After more than 80 years, Columbia River Chinook and sockeye salmon have regained access to 1,000 miles of spawning habitat above the Grand Coulee and Chie Joseph Dams in Washington. Upper Columbia Tribes in the US and Canada welcome their return. (National Fisherman/Contributed Photo)
By PAUL MOLYNEAUX in News, West Coast & Pacific In early September 2025, for the first time in over 80 years, members of the Syilx Okanagan, Secwépemc, and Ktunaxa Nations saw salmon returning to the upper reaches of the Columbia River in British Columbia. While only two sockeye salmon that had been released as fry in the upper Columbia River…
Diana Azure, center, practices a bear powwow dance, claws extended and wearing bear feet, on Jan. 14, 2026, at Culture Night in the Mission Longhouse. (Yasser Marte/The CUJ)
MISSION — Within the communal space of the Mission Longhouse, each step carried meaning as children moved across the floor, learning variations of powwow dances that told stories older than the room itself, connecting past and future generations in motion. The Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR) hosted Community Culture Night on Jan. 14 through its Family Engagement…
Tracy Rector, founder and co-director of 4th Media World, poses for her portrait during the 51st Seattle International Film Festival. (Jarrette Werk, Underscore Native News / Report for America)
By Luna Reyna, ICT+ Underscore Native News SEATTLE – Like so many other parents and caregivers, Tracy Rector struggled to make ends meet while raising her two kids and working toward accomplishing her goals. The physical, emotional, and social responsibilities of being an engaged mother took sacrifice and support from community resources. Local Seattle food banks and living what Rector calls…
Ei-Shah Pirtle-Wright, 22, holds the bow and arrow they made while standing on a cliff that overlooks Willamette Falls below on Sept 22, 2025. Pirtle-Wright is a citizen of the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs, with Siletz, Klamath and Modoc descendancy. (Jarrette Werk,/Underscore Native News)
by Nika Bartoo-Smith, Underscore Native News + ICT and Photos by Jarrette Werk, Underscore Native News Content Warning: This story discusses mental health challenges. Growing up across the state of Oregon, Ei-Shah Pirtle-Wright has called many places home. “I’m from the Earth,” said Pirtle-Wright, a citizen of the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs, with Siletz, Klamath and Modoc descendancy. Pirtle-Wright…
CTUIR Election Day is Nov. 4. All Board of Trustees and General Council positions will be on the ballot. All registered Tribal members 18 years and older are eligible to vote. Voters can cast their ballot either in person on election day in the Nixyaawii Governance Center or by absentee ballot. Tribal members 18 years and older are eligible to vote. Voters can cast their ballot either in person on election day in the Nixyaawii Governance Center or by absentee ballot.
The CUJ invited all Board of Trustees and General Council candidates to respond to a written questionnaire about their priorities and goals. Candidates were given the opportunity to respond to each question with 3-5 sentences. Following are the responses received by the CUJ deadline. Lavona Herrera, Board of Trustees Chair Candidate What had led you to run for this position,…
The art of Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR) member James Lavadour features over 30 paintings and prints from various private and public collections and the artist’s studio. Based in Pendleton, Lavadour makes work that expresses the land and sky of the CTUIR homelands. JORDAN SCHNITZER MUSEUM OF ART
EUGENE – A career retrospective of artist and Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR) member James Lavadour is on display at the University of Oregon’s Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art in Eugene. “James Lavadour: Land of Origin” includes painting and printmaking and spans more than 40 years of Lavadour’s art, celebrating his status as one of the Pacific…
The incoming Šináata Scholars visit the Whitman College campus on Aug. 14 in Walla Walla, Washington. From left are Joel Satterwhite, Oscar Huesties, Addison Jones-Kosey, Lauralee Stanger and Addison Carey. Not pictured is Tatiwiyat Buck. WHITMAN COLLEGE
WALLA WALLA, Wash. – Whitman College in partnership with the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR) have named Addison Carey, Addison Jones-Kosey, Joel Satterwhite, Lauralee Stanger, Oscar Huesties and Tatiwiyat Buck as the Šináata Scholarship cohort for the 2025-26 academic year. “It is a joy to welcome these six incredible students to Whitman’s growing cohort of Šináata Scholars,” said Whitman College President Sarah…
Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR) Board of Trustees (BOT) members present a check for $10,000 to Corey Peabody of Beacon Plumbing Strong Racing for winning the 2024 Apollo Columbia Cup at the Tri-City Water Follies. From left are BOT Chairman Gary I. Burke, Members at Large Steven Hart and Corinne Sams and Treasurer Raymond Huesties. The CTUIR is once again sponsoring the purse money for the Apollo Cup at this year’s Water Follies. CTUIR
By TRAVIS SNELL MISSION – For the second consecutive year, the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR) is helping sponsor the Tri-City Water Follies being held July 25-27 in Kennewick and Pasco, Washington, along the Columbia River. The Water Follies is a weekend of hydroplane boat racing in pursuit of the Apollo American Power Boat Association (APBA) Gold…
Dania Wahwasuck, a 24-year-old from Mayetta, Kansas, was crowned Miss Indian World 2025-26 at the Gathering of Nations Pow Wow. She is a Prairie Band Potawatomi and Pyramid Lake Paiute. She succeeds Kassie John, who was Miss Indian World 2024-25.
GATHERING OF NATIONS | COURTESY
By SUSAN MONTOYA BRYAN, Associated Press ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Thousands of people are gathering in New Mexico for a celebration showcasing Native American and Indigenous dancers, musicians and artisans from around the world. Billed by organizers as the largest powwow in North America, the annual Gathering of Nations festival kicked off Friday with a colorful procession of dancers spiraling…
Tracy Lawrence, Rodney Atkins to Headline 2025 Round-Up & Happy Canyon Kick-Off Concert. PENDLETON ROUND-UP | COURTESY
PENDLETON – Chart-topping country stars Tracy Lawrence and Rodney Atkins will headline the Pendleton Round-Up and Happy Canyon Kick-Off Concert at the Happy Canyon Arena on Saturday, September 6th. Tickets go on sale March 14th. Lawrence, whose 13 million albums sold and 18 No. 1 singles have racked up numerous American Country Music (ACM) and Country Music Association (CMA) awards…
