By Cary Rosenbaum of the CUJ MISSION – By definition, “átway” is the Umatilla Tribal word used to respectfully name a deceased person. Two átways were added to Yellowhawk Tribal Health Center’s daily report in August, including 39-year-old Michael Gavin — the son of Tribal leader Shawna Gavin and brother of Tribal leader Jill-Marie Gavin-Harvey. Yellowhawk’s Interim CEO Aaron Hines…
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…
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.…
By Cary Rosenbaum of the CUJ PHOENIX – A trio of CTUIR members played significant roles on an inter-tribal team called the “Young Guns,” which captured the 18th-annual Native American Basketball Invitational (NABI) championship in July. With the victory, former Nixyaawii Community School players Tyasin Burns and Magi Moses, and White Swan High School/Haskell-bound Teal Soaring Eagle got to attend…
CTUIR member Ashlyn Wallace sets scoring record, becomes next Tribal hooper to join NCAA ranks By Cary Rosenbaum of the CUJ In what’s become nothing shy of a pipeline to college basketball in recent years, yet another CTUIR member will move on from Clarkston High School in Washington state to play basketball at the next level. Ashlyn Wallace capped off…
By Cary Rosenbaum of the CUJ If you’ve ever listened to Tylor & the Train Robbers, you’ll hear a lyric-driven blend of classic roots, country and modern Americana music. But a more subtle part of their band identity can be found by looking at the bass cabinet of Jason Bushman, which dons a CTUIR flag. Bushman, a CTUIR descendant, says…
By The CTUIR Board of Trustees The Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR) has a long history of traditional use of Willamette Falls and the surrounding region, a history spanning from time immemorial to today. Willamette Falls was and is an inter-tribal fishery utilized by tribes throughout the Pacific Northwest, including but not limited to the CTUIR, the…
By Cary Rosenbaum of the CUJ BAKER CITY – It was a season for firsts and seconds for Nixyaawii Community School. For the first time ever, the Golden Eagles received the No. 1 seed to the State 1A Basketball Tournament and — as the odds would have it — they took first place, winning their second title in three years.…
By Cary Rosenbaum of the CUJ, KENNEWICK – In referencing the aspirations to work together with the City of Kennewick, Board of Trustees member Armand Minthorn recalled the discovery of Kennewick Man, a 9,000-year-old ancestor of the Columbia Plateau Tribes who gained world interest for more than 20 years. “Not too far from here, Kennewick Man was discovered,” he said…
MISSION – After a sudden surge in COVID-19 cases at the start of May, Yellowhawk Tribal Health Center saw a sharp decline. Of the 23 cases diagnosed on the Umatilla Indian Reservation, 18 were school-aged. Nine were diagnosed on one day alone on May 10. Following the increase, the Incident Command Team advised parents to keep students home for one…