“The Walla Walla Water 2050 Strategic Plan,” outlines management strategies and solutions to eliminate the overallocation of the basin’s water, ensure that those who rely on the basin’s water have access into the future and improve habitat health so species, like salmon, can rebound. CTUIR FILE PHOTO

CTUIR pushes Oregon lawmakers to pass legislation to help improve river water access, habitat health

By CHRIS AADLAND CUJ Reporter SALEM – Tribal leaders are pushing for Oregon lawmakers to pass legislation this session that would require the state to begin working with the tribe and state of Washington to address longstanding concerns over water availability and habitat health in the Walla Walla River Basin. On Tuesday, Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation Board…

Grant recipients will receive up-front payment and grant funds must directly support projects to improve small farm disaster resilience.

Disaster resilience grant program open for farmers, ranchers

$2.65 million for disaster resilience grants for small farms and ranches in 2024 and 2025 Small farm and ranch businesses in Oregon can now apply for grants to help them build operations that are more resilient to heat, drought, smoke and wildfire impacts. The Farmer & Rancher Disaster Resilience Grant Program is operated by the Oregon Community Food Systems Network…

Billy Frank Jr., left, a Nisqually tribal elder who was arrested dozens of times while trying to assert his Native fishing rights during the Fish Wars of the 1960s and ’70s, poses for a photo Monday, Jan. 13, 2014, with Ed Johnstone, of the Quinault tribe, at Frank’s Landing on the Nisqually River in Nisqually, Wash. They are holding a photo from the late 1960s of Frank and Don McCloud fishing on the river. TED S. WARREN | AP PHOTO

The Boldt Decision’s impact on Indigenous rights, 50 years later

THE LANDMARK 1974 CASE ORDERED WASHINGTON TO UPHOLD ITS TREATIES,AFFIRM INDIGENOUS SALMON FISHING RIGHTS AND RECOGNIZE NATIVENATIONS’ SOVEREIGNTY. By NICHOLAS K. GERANIOS Crosscut.com Fifty years ago, a federal judge in Western Washington issued a decision that dramatically improved the economic – and legal – prospects of Indigenous nations within the state. U.S. District Judge George Hugo Boldt ruled on Feb.…

Democratic state Rep. Derrick Lente of Sandia Pueblo in New Mexico presents a bill on Thursday, Feb. 8, 2024, in Santa Fe, N.M., to create a unique educational endowment of at least $50 million to help Native American communities create their own student programs, including efforts to teach and preserve Indigenous languages. The initiative from Democratic legislators with ties to tribal communities won unanimous House approval Thursday on a 68-0 vote, advancing to the state Senate for consideration. Bill sponsors say the endowment would help reverse the vestiges of forced assimilation and fulfill the state’s commitment to Native American students in the wake of a landmark state court ruling. MORGAN LEE | AP PHOTO

New Mexico legislators seek endowment to bolster autonomous tribal education programs

By MORGAN LEE, Associated Press SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico legislators would create a unique educational endowment of at least $50 million to help Native American communities create their own student programs, including efforts to teach and preserve Indigenous languages, under a proposal endorsed Feb. 8 by the state House. The bill from Democratic legislators with ties to…

Common Ground showcases the “Regenerative Movement” pioneers who are creating a food system that produces nutritionally dense food while balancing the climate and bringing ecosystems back to life. COURTESY IMAGE

Wildhorse Cineplex screens regenerative farming documentary

MISSION – With more than 200 people attending, a free one-time screening of the regenerative farming documentary “Common Ground” was held Feb. 7 at the Wildhorse Resort & Casino Cineplex. The documentary showcases the “Regenerative Movement” pioneers who are creating a food system that produces nutritionally dense food while balancing the climate and bringing ecosystems back to life. Regenerative agriculture…

Get school, daycare immunizations updated before Feb. 21

Parents and caregivers must provide schools and childcare facilities with kids’ vaccine records ​PORTLAND – With the Feb. 21 deadline fast approaching for updating kids’ vaccinations, the Oregon Immunization Program (OIP) reminds parents and caregivers that their children may miss out on school or childcare if their records on file show missing immunizations. The third Wednesday in February is known…

Because the Bureau of Indian Affairs has not yet approved the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation’s amended Gaming Revenue Allocation Plan, which the Board of Trustees passed via Resolution 23-088 on Oct. 30, tribal members will not yet see a change in their quarterly gaming dividends.

CTUIR members to receive usual gaming revenue payments

MISSION – Due to a delay in federal approval of the amended Gaming Revenue Allocation Plan (GRAP), the dividend payment to be issued on Feb. 20 will be under the current GRAP and remain taxable. Because the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) has not yet approved the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation’s (CTUIR) amended GRAP, which the Board…

Households who receive SNAP who lost or disposed of food that was unsafe to eat due to these events can request that replacement benefits be issued for the cost of the lost food.

Oregon households have until Feb. 16 to replace food benefits destroyed due to power outages

News Release from Oregon Dept. of Human Services Need to know: SALEM – Oregonians who lost food purchased with Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits due to the recent winter storms and power outages are encouraged to request replacement benefits from the Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS). Households who receive SNAP and live in the following counties have until Feb.…

CTUIR Committee/Commission Member’s List

February 7, 2024 CCWIC CTUIR Community Wellness Improvement Collaborative 2 YEAR TERM (1 BOT Member) POSITION NAME DATE SWORN IN TERM ENDS MTG DAYS Chairperson Marcus Luke Yellowhawk   3rd Tuesday Yellowhawk 3-4 PM Member Housing/DCFS/Safety Yellowhawk Behavioral Health Directors   Member Steven Hart    BOT Member Dec. 01, 2025 Member Wenona Scott GC   Member Glavis Wagner GC  …

PUBLIC NOTICE February 7, 2024

 TRIBAL MEMBERS:  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: One Position for CTUIR Culture Coalition,…