Gov. Tina Kotek holds up a ceremonially signed copy of Senate Bill 1567 while members of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation Board of Trustees and elected state officials applaud on Thursday, April 25, outside of the Nixyáawii Governance Center in Mission. SB 1567 or the Walla Wall 2050 Strategic Plan calls for cooperative water management between Oregon and Washington in the Walla Walla Basin to help restore salmon. Standing from left to right are Board Member at Large Lisa Ganuelas, Rep. Bobbie Levy, Sen. Bill Hansell, Board Members at Large Steven Hart and Corinne Sams, Chairman Gary I. Burke, General Council Chairman Alan Crawford and Board Vice Chairman Aaron Ashley. LEE GAVIN | CTUIR COMMUNICATIONS
MISSION – The Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR) on Thursday, April 25, welcomed Gov. Tina Kotek and First Lady Aimee Kotek Wilson for a visit that included a ceremonial signing of a bill calling for Oregon and Washington states to collaboratively resolve water issues facing the Walla Walla River. Kotek and the First Lady began the day…
In this photo provided by the Cheyenne River Youth Project, some of the land purchased by the Native American-led nonprofit organization, is seen near Bear Butte State Park in Meade County, S.D., Aug. 22, 2023. The Cheyenne River Youth Project announced, Thursday, April 11, 2024, that it purchased nearly 40 acres (16.2 hectares) of land in the Black Hills of South Dakota amid a growing movement that seeks to return land to Indigenous people.
JULIE A. GARREAU | CHEYENNE RIVER YOUTH PROJECT
By ASSOCIATED PRESS A Native American-led nonprofit has announced that it purchased nearly 40 acres of land in the Black Hills of South Dakota amid a growing movement that seeks to return land to Indigenous people. The Cheyenne River Youth Project announced in an April 11 statement that it purchased the tract of land adjacent to Bear Butte State Park…
By CHRIS AADLAND and TRAVIS SNELL MISSION – Three associate judges of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR) received a ceremonial oath of office and presentation of robes on Wednesday, April 17 inside the Tribal Court chamber. CTUIR Chief Judge William Johnson ceremoniously swore in Naomi Stacy, Louisa Allman and Matthew Johnson before he and Associate Judges Doug…
Tracy Toulou, the outgoing Director of the Office of Tribal Justice, stands in a hallway lined with flags of tribal nations at the Department of Justice, Thursday, March 14, 2024, in Washington. MARK SCHIEFELBEIN | ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO
By LINDSAY WHITEHURST, Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — A quarter-century ago, the Justice Department had few meaningful relationships with Native American tribes. While the federal government worked with state and local police and courts, tribal justice systems did not have the same level of recognition, said Tracy Toulou, who oversaw the department’s Office of Tribal Justice from 2000 until his…
Two young girls twirl in front of the Nixyáawii Education Center’s Week of the Young Child sign on April 8 in Mission. Students and faculty of the Átaw Miyánašma Learning Center, Cay-Uma-Wa Head Start and InterMountain Education Service District Early Childhood Special Education classrooms paraded from the Nixyáawii Education Center to the Nixyáawii Governance Center as part of the week’s celebrations. LISA SNELL | CUJ PHOTO
MISSION – The Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR) and its Early Childhood Department celebrated the Week of the Young Child April 8-12 to honor early learning children, as well as their teachers, families and communities. Rayne Spencer, Child Development Intervention coordinator, said the CTUIR participated in the weeklong event to show how much goes into a child’s…
WWCC student Brittani Drennan and son Zylon | WWCC COURTESY PHOTO
May 1 is the priority deadline The new changes in the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) have made more financial aid available, including grants that do not need to be repaid. The form is also shorter and, for many people, easier to complete. Walla Walla Community College Navigators are ready to help. Call the Student Success Center at…
Julie Taylor has been named the National Indian Child Welfare Association (NICWA) 2024 Individual Champion for Native Children.
MISSION, Ore. – Julie Taylor, Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) director for the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR), has been named the National Indian Child Welfare Association (NICWA) 2024 Individual Champion for Native Children. Taylor, an enrolled CTUIR member in her 12th year as DCFS director, was expected to accept the award at the 42nd…
TRIBAL MEMBERS: This notification formally announces that applications are now being accepted from tribal members who wish to serve on the Commission(s)/Committee(s) listed below. Appointed members will receive a $125.00 stipend per meeting, effective January 1, 2022, once the minutes have been approved and processed on CTUIR paydays. Will advertise for the following vacancies: 4 Positions for CTUIR Culture…
