Making a difference, one mask at a time

Wilsonville business owner has CTUIR roots By Cary Rosenbaum of the CUJ CTUIR member Janet Singh stumbled into creating an authentic Tribal facemask line. When the COVID-19 virus emerged in the United States early last year — and masks were suggested and eventually mandated — Singh rushed to her sewing machine. “At first, I was making masks for my immediate…

Sheoships selected for Next Generation Radio Project

By the CUJ CTUIR member and KCUW radio station assistant Lily Sheoships was selected to participate in the Next Generation Radio Project on March 2. The offer to join a cohort, trained by the Native American Journalists Association (NAJA), Southern California Public Radio and National Public Radio, came after Sheoships applied Feb. 20. The project, called NextGenRadio: Indigenous, is a…

Bowman South Project now named ‘Nixyáawii’

By Nixyáawii Marketing Team CTUIR Tribal members will soon have more opportunities to build market rate homes on the Umatilla Indian Reservation. After a recommendation on names from the General Council, the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR) Board of Trustees passed a motion to formally name the neighborhood as Nixyáawii. The Nixyáawii neighborhood will be on approximately…

Immunity for the community

– Multi-day vaccination event at WRC attracts hundreds seeking COVID-19 protection By Cary Rosenbaum of the CUJ MISSION – A three day vaccination event Feb. 23, 24 and 26 inoculated 978 community members, locals and immediate relatives of Tribal employees with the COVID-19 vaccine. The event was coordinated by Yellowhawk Tribal Health Center, with assistance from Wildhorse Resort & Casino…

Payment approved: Multi-entity payout includes Cayuse Holdings dividends

By Cary Rosenbaum of the CUJ MISSION – After just a few years in operation, Cayuse Holdings reached a point of success where dividends could be shared with Tribal members. The $250,000 dividend translates to $19.82 per person, but combined with other sources — including Gaming ($650.25), Arrowhead/Mission Market ($198.96) and NOAA Fisheries ($34.98) — each CTUIR member will receive…

Indian-uity: CTUIR’s Ingenuity with lamprey freezer keeps vaccines at appropriate temperature

By Cary Rosenbaum of the CUJ MISSION – Collaboration between departments at the CTUIR is not uncommon. But when a deadly COVID-19 pandemic is involved and a potential solution is a 700-pound lamprey freezer to store lifesaving vaccines, you’ll be hard-pressed to find such a unique situation nationwide. Its -75-degree capabilities make it ideal to hold the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. “You…

COVID-19 vaccine arrives

CTUIR receives 300 doses; next round to include 55-plus with underlying symptoms By Cary Rosenbaum & Megan Van Pelt MISSION – “Didn’t even feel it,” CTUIR elder Chazz Webb said with a laugh after receiving the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine on Dec. 19. Webb was among the first 300 Tribal and community members vaccinated at Yellowhawk Tribal Health Center. His wife…

WW Hatchery Construction on Schedule

By Wil Phinney of the CUJ SOUTH FORK WALLA WALLA RIVER – A new fish hatchery, which is expected to produce some 500,000 spring Chinook salmon smolts, is nearing completion on the South Fork Walla Walla River about 10 miles southeast of Milton-Freewater. It eventually will provide hatchery-raised fingerlings for the Walla Walla Basin. The Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla…