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…
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…
Linda Sampson took these photos during an April root gathering expedition. The Sampson family had to cancel their annual Mother’s Day Feast, but plans to get together at a later date to celebrate the return of the First Foods.
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…
Staff from CTUIR departments and programs, as well as many volunteers, handed out food to hundreds of tribal members and others who reside on the Umatilla Indian Reservation during first-come, first-served distributions April 18 and May 1. In addition to the menu listed below, elders received hamburger patties and a half gallon of milk; families received half a roasted chicken and a chub of ground beef. Other items that were purchased or donated for the distribution included celery, a whole pineapple, sliced turkey, mixed berry yogurt, fruit mix, flour tortillas, bread, hot instant cereal and a bag of plastic resealable bags. Julie Taylor, director of the Department of Children and Family Services, who stands on the other side of the silver car, organized the event.
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…
