Climate makes BOT priority list

By the CUJ MISSION – For the first time, climate change and enrollment are listed among the top priorities for the Board of Trustees (BOT) of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR). The BOT adopted seven priorities by resolution on June 22, more than six months into their 2020-2021 term, which has been hijacked by a historic…

Leaders of CTUIR, Round-Up begin talks

Board of Trustees members and Presidents of the Round-Up and Happy Canyon Boards talked over Zoom June 24. By Wil Phinney of the CUJ MISSION – Triggered by a lack of coordination before the COVID-19-caused cancellation of Pendleton’s annual rodeo and night pageant, members of the Confederated Tribes’ Board of Trustees (BOT) and officials from the Pendleton Round-Up and Happy…

Board OKs new Internet tribal portal

By the CUJ MISSION – Tribal leaders have taken the first official steps toward development of a new Internet portal that will allow members of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR) to interact online with their government. With transparency as an overriding goal, the Board of Trustees (BOT) on June 22 approved a resolution calling for modernization…

COVID-19 Incident Command changes as CTUIR moves into Recovery stage

By the CUJ MISSION – Moving into Level 4 Recovery, the Board of Trustees (BOT) on June 22 transferred the Incident Command and changed the scope to monitoring the status of COVID-19 cases on the Umatilla Indian Reservation. Ted Wright, Executive Director for the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR), is the new Incident Commander charged with coordinating…

BLM prompts review of Umatilla Tribal Police policies

By Wil Phinney of the CUJ MISSION – “Black Lives Matter” to members of the Board of Trustees (BOT) for the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR). And even though the nine policy makers couldn’t agree in June on an official statement calling for justice after a white police officer killed George Floyd in Minnesota May 25, the…

$750 cash relief approved for all CTUIR members

By the CUJ MISSION – All Tribal members should expect to receive a $750 stimulus check in mid-to-late July following action June 29 by the Board of Trustees (BOT) for the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR). The Pandemic Relief Benefit, which will provide checks to more than 3,100 enrolled CTUIR members, will total more than $2.5 million.…

88 new COVID-19 cases in Umatilla County; 375 in Oregon

PORTLAND, Ore. — COVID-19 has claimed one more life in Oregon, raising the state’s death toll to 209, the Oregon Health Authority reported at 12:01 a.m. today. Oregon Health Authority reported 375 new confirmed and presumptive cases of COVID-19 as of 12:01 a.m. today, bringing the state total to 9,294. The new cases reported today are in the following counties:…

CTUIR Incident Command Requires Masks to Be Worn Indoors

Mission, OR – Face masks must be worn in any and all government, enterprise or private buildings (excluding personal homes) on the Umatilla Indian Reservation, effective immediately, June 30, 2020, according to a press release issued by the Incident Command Team (ICT) for the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR). The Incident Command has required Tribal Government and…

Governor Kate Brown Extends Face Coverings Requirement Statewide

Face covering requirements apply to indoor public spaces, take effect on Wednesday, July 1 PORTLAND — Governor Kate Brown announced today that Oregonians statewide will be required to wear face coverings in indoor public spaces, beginning this Wednesday July 1. The guidance applies to businesses and members of the public visiting indoor public spaces. Face covering requirements are already mandated…