Today is Juneteenth — June 19th — the federal holiday that commemorates June 19, 1865, when enslaved people in Galveston, Texas, finally learned they were free, more than two months after the end of the Civil War and two and a half years after President Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation.

Congress made Juneteenth a federal holiday in 2021, and it is now observed widely across Oregon and the country. Government offices, including the OSU Extension Service's Warm Springs office, are closed today. Some local businesses may also have adjusted hours.

What's Happening Locally

On the Warm Springs Reservation, the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs is hosting an Employee Appreciation Carnival today from noon to 3 p.m. at the Campus Pavilion — a community celebration for tribal employees and their families.

Across Oregon, communities are marking the day with gatherings, performances, and cultural events. The Oregon Juneteenth movement, active for years, has organized statewide celebrations; details are available at juneteenthor.com.

The Meaning Behind the Holiday

Juneteenth holds particular resonance in Oregon, a state with its own complicated racial history — Oregon was admitted to the Union in 1859 with a constitution that banned Black residents from living in the state, a provision not formally removed until 1926 and not officially repealed until 2002.

For many Oregonians, Juneteenth is both a celebration and an occasion for honest reflection — on what freedom has meant, who has had access to it, and the ongoing work of creating a more equitable society.

A Note for Jefferson County

Jefferson County's communities reflect diverse histories and backgrounds — including the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs, whose people have their own profound relationship with land, sovereignty, and freedom. The county's Latino families, who make up a significant portion of the Madras and Culver communities, also bring rich cultural traditions to this corner of Oregon.

Juneteenth is an opportunity to honor all of these stories. Local libraries, when they reopen, may have resources for families looking to learn more about this history with children and young people.

The Madras Bulletin wishes all of Jefferson County a meaningful Juneteenth.