From left to right: Muriel Slickpoo, General Council Secretary Shawna Gavin and Red Lodge Executive Director Trish Jordan participate in smudging during a memorial event for Phyll Mendacino at Two Rivers Correctional Facility.

Two Rivers inmate was advocate for Native rights

-Phyll Mendacino passed away at age 65 due to COVID-19 complications By Jill-Marie Gavin for the CUJ The last time Red Lodge Transition Services (Red Lodge) organized a large event at Two Rivers Correctional Facility (Two Rivers) was in August of 2019. On August 31, 2019, inmates and visitors gathered for the annual “prison pow wow.” Throughout the whole event,…

Food Distribution counts record high number, announces upcoming change

By the CUJ MISSION – The Department of Child and Family Services (DCFS) saw its highest turnout to date Feb. 28, as 375 showed up. DCFS Director Julie Taylor anticipated the amount after the previous distribution came up short. “It’s growing,” she said. “People are having more need for food. They are going back to work, but they still have…

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…

NCS School Board Candidates answer CUJ questions

The following comments are responses to a list of questions sent by the CUJ to the Nixyaawii School Board candidates. Votes can be cast March 18 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the NCS parking lot. Two candidates will be elected. On this page, the CUJ has provided one location for all candidates’ responses in the the following order:…

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…

Board of Trustees appoints new Interim Executive Director

MISSION – The Board of Trustees of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR) has named Paul Rabb as the CTUIR’s next Interim Executive Director. The decision came in the wake of Chuck Sams’ resignation following his appointment to the Northwest Power and Conservation Council. Both the resignation of Mr. Sams and the appointment of Mr. Rabb will…

EDITORIAL: What’s your opinion?

Noticeably absent this issue are letters to the editor. Our question to you is: “Where’s your opinion?” Letters to the editor have been a historic feature of newspapers. In them, you’re allowed to take a stance on an issue, educate readers on happenings, suggest ideas, influence the opinions of the public or even, perhaps, tribal leadership. We’ve seen the power…