Julie Taylor, far right, was recognized by the City of Pendleton for her volunteer service as a volunteer Pendleton Youth Basketball (PYB) coach. Here she stands with her team, Team Taylor, of 3rd-4th graders. Back row from left, Brooklyn Jones (Taylor’s granddaughter), Tatum Ganuelas, Kaitlyn Lyda, Miranda Case, and Charlie Swisher. Kneeling, from left, Audrey Tribelhorn, Ayanna Star, Yasmin Ferman. Not pictured, Layla Berumen.
The City of Pendleton has recognized Julie Taylor during National Volunteer Week, April 19-25, for the work she does in the local community. Taylor is a member of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR) and the director of CTUIR’s Department of Children and Family Services. The City noted in a letter that Taylor served 27 hours coaching…
By the CUJ MISSION – The Confederated Tribes have negotiated mitigation agreements with AT&T and Union Pacific Railroad to mitigate for impacts to culturally significant sites caused by construction projects in Umatilla and Gilliam counties, respectively. Both companies will contribute to the First Foods Fund, which is managed by the Cultural Resources Protection Program (CRRP) for the Confederated Tribes of…
By the CUJ A team of six people have changed the way they provide nutritious meals to tribal elders during the COVID-10 pandemic. Usually hot meals are delivered each weekday. However, to protect elders, one of the most at-risk populations, staff have decreased food delivery to twice per week during the coronavirus outbreak. To make up the difference, they deliver…
By Casey Brown of the CUJ MISSION – The Nixyaawii Senior Center is currently providing 520 meals per week, two hot and three frozen each for 104 elders, thanks to funding from the federal CARES Act. The supplemental funding from the coronavirus relief bill (CARES Act) increased the number of meals the senior center can provide to tribal elders, which…
By Casey Brown of the CUJ UMATILLA INDIAN RESERVATION – The 2020 Census continues rain, shine, or pandemic. The decennial count of every person in the county reached “an important milestone” on April 28, according to Shana Radford, tribal partnership lead for Oregon and Idaho. She said that half of all households in the nation have responded to the 2020…
From left, Adrienne Berry, Community Garden Coordinator; Carrie Sampson-Samuels, Community Wellness Director; Teara Farrow Ferman, CRPP Manager; Talia Tewawina, Community Garden Program Assistant; Wenix Red Elk, Public Outreach & Educational Specialist; Shoshoni Walker, Health Educator. Not pictured: Bambi Rodriguez, CRPP Assistant Program Manager.
MISSION – Yellowhawk Tribal Health Center has received a $32,000 grant to support the efforts of the First Foods & Food Systems Collaborative for the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR). The grant from the First Nations Development Institute of Longmont, Colorado, will support development of a comprehensive First Foods and Food Systems Report and Strategic Plan, and…
By Casey Brown of the CUJ MISSION – Broadband speeds on the Umatilla Indian Reservation’s “UmaRez” network have been ramped up to assist reservation residents and tribal members who are working or going to school from home due to COVID-19. Marguarite Becenti said that CTUIR’s Office of Information Technology (OIT) has increased bandwidth speed and replaced hardware, which resulted in…
Brenda and Gail Shippentower spent two days pulling weeds and removing puncture vine from the Nixyáawii Veterans Memorial to get it ready for Memorial Day on May 25.
As Gail and Brenda Shippentower of Mission pulled weeds and swept sidewalks in the July Grounds, they didn’t want anyone to know what they were up to. They were getting the Nicht-Ya-Wi Warriors Memorial ready for Memorial Day. “It is almost Memorial Day, so we’ve got to clean it up for the guys,” Brenda said. Gail was pulling puncture vine…
Deb Croswell
MISSION – Debra Croswell has been assigned new duties as President/Managing Director of Cayuse Shared Services, which will provide administrative support functions for the Cayuse Holdings family of companies. Croswell, who joined Cayuse Technologies in January of 2018, is an enrolled member of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, which owns Cayuse Holdings and its subsidiary companies. Shared…
Alayna Bevis dances while her father, Jesse Bevis Sr., records a video that they submitted to a social network pow-wow site. Native Americans from across Indian Country have been participating in the activity, some of which is competitive. Alanna was dancing here in front of the Nixyaawii Governance Center.
By Wil Phinney of the CUJ WALLULA GAP – Logan Quaempts’ moccasins moved nimbly on the basalt deck, a crisp spring wind off the Columbia River, a setting sun in the west at his back, and it was almost like he was floating in that round bustle, a chicken-dance special to the sound of the Bull Horn Drum from the…
