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Welcome Regenerate the Gorge

We are delighted to welcome Regenerate the Gorge as the newest Landscape Group in the Cascadia BioRegen program. Stretching along the Oregon–Washington border, the River Gorge is a place of […]

Brandon Letsinger·September 4, 2025·2 min read

We are delighted to welcome Regenerate the Gorge as the newest Landscape Group in the Cascadia BioRegen program. Stretching along the Oregon–Washington border, the River Gorge is a place of breathtaking ecological and cultural diversity — from the temperate rainforests of the west to the grasslands and shrub-steppe of the east, framed by the snow-capped peaks of Mount Hood and Mount Adams. This dramatic landscape is home to rich watersheds, vibrant communities, and generations of stewardship by Indigenous peoples, including the Yakama Nation and other Coast Salish and Plateau tribes.

Regenerate the Gorge formed out of recent gatherings where community members recognized the urgent need for bioregional collaboration. Guided by the values of right relationship, reciprocity, and long-term care, the group is weaving together efforts across water, forests, food, housing, and culture. Their seven-generation vision imagines free-flowing rivers, thriving forests of native trees, regenerative farms, and strong cultural connections where human activity aligns with the land’s ecological limits.

The group is currently stewarded by James Blodgett (Yakama Nation), Christian Quiver, and Christina Bowen — each bringing unique gifts: Indigenous knowledge and digital media storytelling, systems consulting and complexity mapping, and the ability to bridge between corporate, technological, and cultural traditions. Together, they are building a foundation for place-based economies that provide meaningful livelihoods while restoring ecological health.

Over the next year, Regenerate the Gorge will be focusing on community-building, offering workshops and public gatherings to share their vision, and growing an open platform for knowledge-sharing across Cascadia. Longer-term, their plans include incubating community-driven businesses, supporting regenerative agriculture and forestry, developing sustainable housing, and fostering cultural hubs that preserve tradition and invite exchange across bioregions. With early partnerships already forming with groups like Culture Seed, Atlan Center, Columbia Gorge Tourism Alliance, Temple of Belonging, Her Waters, Second Spring Design, and Yakama Tribal members, Regenerate the Gorge is stepping into its role as a hub for coherence and regeneration in this critical landscape.

As part of the Regenerate Cascadia nonprofit umbrella, Regenerate the Gorge can now receive tax-deductible donations, apply for grants, and coordinate collaborative projects with the wider bioregional movement. You can support their work directly by making a contribution through Regenerate Cascadia, helping seed the regenerative future they are cultivating.

👉 Learn More: https://regeneratecascadia.org/bioregen-program/landscape-groups/gorge/

About the Author

Brandon Letsinger is Co-Administrator of Regenerate Cascadia along with Clare Attwell and a longtime bioregional organizer working across the Cascadia bioregion. He is drawn to the intersection of community building, place-based learning, and regenerative finance, and is committed to the idea that healthy landscapes begin with healthy relationships. He believes Cascadia is not just a place to live, but a home worth tending together.

All Posts by Brandon Letsinger
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