MISSION – Yellowhawk Tribal Health Center is recommending universal mask use in public indoor settings throughout the Umatilla Indian Reservation. The recommendation aligns with new guidance from the CDC that everyone in areas of substantial or high transmission should wear a mask, even if they are vaccinated. COVID-19 is spreading among our community members within the boundaries of the Umatilla…
Board of Trustees Authorizes Closure of Off-Reservation Tribal Properties Due to Extreme Risk of Wildfire
Mission, OR – The Board of Trustees of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR) has approved the closure of a number of off-reservation properties owned by the CTUIR in order to protect people, structures, and land by reducing the risk of catastrophic fire events that could occur from human causes. The closure applies to the Rainwater, Wanaket,…
CTUIR receives $25,000 grant for Tribal Broadband Project
MISSION, OR – The Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR) received a $25,000 grant from the First Nations Development Institute of Longmont, Colorado. The award will support the CTUIR Tribal Broadband Project by providing funding for a fixed based wireless system on the Umatilla Indian Reservation. The funding will help with the construction costs cost for two wireless…
Board explores Birch Creek Golf Course
Former Pendleton Country Club improved, rebranded By Miranda Vega Rector of the CUJ MISSION – The Board of Trustees (BOT) of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR) toured the Birch Creek Golf Course, formerly the Pendleton Country Club, for the first time since they purchased it in 2019. Due to many COVID-19 restrictions and shut downs, as…
ABOVE: Kendyl DeJong smiles with Achilles, a dog that was surrendered to animal control and will be placed with PAWS for adoption. BELOW: A skunk walks into a trap that was setup to catch two kittens and their mom.
SPOTLIGHT: Kendyl DeJong, CTUIR Animal Control Officer recounts quirky stories
By Miranda Vega Rector of the CUJ MISSION – With five years of experience being the Animal Control Officer for the CTUIR, Kendyl DeJong has acquired quite the collection of stories from a kitten riding a semi-truck’s transmission for 279 miles to accidentally trapping a skunk. “Every day the calls come in and I never know what is going to…
Whooshh provides passage at Nursery Bridge Dam
By The CUJ The CTUIR Department of Natural Resources utilized a Whooshh Innovations, Inc. fish passage technique at Nursery Bridge Dam on the Walla Walla River in June. “The purpose is to safely move trapped spring Chinook from the sorting area up top to a transport truck,” Jon Lovrak, Project Leader for Hatchery Facilities, said. Fish were elevated 25 feet…
Ashlynn Wallace
Carrying the Torch
CTUIR member Ashlyn Wallace sets scoring record, becomes next Tribal hooper to join NCAA ranks By Cary Rosenbaum of the CUJ In what’s become nothing shy of a pipeline to college basketball in recent years, yet another CTUIR member will move on from Clarkston High School in Washington state to play basketball at the next level. Ashlyn Wallace capped off…
Tylor & the Train Robbers releasing album, talk CTUIR connection
By Cary Rosenbaum of the CUJ If you’ve ever listened to Tylor & the Train Robbers, you’ll hear a lyric-driven blend of classic roots, country and modern Americana music. But a more subtle part of their band identity can be found by looking at the bass cabinet of Jason Bushman, which dons a CTUIR flag. Bushman, a CTUIR descendant, says…
Record-breaking heat affects CTUIR
By The CUJ MISSION – Record-breaking heat in Oregon caused the CTUIR government to consider keeping employees at home. Those in the field were granted administrative leave for portions of each day during the week of June 28. An air conditioning issue in the north wing of the Nixyaawii Governance Center also caused an administrative leave or work from home…
Youth Council sends letter to President Biden
By The CUJ MISSION – The CTUIR Youth Leadership Council sent a letter to President Joseph R. Biden on June 9 and started an online petition that’s gained more than 10,000 signatures. They asked the president to remove the four lower Snake River dams “and save salmon from extinction!” “America made a deal and promised that we would be able…