‘Scht Wiwnu: More Than a Name

Sometimes a name is just a name. It's what you call a place so people know where they are going. It's what shows up on a map or a sign.

But sometimes, a name is much more than that. It carries meaning. It can invite you in. It can remind you to slow down, look around, and feel connected to where you stand.

So what does the name ‘Scht Wiwnu say? And why does it matter?

In Southwest Portland, there is a small neighborhood park with a path that moves through huckleberry plants and into a quiet nature patch. Park visitors walk, pause, and pass through this space full of natural beauty. For years, this place was simply called "A Park." It was a temporary name, chosen to hold space for something better.

Now, the park has a permanent name: ‘Scht Wiwnu, pronounced "Ish-chit Way-el-noo," which means the path of the huckleberry.

The name comes from Ichishkin Sńwit, an Indigenous language spoken by members of the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs and other tribes from around the Columbia River. It is one of many languages spoken by Native people who live in the Portland metro area today. For some Indigenous community members, seeing a Native language on a public park sign is powerful and emotional.

"Using our language to name this park is really something special," said Dallas Winishut, Ichishkin language teacher with the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs and advisor to PP&R and the park naming committee. "I learned this language from my family members, and we're in turn teaching it to our younger people to make sure it's carried on. We teach not only the language, but the history, the tradition, and heritage of the language because they can't be separated, they are connected." 

View full size image of Warm Springs tribal member and Ichishkin language teacher speaking at 'Scht Wiwnu Park's renaming ceremony.

Many Indigenous languages survived despite forced erasure, boarding schools, and policies meant to silence them. For Indigenous people, language carries ways of understanding the world that existed long before Portland became a city. 

Dallas, who led the renaming ceremony this past weekend, said seeing Ichishkin honored with a park name made him proud. "I hope this park stays named ‘Scht Wiwnu forever," he said, smiling.

The renaming did not happen quickly, and that was by design.

In December 2020, former City Commissioner Amanda Fritz made the decision to remove the park's former name, Custer Park. George Armstrong Custer's legacy includes violence against Indigenous people, and honoring him with a park name does not reflect Portland's values. Instead of choosing a new name right away, the park was renamed "A Park," allowing time for a thoughtful, community-led effort.

"This began with grassroots community members coming together in the belief that this park should reflect dignity and truth," said naming committee member Amanda Squiemphen-Yazzie, who is Wasco, Navajo, Yakama, and a citizen of Warm Springs. "At times, that advocacy was met with resistance, even moments of tension, yet the commitment to change remained rooted in care for the land and for future generations."

The goal with this renaming was to choose something that fit the land itself and followed Indigenous naming traditions. To make that goal a reality, PP&R worked with Serina Fast Horse of Kimimela Consulting.

Listening sessions, time spent in the park, and conversations with tribal governments, elders, and language experts all impacted the naming committee's decision. In the end, the bureau was careful to ensure the name was accurate, respectful, and rooted in place.

‘Scht Wiwnu rose naturally from that care. Huckleberries have long been a source of food, medicine, and cultural connection for tribes across the region. The new name feels less like a label and more like a description, helping you notice what is already there.

For PP&R, the renaming process reflects a deep commitment to equity, patience, and partnership.

The renaming ceremony marked a new beginning for the park, and a step forward in the relationship between PP&R and Portland's diverse Native community.

For those who walk the path today, said Amanda, "Let this park name be a reminder to the broader community that Native presence here is not only enduring, but ongoing and shaping the future."