Board approves increases

MISSION – On Feb. 8, Interim Executive Director Chuck Sams announced a pair of increases tribal employees may receive. The Board of Trustees adjusted their 2021 annual budget and approved a 3 percent cost of living adjustment to employee salaries, retroactive to Feb. 1. They also approved Departments be authorized to provide an average of 2 percent merit increases to…

CTUIR supports Rep. Simpson’s Columbia Basin Initiative

Mission, OR – The Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR) supports Congressman Mike Simpson’s newly-announced Columbia Basin Fund initiative. The plan calls for restoring the lower Snake River while making whole all impacted users of the Columbia River and changing the way fish and wildlife restoration, protection and enhancement is done in the Columbia Basin. “Restoring the lower…

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…

February sees small surge in COVID cases

Six news cases suddenly emerge; hundreds will receive first shot soon By Cary Rosenbaum of the CUJ MISSION – Despite more than 320 community members having received both Pfizer-BioNTech vaccinations, a small surge occurred as February began. Six positive cases out of 10 tests were reported at Yellowhawk Tribal Health Center on Tuesday, Feb. 2, reflecting testing that occurred on…

Nixyaawii Community School to start in-person learning

Feb. 22 start date approved by NCS school board By Cary Rosenbaum of the CUJ MISSION – Nixyaawii Community School students are set to return Feb. 22 after the school board unanimously voted to allow in-person learning. The hybrid plan is to have students attend two days per week and perform distance learning two more days in an effort to…

Program Update- Well No. 6 project to begin

By the CTUIR Public Works Department The Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR) is pleased to announce that our Mission community Well No. 6 construction project on South Market Road will be starting construction in February. This project was designed and managed by Anderson Perry & Associates and will provide a new water supply to the Mission community…

CUJ Editor Cary Rosenbaum

Coyote Stories: A smile after the storm

By Cary Rosenbaum It doesn’t matter who you are or what political party you align with, you felt something as you watched or read about the Capitol riots that left five dead in Washington, D.C. in early January. It was one of those incidents you know you’re going to be talking about for years — maybe even into your old…

A sign of beauty and destruction

CUJ Opinions & Editorials By Boots Pond, BOT Member The river is a powerful force. Most days when driving by the river it looks calm. There are many memories of being by and in the river. Whether it be from gaffing for salmon or finding the best swimming hole, the river has been a good part of our lifetimes. It’s…

State leaders react to Biden-Harris inauguration

BOT Chair Brigham says transparency, COVID-19 are areas of improvement By Cary Rosenbaum of the CUJ President Joseph R. Biden and Vice-President Kamala Harris were sworn in on Jan. 20. Biden was named the 46th President of the Unites States’ and Harris became the first female, African-American and Asian-American to hold that role in the history of the country. Oregon…

Law & Order: All-women committee a first in tribal history

Patricia Hall, Corinne Sams, Mary Halfmoon, Jiselle Halfmoon and Roberta Wilson reflect on past year By Cary Rosenbaum of the CUJ MISSION – The year 2020 was historic for a number of reasons. But here on the Umatilla Indian Reservation, the all-women Law and Order Committee was regarded as a first. Five women – Chair Patricia Hall, Vice-Chair Corinne Sams,…