The Plateau Travel Plaza in Warm Springs is preparing to reopen and is looking to fill its space with a showcase of tribal arts, crafts, and family keepsakes from members of the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs community.
According to Indian Head Casino, the Plateau Travel Plaza is seeking proposals for items to be displayed for a period of three to six months. The invitation is open to any Warm Springs tribal members who have arts, crafts, or culturally significant family items they would like to share with visitors and the broader community.
Why It Matters
The Plateau Travel Plaza serves as a gateway stop along U.S. Highway 26 through the Warm Springs Reservation, welcoming travelers passing through Central Oregon. Using that space to showcase tribal arts and cultural heritage is a meaningful way to introduce visitors to the deep history and ongoing vitality of the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs — one of Oregon’s most storied Indigenous nations.
The three-band confederation — the Warm Springs, Wasco, and Paiute peoples — has long been a cornerstone of Jefferson County’s cultural identity. The Warm Springs Reservation covers over 640,000 acres, making it one of the largest reservations in the Pacific Northwest.
How to Submit a Proposal
Tribal members interested in having their work or keepsakes displayed should contact Margie Tuckta in the Human Resources office at Indian Head Casino. Submissions can be made in person or by email. Along with the item itself, participants are asked to include the story and/or history of the piece — a requirement that ensures each displayed item carries its full cultural context.
Note: The deadline to submit was Wednesday, June 3. If you missed it, reach out to the casino directly to ask whether late submissions are still being accepted, as the plaza has not yet reopened.