By Casey Brown of the CUJ MISSION – Funds from a $30,000 federal grant will be used to repair houses owned by tribal members on the Umatilla Indian Reservation. This is the first time the Housing Department has received a grant from the National American Indian Housing Council (NAIHC). However, the purpose of the NAIHS grant – safety upgrades and…
Author: Casey Brown
Glavis Wagner, peer recovery mentor at Yellowhawk, participated in the Ready 2 Work program through Tribal Vocational Rehabilitation. He is joined by Susie Calhoun, program manager, Janine Winn, and Mary Ann Rhoads, HR training specialist. Wagner worked closely with them and Viola Tendler, former case manager, while working through the program.
Glavis Wagner prime example of CTUIR voc rehab client
By Casey Brown of the CUJ The open road became the long road that brought Glavis Wagner, 59, back home to Oregon in 1995. Wagner is a peer recovery mentor at Yellowhawk Tribal Health Center with the BH2I program and former bus driver on the Mission route for Kayak Public Transit. He is enrolled with the Confederated Tribes of the…
CTUIR ready to celebrate Voc Rehab’s 100th year
From the CTUIR Vocational Rehabilitation Program On June 2, Vocational Rehabilitation turned 100 years old. President Woodrow Wilson signed into law the Smith-Fess Act of 1920, which established the first federally funded program to assist people with disabilities who had not acquired their disabilities as a result of serving in the military. During the last four decades, more than 83…
By Casey Brown of the CUJ MISSION – While the decision about graduation is pending as of press time, Nixyaawii Community School’s New Media class has been working to produce messages of positivity for the Golden Eagles Class of 2020. “We wanted to make sure that the community has a chance to cheer on students,” Michelle Van Pelt said. Two…
Tribes developing ‘Safe Routes to School’ plans for Nixyaawii students
By Dani Schulte, CTUIR Transportation Planner MISSION – How many Nixyáawii Community School (NCS) students are walking or bicycling to school? Have you seen students cutting across the busy highway to get to Mission Market on their lunch break? Is there adequate lighting for students walking to a basketball game? These are some questions the Tribal Planning Office is hoping…
Students earn biliteracy diploma seals in Nez Perce, Umatilla languages
PENDLETON – Five graduating Native students, including Seth Scott who made remarks in Nez Perce at the Pendleton High School commencement ceremonies, have earned the Oregon Seal of Biliteracy for their achievements in studying native languages. Besides Scott, four students from Nixyaawii Community School earned the Oregon Seals, which will appear on their diplomas. Those students are Christina Kaltsukis, Susie…
John taking track career on to Colorado School of Mines
ZILLAH, Wash. – Sydney John Jr. wasn’t able to complete his prep track career as a senior this year at Zillah High School, but he plans to continue his running at the Colorado School of Mines in Golden, Colorado, where he will enroll this fall. John is graduating with an honors diploma from Zillah High School with a cumulative grade…
Nixyaawii Community School Coach Shane Rivera talks to players during a time out in a game at the Class 1A State Tournament in Baker City in March. Rivera is resigning after an eight-year stint after he accumulated a 171-51 record that included a state title in the 2019 tournament. Standing behind Rivera are his three assistant coaches – Alan Crawford, Ken Mayfield, and Aaron Ashley.
Rivera resigns as NCS hoop coach
By Wil Phinney of the CUJ MISSION – Shane Rivera is resigning as head boys’ basketball coach after compiling a record of 171 wins against 51 losses in eight seasons at Nixyaawii Community School (NCS). Rivera took NCS to the Oregon Class 1A State Tournament five times, winning the title in the 2018-19 season. That year Rivera was Oregon Class 1A…
Carol Farrow stands in front of the home where she lives with her siblings on Thompson Road.
Heavy rains create May 20 flood scare
By the CUJ MISSION – The community mostly dodged another bullet May 20 when the skies darkened before dumping more than an inch of rain in less than 24 hours on the foothills of the Blue Mountains. It didn’t end up anything like the February floods that caused millions of dollars’ worth of damage throughout Eastern Oregon, but for a…
A pair of backhoes work on some of the remaining walls at the former Yellowhawk Tribal Health Center as demolition work continued at the July Grounds in April.
Demo provides opportunity for new vision at July Grounds
From the CTUIR Capital Improvements Committee MISSION – The month of May brought a significant milestone to the July Grounds – the demolition of the former Yellowhawk Tribal Health Center, as well as the demolition of the Cay-Uma-Wa Education Center, the former Prevention Building, and a modular that served as an office building for the Yellowhawk Finance Department. “These buildings…