Sahaptin Stories held a grand opening celebration on September 26 for its new bricks-and-mortar store at 4181 SE Division St. in Portland, Ore. Oregon Public Broadcasting reported owner Casandra Hanson wants her bookstore to be a champion of Indigenous storytelling, collecting books from Indigenous authors from the Pacific Northwest and beyond for young readers and adults alike.
"Sahaptin" is another word for the Warm Springs language Ichishkiin. Hanson is an enrolled member of the Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs in Central Oregon, "currently living in the small Clackamas County community of Colton after splitting her time between the reservation and the metro area. Her drive to open a business centered only around Indigenous stories is fueled by a desire to help highlight Indigenous cultures, but also comes from a personal wish to better understand who she is," OPB noted.
"In a way the reason I thought of Sahaptin Stories is because our language is important to our stories and they're very hugely connected and I want more of that connection," Hanson said. "The name is just a reminder that I need to continue working towards my goal of learning our language but also encouraging others to learn their stories."
The bookstore features a cozy armchair and Indigenous artwork, including a drawing by her grandfather. She hopes it feels like a family living room--welcoming, homey, and comfortable: "There's nothing better than the smell of books."
The dark wooden bookshelves are filled with a wide variety of genres for both children and adults. Hanson said she is really selective about which authors she features: "So I really try and research their descendancy and where they grew up, where they come from, you know, and all that just to ensure that they're truly an Indigenous author that I want to have in my bookstore. Because I want to hear their stories. I don't want to hear someone else's story."
Hanson "always dreamed of discovering more about her identity through literature," and that quest has led her to pursue opening a bookstore--first as a pop-up at powwows and fairs, and now as a storefront, OPB noted. She hopes the bookstore serves as a hub for kids and families to receive support, whether that's free math tutoring, crocheting lessons, crafting events or group readings--a space for whatever the community needs. In November, Sahaptin Stories will host an event at the Oregon City Public Library in honor of Indigenous Heritage Month.
"Because I'm not the only one that's going to want to know more about culture and identity. I expanded and so now I have books from people from Alaska, the lower 48 tribes. I have some authors from Puerto Rico, from Mexico, from Hawaii," she said. "And so I'm really trying to expand my store to hold all Indigenous stories."