By Casey Brown of the CUJ There is one seat open on the three-person Umatilla County Commission in the May 19 primary election. Five candidates are running to succeed retiring Commissioner Bill Elfring from Echo who has filled position #3 for two terms. The five candidates running for the open seat include Jonathan Lopez, Patricia Maier and Dan Dorran, all…
By the CUJ MISSION – The Root Feast on the Umatilla Indian Reservation, one of the last on the spring Longhouse calendar among Northwest tribes, has been postponed – not cancelled – because of COVID-19. “It’s kind of sad that we can’t, but also with the virus it’s understandable,” said Linda Jones, the head cook and root gatherer of the…
By Wil Phinney of the CUJ MISSION – COVID-19 has locked Longhouse doors not only for celebrations, but for the traditional grieving process of funerals on reservations across Indian Country. “It’s been difficult because we can’t do all the ceremonies and those ceremonies are what help the family move on,” said Armand Minthorn, a Longhouse Washat religious leader and an…
SALEM, Oregon – Residents of the Umatilla Indian Reservation who sustained damage or loss due to the February storms and flooding have until June 2 to register for disaster assistance with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Individuals or families from across Umatilla County, including the Reservation, who had property damage or loss as a result of the Umatilla River…
By the CUJ MISSION – Nearly 200 people in cars lined up for nearly a half mile Saturday morning, April 18, to receive potatoes, onions, milk and bread, as well as other items in the first of two food distributions on the Umatilla Indian Reservation. A second first-come, first-served distribution on May 1 drew more than 215 members of the…
Martha Quaempts Franklin April 2, 1941 — April 10, 2020 Martha Ann Quaempts Franklin peacefully went home to be with the Lord and her family on April 10, 2020. Because of the COVID-19 gathering limits, services were held for family and live-streamed on Folsom-Bishop Facebook on April 16. It was her wish to be cremated and placed beside her sister…
Lorene Videl Spencer Aug. 12, 1935 – April 4, 2020 Lorene Videl Spencer passed away at her home surrounded by loved ones on April 4, 2020. A private dressing was conducted at Burns Mortuary on April 5. The viewing at Burns Mortuary was followed by burial at Tutuilla Church Cemetery on April 6. Lorene Videl Minthorn was born on August…
By Don Sampson Our tribes and our ancestors have been infected by deadly viruses and diseases brought to the shores of our native homeland by European immigrants since Columbus in 1492. This onslaught of new disease spread by European immigrants amongst Native Americans resulted in millions of Native people dying in the “greatest demographic disaster in human history.” The deadliest…
By Jill-Marie Gavin for the CUJ This year Mother’s Day has landed in the middle of Covid-19. While our governments, communities and families brace themselves for the requirements of essential work, sheltering in place and seemingly endless extensions of stay-at-home orders there have been words of encouragement. Some of these messages have been soothing, and some not so much. A…
By Ted A Wright, PhD These have been challenging times for us all, through the devastation of the Umatilla River flood right into a worldwide viral pandemic. So, as a government, we’ve been working in crisis-management mode for 13 weeks, and most management and staff have not taken a day off since the end of January. Despite all these struggles,…