By Brandon Hansen, for the CUJ Shawn John’s Wapato High School football team had one winning season. But his college career for Central Washington was legendary. “It was a dream come true,” John said. “I never imagined that would happen. The thrill of hitting people while playing for a university that wanted me to play for them. It was five…
By the CUJ MISSION – CTUIR member Teara Farrow Ferman was appointed Interim Executive Director by the Board of Trustees, effective July 15. She shifts into the position from her managerial spot in the Department of Natural Resources’ Cultural Resources Protection Program. Farrow Ferman replaces Paul Rabb, who returned as the Finance Director. She has set four goals as E.D.…
By Dave Tovey of NCFS On July 1st, 2021, the new Nixyáawii Community Financial Services (NCFS) was opened at our new location at the Coyote Business Park, next to Subway and Ruby’s Indian Crafts & Supplies. The NCFS was the result of efforts by the Wildhorse Resort’s Business Development Services in 2016 to develop a U.S. Treasury certified Community Development…
By Miranda Vega Rector of the CUJ MISSION – Catherine Barkley and Iosefa Taula have started a new tribal owned business as co-owners of Mission Inflatables, providing bounce houses and water slides that are available for rent within a 25 mile radius. Barkley and Taula have always been business driven and throughout the years, and while raising their children, they…
By John Barkley of the Department of Natural Resources While the western United States is alit with mega forest fires exacerbated by extreme drought and record-setting high temperatures, water resources are precariously evaporating and dwindling, threatening our environment and economy. Over one million acres are on fire; some close to home in our aboriginal lands that can have devastating impacts…
In 2020 the Pendleton Round-Up was cancelled due to the circumstances regarding COVID-19. This was one of the few times in the over 100 year old history the Round-Up has not had a showcase. In the past, prior to the pandemic, the CTUIR Board of Trustees has not had any major communication with the Round-Up or Happy Canyon Boards; this…
This fire related story begins decades before I was born in August of 1963. During the late 1940s-60s, my grandfather, the late Walter Gene Pond, became a supervisor of fire crews for the BIA, after he served four tours in the Phillipines during World War II. Thereafter, my father Ron Pond picked up the fire torch to become the first…
First would like to let everyone know that the BOT wants to congratulate all of our students who graduated in 2021 including Head Start, 8th graders, high school and college/university students. 2020/2021 was a very difficult school year but when we saw you graduating you sure made us all very proud. On June 18th the BOT had lunch with about…
By the CUJ SHELTON, Wash. – Members of the Youth Leadership Council of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR) attended the annual Salmon Orca Summit held July 7-8. “Our young People are excited to be here to listen and to stand united in supporting investment in salmon and river restoration in the Northwest and throughout Indian Country,”…
By the CUJ MISSION – More than $200,000 in prize money for getting vaccinated was announced on Aug. 3. Three grand prizes for $50,000 — including one scholarship in that amount for a Tribal youth — were announced by Yellowhawk Tribal Health Center and Interim Executive Director Teara Farrow Ferman. “We had a random generation system that assigned numbers to…