Part of the Mission Market’s fueling pumps will be temporarily inaccessible beginning Monday, Dec. 5 because of workers installing solar panels.

Part of Mission Market’s Fuel Pumps to Temporarily Close Dec. 5

MISSION, Ore. – Part of the Mission Market’s fueling pumps will be temporarily inaccessible beginning Monday, Dec. 5 because of workers installing solar panels. Patrick Mills, Climate Coordination analyst with the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR), said a solar photovoltaic array is scheduled for installation atop the market’s fueling canopy.  During the installation, the north row of fueling…

Chief Judge William Johnson administers the oath of office to the newly elected officials Wednesday morning, Nov. 29, in the rotunda of the Nixyaawii Governance Center. LISA SNELL| CUJ PHOTO

Newly elected officials sworn in

By CHRIS AADLAND Reporter MISSION, Ore. – Recently elected tribal leaders officially began their terms Wednesday morning after a standing-room only swearing in ceremony at the Nixyaawii Governance Center. Six freshly elected citizens of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation joined six re-elected members on the Board of Trustees, the tribal governing body that sets policy and priorities,…

Members of the CTUIR Youth Council were sworn in Nov. 29 after the CTUIR Board of Trustees and General Council officers took their oaths of office. As Youth Council members, the emerging leaders will sharpen their own leadership skills, advocate on behalf of issues important to them and the CTUIR community and represent CTUIR outside of the community all while helping elevate and promote the perspectives of tribal youth. LISA SNELL | CUJ PHOTO

Umatilla Indian Reservation’s Youth Councils elect new leadership during annual summit

MISSION, Ore. — The Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation’s (CTUIR) Youth Councils concluded their annual summit and elections for the Senior and Junior Youth Leadership last week. During the event, held at Wildhorse Resort & Casino Nov. 21-22, the councils elected Weptas Brockie, junior at Nixyaawii Community School (NCS), as the Senior Youth Council Chair. Joining him in…

BOT officers being sworn in are Chair Gary I. Burke; Vice Chair Aaron Ashley; Treasurer Raymond Huesties; Secretary Roberta J. Wilson; and Members At Large Toby Patrick, Steven Hart, Corinne Sams and Lisa Ganuelas. General Council officers taking their oaths are Chair Alan Crawford, Vice Chair Michael R. Johnson, Secretary Martina Gordon and Interpreter Thomas Morning Owl.

CTUIR to swear in elected officials Nov. 29

MISSION, Ore. – The Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR) is inviting the public to the inauguration of its recently elected Board of Trustees and General Council officers at 9 a.m., Nov. 29 in the Nixyáawii Governance Center. BOT officers being sworn in are Chair Gary I. Burke; Vice Chair Aaron Ashley; Treasurer Raymond Huesties; Secretary Roberta J.…

Special guest Acosia Red Elk leads the boys in a dance, Wednesday, Nov. 22, 2023, at Wildhorse Resort Casino.

CTUIR Youth Leadership Council prepares to elect new leadership

Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation youth prepared to elect new Youth Leadership Council leaders Tuesday and Wednesday during a gathering at Wildhorse Resort & Casino. Youth spent the two-day gathering discussing issues that affect them and their community and how they can address them, what sort of events and conferences they’d like to attend over the next year…

Keeli Nehani Littleleaf Kotchik, Warm Springs, Wasco and Wyam of the Columbia River territories in Oregon, currently holds the title of Miss Oregon Sweetheart 2023. She is a champion jingle dress dancer and was among more than two dozen dancers to perform during half time. JARRETTE WERK/UNDERSCORE NEWS & REPORT FOR AMERICA

Hundreds of Indigenous community members came together in celebration of Native American Heritage Month during Trail Blazers game

By NIKA BARTOO-SMITH Underscore News + ICT In a packed stadium, community members showed up to the Blazers versus Thunder game Nov. 19 not only in support of Portland’s NBA team, but also to celebrate Native American Heritage Month. Fans poured into the Moda Center for the Portland Trail Blazers versus Oklahoma City Thunder basketball game on Sunday night. Blazers…

Indian workers give finishing touches to installed solar panels covering the Narmada canal ahead of its inauguration at Chandrasan village, near Ahmadabad, India, April 22, 2012. The Gila River Indian Community in Arizona recently signed an agreement with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to put solar panels over a stretch of irrigation canal on their land south of Phoenix, similar to what India has done. AP FILE PHOTO/AJIT SOLANKI

Solar panels will cut water loss from canals in Gila River Indian Community

By BRITTANY PETERSONAssociated Press In a move that may soon be replicated elsewhere, the Gila River Indian Community recently signed an agreement with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to put solar panels over a stretch of irrigation canal on its land south of Phoenix. It will be the first project of its kind in the United States to actually…

Thank You

The Yellowhawk Family Strength Team would like to extend our appreciation and thanks to Nina Watchman, Trinity Bates, Makeisha Vanpelt, Marla Mayfield, Julie Taylor, Thomas Morningowl, Fred Hill, Mersayus Hart, Leah Harris, Pearla Pena, Catherine Mahon, Fabian Spencer, Katrina Burnside, Natasha Herrera, Teagan Herrera, Dallas Dick, NCS Leadership members Nicholas Alexander, Ella Stewart, Anthony Crawford, drummers, dancers, cake donators, and…

The CTUIR has received a 2023 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency tribal grant in the amount of $1,990,990 for its Strategic Pollution Prevention and Toxics Reduction Planning and Implementation Project.

CTUIR gets nearly $2M for river pollution prevention project

MISSION, Ore. – The Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR) has received nearly $2 million in federal funds for a project to prevent pollution and reduce toxicants in four Columbia River tributaries. The CTUIR has received a 2023 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency tribal grant in the amount of $1,990,990 for its Strategic Pollution Prevention and Toxics Reduction Planning…

Tina Kotek, pictured in Portland, March 7, 2022 THE OREGONIAN/BETH NAKAMURA

Gov. Kotek announces Tribal Affairs Director

SALEM, Ore. — Governor Tina Kotek announced Thursday that Shana McConville Radford has joined the administration as her Tribal Affairs Director. In a media release, Gov. Kotek lauded McConville Radford’s experience in tribal matters, policies and government-to-government relations illustrated throughout her career. “It is with great honor and humility that I step into public service as Tribal Affairs Director for…