PHILOMATH - Next week, the Benton Lectures return to the Benton County Historical Museum for a second year with "Voices of the People," a series of discussions on American Indian history and culture.

And the talks will be led by tribal voices.

A semi-permanent exhibit titled "Voices of the People" also will open in the museum by Monday, the day of the first lecture, said Jan Christensen, curator of education for the Benton County Historical Society.

"The story of the first indigenous people of the Willamette Valley needed to be told in this museum," she said.

The Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde contributed artifacts and photographs for the exhibit, as well as creation stories.

"We were the first museum to ever ask them to tell their own story," Christensen said. "They have been incredibly generous to us with their time and with their loan of these marvelous artifacts, some of which have never been off the reservation. Many of them have never been seen by nontribal members."

The Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians contributed artifacts and photographs to the Fort Hoskins exhibit that opened in the summer. The former Coast Reservation was the reason the fort existed, after all.

"We hope that the two exhibitions together will allow visitors a better understanding of the story of the first people who lived in Western Oregon," Christensen said.

The lecture series should help too, and runs every Monday morning through April 30.

This year, the talks are free, thanks to a $3,500 grant from the Oregon Council for the Humanities grant.

Last year, only Benton County Historical Society members got in free. The 2006 talks - on defining moments in local history - cost $10 to the general public - $75 for the entire series - or $5 for seniors and students.

Still, about 60 people attended each lecture last year.

"We're hoping for at least that many and more," said Jan Christiansen, historical society

2007 Benton Lectures Schedule:

Lectures will take place Mondays from next week though April 3. The free talks start at 9:30 a.m. and are preceded by coffee at 9 a.m. The museum is located at 1101 Main St., Philomath

MONDAY, MARCH 5 - "Tribal Restoration," Katherine Harrison, retired tribal chairwoman, Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde

MARCH 12 - "Siletz Tribal History and Artifacts," Robert Kentta, tribal council & cultural director, Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians

MARCH 19 - "Maintaining Cultural Integrity in the Context of the Casino," Kristine Olson, former U.S. Attorney, author of "Standing Tall," a biography on Katherine Harrison

APRIL 2 - David Lewis, manager, cultural resources department, Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde

APRIL 9 - "The Kinship of Athabaskan Tribes of the Pacific Coast Region," Rose High Bear, Deg Hitan Dine (Alaskan Athabascan,) producer, "Wisdom of the Elders," an NPR show.

APRIL 16 - "Do as You are Told Like Noah Did or You May End Up Like Jonah or Even Worse," Rick Bartow, Wiyot, artist of mixed descent

APRIL 23 - "King Islander Observations of Change in the Bering Strait Region," Deanna Kingston, professor of anthropology, OSU, King Island tribe

APRIL 30 - "Death of Celilo Falls," Katrine Barber, Portland State University professor of history, director of the Center for Columbia River History, author of "Death of Celilo Falls."

The museum will be open Mondays only for these events. Normal museum hours are Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.