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…
The second annual Two Cultures -One Community Powwow welcomed competing drum Red Hawk Express (pictured) and the return of host drum Wild Rose along with eight other drums who competed for prizes. KATHY ANEY | THE CUJ
WIL PHINNEYTCOC Committee PENDLETON – More than 500 dancers and drummers competed over three days at the Two Cultures – One Community Powwow (TCOC) in Pendleton Feb. 28 – March 2. Dancers and drummers came mostly from the Western states – Oregon, Washington, California, Idaho and Montana, but also from as far away as Regina, Saskatchewan in Canada and Window…
PENDLETON – The Happy Canyon Board of Directors has announced the appointment of Avery Quaempts and Korie Spencer as the 2025 Happy Canyon Princesses. The two young women will serve as the official ambassadors for the Happy Canyon Night Show, held every evening during Pendleton Round-Up week in September. “We’re excited to welcome Avery and Korie as the 2025 Happy…
The Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation held a voter registration event Oct. 10 at Hamley’s Slickfork Saloon in Pendleton. CHRIS AADLAND | THE CUJ
By CHRIS AADLAND PENDLETON – The Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation held a voter registration event on Thursday evening to give the public an opportunity to check their registration status and learn about other resources ahead of the upcoming elections. The event, held at Hamley Slickfork Saloon, featured live music, food and refreshments, election information and speakers who…
Video game studio Firaxis approached the Shawnee Tribe with a proposal to make a playable character out of the famous Shawnee leader Tecumseh in the upcoming game Civilization 7. FIRAXIS | COURTESY
By GRAHAM LEE BREWER and MATT O’BRIEN MIAMI, Okla. (AP) — Shawnee Tribe Chief Ben Barnes grew up playing video games, including “probably hundreds of hours” colonizing a distant planet in the 1999 title Sid Meier’s Alpha Centauri. So when that same game studio, Firaxis, approached the tribal nation a quarter-century later with a proposal to make a playable character…
Brandie Weaskus puts her arm around newly registered voter Irma Totus at the Housing Department’s annual Community Picnic on Aug. 15 at the July Grounds in Mission. TRAVIS SNELL | CTUIR
Non-partisan event will be free and open to the pubic to aid registered voters in checking their status and to help those who are eligible to vote get registered in time for the Nov. 5 election. PENDLETON – The Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR) will host a voter registration drive from 4-8 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 10…
Niccole Harrison is surprised by the Oregon Department of Education, students and co-workers Sept. 19 with the news of her Regional Teacher of the Year Award.
CHRIS AADLAND | THE CUJ
By CHRIS AADLAND, The CUJ MISSION – For Nixyáawii Community School (NCS) teacher Niccole Harrison, becoming a teacher was “just kind of a lucky coincidence.” Harrison, who teaches language arts at NCS, was originally pursuing a career in social services before taking an unplanned elective course on early elementary education at Eastern Oregon University that set her down a different…
The Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR) hosted hundreds of elders from various tribes for fun and food at its annual Elders Honor Day Luncheon on Sept. 6 at the Wildhorse Resort & Casino. TRAVIS SNELL | CTUIR COMMUNICATIONS
MISSION – The Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR) hosted hundreds of elders from various tribes for fun and food at its annual Elders Honor Day Luncheon on Sept. 6 at the Wildhorse Resort & Casino. Kathleen Elliott, Local Food Purchase Assistance Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission Food Distribution coordinator with CTUIR’s Children and Family Services, said historically…
Kayla Fossek jumps the rail as Round-Up Princess.
By LISA SNELL, The CUJ PENDLETON – A self-professed “typical horse crazy girl,” Kayla Fossek was born and raised in Pendleton, and she always knew she wanted to be a princess. The kind of princess that rides horses. But this year’s Pendleton Round-Up Queen didn’t grow up with horses. She didn’t even know how to ride a horse until she…
