0SOMTkE0Ds3Quj1F4GCI44yAxwxroD9rt0YUDWJerNCpm1g4_aem_mkHB3JMIeyOWVbDEwyPrJA

Women are Supposed to Disappear when Hierarchical Religion Shows Up

France’s Eiffel Tower was closed after employees launched a protest after a Hindu religious delegation visiting the monument over the weekend allegedly requested “limited interactions” with female staff.

The incident which took place on Saturday resulted in a meeting by workers on Monday. 

A delegation of 100 people linked to Hindu group Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha, or BAPS had made a private visit to Eiffel Tower.

The General Federation of Labor trade union said "And all female employees were instructed not to go through or cross certain areas while the delegation was present." They condemned the “workplace instructions that led to female employees being sidelined, replaced and rendered invisible on the basis of their gender".

As usual, hierarchical religions, who use religion as an excuse for exclusion and discrimination, expect everyone else to adjust their lives so the hierarchy can prevail. 

hhttps://www.the-independent.com/news/world/europe/eiffel-tower-hindu-closed-b3046477.html

Maine Court Denies Mother Taking Daughter to Conservative Church

Wonderful example of hierarchies masquerading as a religion. 

The Maine Supreme Judicial Court held that a father could restrict his ex-wife from taking his daughter to a particular church in which the pastor disparaged the father during the service and preached on topics that affected the relationship between father and daughter.

The mother was taking their child to services at Calvary Chapel Greater Portland where the pastor testified to teaching about the terrors of hell and of the Great Tribulation. Bradeen said this led his daughter to question why her father and his other child would not be going to heaven. Without consulting with her ex-husband, the mother also arranged for the child to be baptized, took their daughter to a political rally with other church members, and allowed her to go on a retreat where she was not permitted to have her cell phone. 

The mother also took their daughter to a church service where the pastor offered a six-and-a-half-minute-long prayer, during which he referenced her ex-husband by name, described him as in need of salvation, accused him of attacking the church, and described the child as being persecuted. Bickford did not remove her daughter during the prayer, which Bradeen argues has endangered their relationship. 

https://firstamendment.mtsu.edu/article/bickford-v-bradeen-maine-supreme-judicial-court-sept-1-2026/