My name is Tenisha, I am Indigenous and enrolled in The Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde. It’s my honor to write this land acknowledgement. I am part of the Chinook people who are from the pacific northwest of this stolen land now called The United States of America. The Portland Metro area rests on stolen sacred land and village sites of the Multnomah, Wasco, Cowlitz, Kathlamet, Clackamas, Bands of Chinook, Tualatin, Kalapuya, Molalla, and many other tribes who made their homes along the Columbia River. Respectfully we acknowledge and honor all Indigenous beings, past, present and future who have and will continue to thrive and grow despite the genocide, murder, rape, abuse, relocation, and assimilation that still continue to this day. We thank the Creator, we still survive and pray for our future. Aho.
Our mission is to expand the rights of people involved in sex work in Oregon by cultivating community-based leadership, developing intentional programs and strong narratives to support sex work decriminalization.
By investing in these efforts, our leaders envision a future where all sex workers in Oregon are supported, affirmed and respected, and the diversity of people within the sex worker rights movement is celebrated.
SWAA’s belief in community-centered policy change is paramount to everything we do. We believe Oregon is well positioned to lead national efforts to enact sex work decriminalization and other necessary reforms.
Our leaders endorse policy solutions that will improve the lives of our community members. We also work to develop trusted relationships with elected leaders who share our commitment to efforts that keep sex workers safe and recognize that sex work is work and sex workers are deserving of the rights afforded to other workers.
“SWAA was created to support the cultivation of movement leaders among those who are most likely to be impacted by criminalization and other existing systemic barriers that cause harm to sex workers.”
