Governor's Heritage Award - Otto Oja

Otto Oja of Cathlamet belongs to both the logging community of the greater Northwest and to the Finnish- American community of the Lower Columbia. He is a community historian of Northwest logger culture. Born and raised in northwestern Oregon, Oja is the son of Finnish immigrants and is a spokesman for the region’s Finnish-American community. He is an important connection between the past and present—between the relatively brief era of small, cohesive Finnish-American communities along the Lower Columbia, comprised almost entirely of immigrants who worked in the nearby woods and waters, and present day communities. As an articulate, well-informed, and artistic representative for the world of logging, Oja is uniquely qualified to present an accurate historical account of the everyday life of Northwest loggers—their skills, their sacrifices, their customs, and their humor. A gifted artist in the logging tradition, he is known for his wood sculpture, cartoons, poetry, and songs.