Yellowhawk Tribal Health Center designates interim CEO

Mission, OR – The Health Commission of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR) has accepted the resignation of Yellowhawk Tribal Health Center CEO Lisa Guzman. The Commission designated Human Resources Director Aaron Hines to serve as Interim CEO effective May 28, 2021. “Lisa’s service to the Tribe has been exceptional. She lead through a global pandemic, rolled…

Cayuse seeks to hire another apprentice

Cayuse Shared Services is launching the second year of its Apprenticeship Program; an effort started in 2020 to support Tribal member college students as they work towards a degree and a career at Cayuse Holdings. According to Cayuse Shared Services President Debra Croswell, the lead organizer of the Program, “We support our apprentices with a part-time paid job, financial support…

Tribal Environmental Recovery Facility Announces Temporary Closure Due to Fire

MISSION, OR – The Tribal Environmental Recovery Facility (TERF), owned by the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR), has announced a temporary closure due to a fire on May 22, 2021. Commercial and residential routes for solid waste service will continue on schedule, however no self-hauling or onsite services will be available until further notice. The fire was…

Community Disaster Preparedness Survey now available

The Umatilla Indian Reservation experienced several natural and human-caused disasters in recent years – flooding, smoke from wildfires, hazardous materials spills and train derailments, and of course the COVID-19 pandemic. Every five years, CTUIR updates its Hazard Mitigation Plan to identify the greatest threats and hazards facing our community, and how we can best mitigate the impacts. Hazard Mitigation is…

Alarming Surge in COVID Cases Arises on Umatilla Indian Reservation

Mission, OR – After six straight weeks reporting zero COVID-19 cases among Tribal members and Yellowhawk-eligible patients, the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation recorded five cases last week, followed by nine cases in a single day on Monday, May 10. These numbers bring the CTUIR to a total of 17 active cases on the Reservation as of data…

CTUIR schedules rapid response COVID-19 vaccine clinic to 12-18 year olds

MISSION – The Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR) have scheduled a Pfizer COVID-19 vaccination clinic to serve 12-18 year olds who are CTUIR tribal members and/or Yellowhawk eligible patients. The clinic will take place Saturday, May 15 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Yellowhawk Tribal Health Center. People can call 541-240-8733 to make an appointment for…

Wildhorse Pow Wow Cancelled for Second Year

Mission, OR – Wildhorse Resort & Casino announced today the cancellation of the 2021 Wildhorse Pow Wow which was scheduled for July 2-4. The annual outdoor event which normally draws a crowd of 5,000 to 7,000 to the area over three days, was also cancelled last year. A Native American pow wow is a time when many tribes gather to…

Umatilla artist featured in Warm Springs

WARM SPRINGS –  Transforming a bare room with colorful horse sculptures, canvases, and traditional Native items is art by CTUIR member Ellen Taylor that is currently on display at The Museum at Warm Springs now through May 29. The exhibit titled, “Sacred Reflections: The Art of Umatilla Artist Ellen Taylor” consists of 42 bright colored hand painted pieces that are…

Dalles Dam Housing Discussed

MISSION – Board of Trustees members and employees of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR) held a work session in April to discuss strategies to move forward with the Columbia River Housing Project. In the 1930’s with the building of several dams along the Columbia River, many towns and tribal villages were inundated with water. The federal…

Oregon House approves ORICWA

SALEM – The Oregon House of Representatives unanimously approved legislation to make further refinements to the Oregon Indian Child Welfare Act (ORICWA), a top priority of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR). HB 3182, coming in at 168 pages, includes amendments to the ORICWA, which became law in 2020 when the CTUIR pushed for a state specific…