By TRAVIS SNELL
MISSION – The Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation’s (CTUIR) Education Department gave away 228 backpacks during its annual Tribal Youth Backpack Distribution event.
Held Aug. 11-15 at the Nixyáawii Education Center, CTUIR members who are enrolled in grades kindergarten through 12th were eligible to receive backpacks and school supplies to assist them with costs of attending the 2025-26 school year.
Andria Scott, Education administrative assistant, said she and (Sahaptian) Language Resource Developer Clarise Huesties oversaw the giveaway.
“There were no income guidelines, but students must be enrolled CTUIR members,” Scott said. “Three hundred Native-style backpacks were purchased, and each student, or their parent or guardian, who came received a backpack and limited school supplies.”
She said due to the list of supplies requested by the local schools and the variety of grades the Education Department provides for, supplies ranged from crayons, paper, color pencils, scissors, erasers to dry erase markers.
“This year we purchased pre-packaged supplies that made it simpler, as we didn’t have to pre-pack bags,” Scott said. “But we were limited to what is provided because they are prepackaged.”
Nixyáawii Community School senior Liana Higheagle said getting the backpack and supplies is vital to the community and she was glad to receive them.
“I think getting a free backpack with school supplies is really important and awesome to have in our community,” she said. “It takes some of the weight off of students and parents to get the supplies. I am beyond grateful we have these resources in our community.”
CTUIR member Crystal Pond Kirkie grabbed two backpacks for her daughters – Cena Shiela Kirkie and Cadance Nixtias Kirkie, who are attending McKay Elementary School.
“My family is so happy to be back home and grateful to the Education Department for providing these resources for our children,” Crystal said.
The CTUIR Board of Trustees (BOT) allocates funds annually to buy backpacks and school supplies, Scott said. However, because of cost increases the Education Department covered the cost difference for school supplies that BOT funds did not cover.
Overall, the 300 backpacks cost approximately $8,400 while supplies totaled more than $7,200, she said.
This is the sixth year the Education Department has taken the lead on the backpack giveaway. Prior to that it was handled by the departments of Children and Family Services and Economic and Community Development.
“The backpack distribution started to help families with costs associated with going back to school,” Scott said. “Backpacks and supplies are necessary items for students to succeed, and we want to send our tribal students to school with every possible tool to succeed.”
