(Salem, OR) — Governor Kate Brown held a press conference today to update Oregonians on the status of COVID-19 and the pending distribution of vaccines. The Governor was joined by Patrick Allen, Director of the Oregon Health Authority (OHA); Dr. Dean Sidelinger, State Epidemiologist; and Darrah Isaacson, an Oregonian who has experienced COVID-19 symptoms for nearly 10 months. “Oregon is…
Month: December 2020
Coyote Stories: Looking into language extinction
I was going into the interview cold. I didn’t know the subject at that March 2014 meeting; she didn’t know me; anything could’ve happened. As a reporter, you have to be proactive and reactive for interviews, but I was not quite prepared for this one. Pauline Stensgar, one of the last fluent speakers of one of my tribe’s ancient dialects,…
Reservation COVID-19 cases climb to 169
By the CUJ MISSION – COVID-19 is not going away. On Nov. 30, Yellowhawk Tribal Health Center recorded an all-time high with 10 positive cases, bringing the total number of positive cases to 169 on the Umatilla Indian Reservation. In November, Yellowhawk performed 364 tests with 65 returning positive for the coronavirus. That’s an 18 percent positivity rate for November,…
Pandemic Preparedness building on fast track
MISSION – Walls are expected to go up during the week of Dec. 9 on the 10,560 square foot “Pandemic Preparedness” building under construction in Coyote Business Park South on the Umatilla Indian Reservation. Workers are hurrying to get the $2.5-million building up and finished by the end of the year because CARES (Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security) Act…
BMCC: What’s going on?
By Megan Van Pelt of the CUJ Blue Mountain Community College (BMCC) has added instruction in the Umatilla language to Winter Courses. Fred Hill, a language teacher at the Confederated Tribes Language Program, is teaching the first year Umatilla class. Previously, the only language courses offered were first year Spanish and intermediate Spanish. If they pass, students can use the…
2020 Gorge management plan to include ‘diversity, equity, inclusion’
New policies introduced by Gorge Commissioner from Warm Springs By the CUJ Policies that reflect “diversity, equity and inclusion” are being added to the new management plan for the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area. Then Columbia River Gorge Commission approved a revised management plan in October. It is the second time the plan has been updated in 29 years…
Schimmel earns start for Cincinnati
CINCINNATI – Tribal member Milan Schimmel quickly earned a starting role for the University of Cincinnati women’s basketball team. The Bearcats (1-0) edged Northern Kentucky 73-67 in overtime to earn their first win of the season. Schimmel scored 8 points (2 for 5 from 3-point range), grabbed 2 rebounds, and had 4 turnovers. The team relied heavily on Ilmar’l Thomas,…
CTUIR wants more land at UMCD
UMATILLA – The Oregon Trail Advocates want a revised mitigation proposal for the Umatilla Chemical Depot by the Department of Army. The allocation of a 600 by 500 feet plot of land to preserve the Southern route of the Oregon Trail for lands to be transferred to the Columbia Development Authority, which the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation…