UTPD asking for help finding missing teen

MISSION – Tribal police are asking for help locating a teenaged tribal member who has been missing for more than two weeks. Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR) tribal member Kateri Spencer has been missing from the Umatilla Indian Reservation since Oct. 19, according to a CTUIR spokesperson. Spencer, 16, is considered a runaway, authorities say. Her information…

Thank You

On November 25, 2023, my father Tithcowax (David Wolf Sr.), younger sister, Hiyuum latakalapat (Ashleigh Wolf) and I returned names from our family’s history to this homeland. It was a big holiday shopping weekend, so a big thank you to the people who chose to be a part of our family’s naming ceremony. I’ll start with a special thanks to…

CTUIR sees big surge in COVID cases

Yellowhawk Tribal Health Center deals with 323 positives as staff band together during shortage BY CARY ROSENBAUM MISSION – One of the biggest coronavirus case spikes of the entire COVID-19 pandemic hit the CTUIR in January. After dealing with just nine cases in November and 65 in December, a total of 323 positives were documented as of Jan. 27. “This…

STEPPING INTO POWER: Sams sworn in at NPS

By Cary Rosenbaum of the CUJ One December day Chuck Sams was in a suit and tie in front of the Lincoln Memorial, shaking hands with Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland after being sworn in as National Park Service Director. Days later, he’s in a NPS Ranger uniform being celebrated by his Tribal nation with an honor song. The…

By Cary Rosenbaum of the CUJ How many times can you link the word “history” with Charles F. “Chuck” Sams III? First, the nomination for National Park Service Director as the first Native American candidate. Then, the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee approval. And now, the Senate vote to confirm his role. He’s in — by unanimous confirmation —…

COVID cases down, but one death reported in October

MISSION – As of Oct. 31, there were no new COVID-19 cases on the Umatilla Indian Reservation, according to Yellowhawk Tribal Health Center. Active cases at this time last month were listed at 85. Now, they’re at just four. That doesn’t mean we’re out of the woods just yet, Yellowhawk Interim CEO Aaron Hines said. “YTHC is actively asking our…

A Tribe in mourning

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…