Comcomly was a Chinook Chief who led his people along the Columbia River generations before settlers arrived. His story continues to inspire along the river that shaped his people. This song is our own artistic interpretation and is not endorsed by the Chinook Indian Nation.
Henry Knighton crossed the Oregon Trail and played a role in founding the town of Saint Helens, which is located on the traditional lands of the Chinookan peoples. He dreamed of a thriving port city and worked worked tirelessly, but the dream didn’t fully come true. This song celebrates his ambition, determination, and lasting mark on the town.
Saint Helens was poised to become a major shipping hub on the traditional lands of the Chinookan peoples, but a series of mysterious fires changed its future. As Portland grew, Saint Helens faced loss and uncertainty. This song captures the town’s grief at a pivotal moment in town history.
A man committed murder on Bunker Hill and fled to Mexico, only to face the consequences of his actions. Told with dark humor, this "alternate version" of a 1902 death by public hanging explores how we all shape our own stories. “You are the Hero of your own Story, and your Fate is still unlearned.”
The Columbia County Courthouse stands on the traditional lands of the Chinookan peoples and is a symbol of pride and resilience in Saint Helens. Built of fireproof basalt rock, it has endured for 120 years. This song celebrates community, strength, and the town’s determination to rise from the ashes.
Józef and Liisa, immigrants from Poland and Finland, built their lives and family in the local mill. Their love and daily struggles reflect the immigrant experience in the town. “In the paper and rain, never let go, through joy and pain.”
Saint Helens became the first town in the world to bleach brown Kraft paper into white in 1931. They called it "Kranila" and it put Saint Helens on the map worldwide. This song celebrates the ingenuity, hard work, and pride of mill workers.
The 1980 eruption of Mount Saint Helens - called Loowit by Indigenous peoples - devastated the area. For one little girl, it was magical. Ash covered the town, forests fell, yet she saw wonder in the chaos. This song captures childhood imagination amidst disaster.
When the mill shut down in 2009, nearly 400 workers were left staring at silent gates and an empty skyline. This song honors the generations who built the town on pulp, pine, and pride — and the ghost of the mill that still runs in their dreams.
This musical adventure ends with a joyful singalong. We respectfully acknowledge that most of us now live on the ancestral lands of the Chinookan peoples, and we recognize their sovereignty and enduring presence, as well as the history and contributions of all Indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest.
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