The Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation is looking to contract out services that will eventually expand the reservation’s broadband internet coverage thanks to a $250,000 U.S. Department of Agriculture grant. COURTESY PHOTO

CTUIR looks to expand high-speed internet via USDA grant

MISSION – The Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR) is looking to contract out services that will eventually expand the reservation’s broadband internet coverage thanks to a $250,000 U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) grant. U.S. Sens. Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden recently announced the grant award, which will allow the CTUIR to inventory assets that can provide broadband…

34th annual BAAD Tournament set for March 22-29

MISSION – The Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR), Yellowhawk Tribal Health Center and Native Youth Rise Above are hosting the 34th annual Basketball Against Alcohol & Drugs (BAAD) Tournament March 22-29 at the Nixyáawii Community School (NCS) and CTUIR After School gyms. “This tournament is held annually during spring break for youth to engage in alcohol- and…

Corinne Sams named to Oregon task force

MISSION – Gov. Tina Kotek has appointed Corinne Sams, a Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR) Board of Trustees Member at Large, to the state’s Task Force on Tribal Consultation. As part of the 15-member body, she will help identify and clarify requirements for state agencies to maintain a just and respectful consultation process with federally recognized tribes…

Members of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Board of Trustees and Executive Director Donald Sampson pose for a photo with the CTUIR’s Smart Communities Award on March 12 in Kennewick, Washington. The CTUIR, along with other partnering entities, received awards from Washington Gov. Jay Inslee for their collaboration to revitalize Clover Island in Kennewick. Bottom row, from left, are Members at Large Corinne Sams and Toby Patrick, Chairman Gary I. Burke, Treasurer Raymond Huesties and Member at Large Lisa Ganueles. Top row, from left, are Sampson, Member at Large Steven Hart and Vice Chairman Aaron Ashley. TRAVIS SNELL | CTUIR PHOTO

CTUIR receives Washington Governor’s Award for Port of Kennewick collaboration

KENNEWICK, Wash. – Officials with the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR) joined other dignitaries March 12 at the Port of Kennewick to receive the Governor’s Smart Communities Awards for collaborating to restore and revitalize Clover Island. Gathered at the Clover Island Lighthouse Plaza, the awards were presented to the CTUIR, Port of Kennewick, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Walla…

Public Notice: Committees/Commissions

March 12, 2024 This notification formally announces that applications are now being accepted from tribal members who wish to serve on the Commission(s)/Committee(s) listed below. Appointed members will receive a $125.00 stipend per meeting, effective January 1, 2022, once the minutes have been approved and processed on CTUIR paydays.     Will advertise for the following vacancies: 3 Positions for…

With Oregon returning a $5.61 billion kicker to taxpayers in 2024 everyone wants to get their refund as soon as they can this year, but not everyone can afford commercially available software. Fortunately, all Oregon resident taxpayers preparing their own returns in 2024 can file electronically at no cost using one of the free file options that can be found on the Department of Revenue website.

Which of Oregon’s free tax filing options fits you best?

SALEM – Filing electronically is the fastest way for taxpayers to get their refund. On average, taxpayers who e-file their returns and request their refund via direct deposit receive their refund two weeks sooner than those who file paper returns and request paper refund checks. With Oregon returning a $5.61 billion kicker to taxpayers in 2024 everyone wants to get…

Reva Hoover, manager of Bashas’ supermarket, demonstrates the time clock for employees that will change for with daylight saving time, Monday, March 4, 2024, in Tuba City, Ariz. MATT YORK | ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO

The US is springing forward to daylight saving. For Navajo and Hopi tribes, it’s a time of confusion

For the next several months, business meetings always come down to “Hopi time” or “Navajo time.” By TERRY TANG, Associated Press TUBA CITY, Ariz. (AP) — Melissa Blackhair is not eager to spring forward Sunday. “I’m dreading it. I just don’t want to see how much we have to adjust,” Blackhair said while sitting in her home office in Tuba…

Master weaver Celeste Whitewolf, Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, taught participants how to weave cattail baskets. She credits her Karuk grandmother for her knowledge of weaving the cattails into baskets. JARRETTE WERK | UNDERSCORE NEWS PHOTO

Inaugural gathering of Native Weavers of Oregon keeps tradition alive

By NIKA BARTOO-SMITH and JARRETTE WERK Underscore News + Report for America At a conference on the Oregon Coast hosted by the Portland All Nations Canoe Family, traditional weavers of all ages and skill levels shared stories and knowledge, stitch by stitch. During the first week in March, snowflakes the size of dollar coins melted into the ocean waves and…

Weaskus named CTUIR’s new Legislative Affairs Manager

MISSION – The Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR) has found its new Legislative Affairs manager in tribal member Brandie Weaskus. Weaskus, who has served as the CTUIR Higher Education program manager for more than 10 years, will take over the Legislative Affairs role March 18 when she starts tracking and analyzing legislation that may affect the CTUIR.…

Water flowing out of a tunnel at the base of Iron Gate dam on Jan. 11, 2024. PHOTO COURTESY REN BROWNELL | KLAMATH RIVER RENEWAL CORPORATION

Hundreds of thousands of juvenile Chinook salmon die in Klamath River while moving through dam

By ERIK NEWMANN, Jefferson Public Radio Hundreds of thousands of juvenile salmon (salmon fry) are believed to have died over the past week after being released into the Klamath River from the Fall Creek Fish Hatchery on Feb. 26, according to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Fall Creek is a tributary of the Klamath River. The fish were…