Dai chil s’la, sinsan Shelley Estes, Coquille uu.
Hello to you all, my name is Shelley Estes and I am from the Coquille Indian Tribe. I’m a Portland State University graduate with a capstone in Environmental Studies, and I currently serve as Representative #1 on the Coquille Tribal Council. Through my work on the Climate Resilience Taskforce, I was introduced to the Oregon Kelp Alliance.
For my people, abalone holds sacred significance, and abalone depends on kelp forests for survival. When we lose abalone, we lose an irreplaceable part of our cultural heritage. This is why I’m honored and excited to serve on the Oregon Kelp Alliance board, protecting our kelp forests means protecting the sacred abalone and preserving our cultural connection to the ocean for future generations.