Jesse Beers

Jesse Beers is a sha’yuushtl’a uhl quuiich hiich (Siuslaw and Lower Umpqua person) and is an Enrolled Citizen of the Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua, and Siuslaw Indians. After coming back from college, Jesse worked within his Tribe as an Indian Child Welfare Caseworker until a position opened in the Culture Department, where he saw an opportunity to lower recidivism and apply his belief that culture is prevention. Since that time, he has worked to assist and support his Tribe in the continuation of their culture. In his current position as Cultural Stewardship Manager with his Tribes’ Culture and Natural Resources Department, he’s been able to provide traditional knowledge to restoration efforts of lands and waters so that his Tribe’s culture and people may survive and thrive for all the beings. He credits his kamtlma (Great Grandmother) and other Elders for his path and looks forward to sharing what knowledge he was given to assist in a good way.

“I value having the opportunity to hold others up so that they can serve in a good way, utilizing culture as prevention and stewardship. The fact that generations before me didn’t have a say, it’s my job to speak on their behalf, to carry on their values that they couldn’t practice or speak outside of safe spaces.”