General Election details released

By the CUJ The Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation’s General Election will be held Tuesday, Nov. 9, according to officials. In-person voting will occur from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. at Nixyáawii Governance Center, 46411 Timíne Way, Pendleton, OR, 97801. Voting room is #102 A/B, Cayuse/Umatilla. The Tribal Election Commission reviewed nomination petitions at 4 p.m. on Aug.…

Spotlight: William Wapass, mini relay racer

By the CUJ “Horses make me feel happy,” William Wapass says. “I have fun and feel cool when I ride them. I ride for my ‘mosums’ (grandpa’s) and I’m never gonna stop riding.” Wapass, an enrolled Thunderchild First Nation member, is a 7-year-old mini relay racer with CTUIR ties. He is the eldest son of Alicia Picard and Bretner Wapass.…

CTUIR athletes go undefeated

By the CUJ JaLay Harris-Burns and Muriel Jones-Hoisington, cousins along with teammate Lindsey Littlesky (Pendleton, Bucks High School) & Iliana Moran (Hanford, Falcons High School) made waves in Salem the weekend of Aug. 7-8, going undefeated in the annual Hoopla 3-on-3 basketball tournament. Burns and Hoisington are both stand out players for their high school teams. They started their careers…

Justin Quaempts finds art during surgery recovery

By the CUJ CTUIR member Justin Quaempts went from star athlete, to Tribal leader to now being an acclaimed independent freehand spray-paint artist. Just two years into being an artist, he’s got his own collection, which will be on display at the Pendleton Art Center on Oct. 7. “My recent discovery of my artistic skills has opened up a new…

CTUIR Legends: Justin Quaempts

Hard throwing Justin Quaempts reached incredible heights in his baseball career By Brandon Hansen for the CUJ Justin Quaempts has travelled more than most, played baseball at a higher level than many and battled through injuries during his athletic career that would have dismayed anyone else. The Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation’s tribal member pitched at the highest…

Biden Picks Sams

CTUIR member may become first Native American to run National Park Service By Cary Rosenbaum of the CUJ CTUIR member Chuck Sams III has a knack for making history. Months ago, he received a historic appointment from Gov. Kate Brown to the Northwest Power and Conservation Council, becoming only the second Native American to serve in that role. On Aug.…

A Round-Up to Remember

By Cary Rosenbaum of the CUJ PENDLETON – Light, cameras (if you’re a journalist, photographer or spectator), action. After a year without the Pendleton Round-Up, the fun continued — with a level of caution in mid-September. Culture and history were on display throughout the four-day event. And while some declined to attend due to the growing risk of continuing the…

Final opportunity for public comment – CTUIR Hazard Mitigation Plan

Residents, CTUIR members, and other community stakeholders are invited to comment on the draft 2021 Update to the CTUIR Hazard Mitigation Plan. The goal of the Hazard Mitigation Plan is to save lives, property, and natural resources by reducing the vulnerability of the Umatilla Indian Reservation to disaster events. Hazard Mitigation is any effort to reduce or eliminate the long-term…

Tribal Government Modifying Public Use Restrictions on the Umatilla Indian Reservation and Reopening Off-Reservation Properties with Limitations

MISSION, OR – The Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR) is reducing Public Use Restrictions on the Umatilla Indian Reservation for this fire season due to the cooler weather and slight but significant decrease in the threat of fire on the Umatilla Indian Reservation. In addition, the CTUIR is reopening Rainwater Wildlife Area and other off-reservation properties with…

Gordon appointed interim Umatilla Tribal Court Director

Chief Judge William D. Johnson has appointed Martina Gordon, Criminal Justice Records Specialist, as Interim Umatilla Tribal Court Director effective immediately. Gordon has been employed with Umatilla Tribal Court since 2017 and is an enrolled member of CTUIR. She previously served as the Food Programs Coordinator and Manager for CAPECO for 6 years. She currently serves as Vice-Chair for the…