By the CUJ MISSION – The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) approved in late October a FCC 2.5 GHz spectrum channel license that allows the Confederated Tribes to operate a wireless communication system for residents of the Umatilla Indian Reservation. The wireless communications system will be housed in the “Pandemic Preparedness Building” project at Coyote Business Park South. The 10,560 square…
Yellowhawk addition to help with social distancing By Cary Rosenbaum of the CUJ MISSION – The new Yellowhawk Tribal Health Center’s pharmacy drive-thru on the Umatilla Indian Reservation is just what the community needs during times like these. With the COVID-19 pandemic risk increasing, prompting a two-week freeze by Gov. Kate Brown in November, the extra distancing will make acquisition…
By the CUJ MISSION – Modesta Minthorn, the CTUIR’s Director of Education, explained the difficulties facing tribal families with distance learning during the COVID-19 pandemic to the Board of Trustees Nov. 25. But a bright spot has been the Tribe’s After School Program for students of all grade levels. Three cohorts of 10 students are allowed to participate from the…
MISSION – Hazard mitigation has been of the utmost importance in the area since February’s Umatilla River Flood. “The river’s changing course and moving as it wants to, and (a flood) is going to happen again,” Planning Program Manager Patty Perry told the Board of Trustees (BOT) for the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR) in November. Perry…
By the CUJ MISSION – Seven out of 10 students at Nixyaawii Community School graduate on time, according to the statewide 2019-2020 Report Card issued in November by the Oregon Department of Education. Pendleton High School graduates about eight of 10 Native students on time. Among other things, the report card indicates the percentage of Native American/Alaska Native students at…
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…
CTUIR will provide USDA commodity foods on Reservation By Wil Phinney of the CUJ MISSION – The Pandemic Preparedness Building under construction in Coyote Business Park South will include a food pantry to provide commodity foods – everything from fruit to nuts – to members of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR). About one-tenth of the 10,500…
By the CUJ MISSION – The Confederated Tribes plan a new round of purchasing a dozen fractionalized interests on a dozen parcels, some of which have more than a dozen owners. The process can be long and cumbersome, especially if the parcels are in the probate process for owners who have died. The 12 parcels are 40-80 acres in size,…
MISSION, OR – Yellowhawk Tribal Health Center will receive 300 COVID vaccinations this week. The clinic will begin administering the vaccine to healthcare staff, first responders and Yellowhawk patients over the age of 75 on Saturday and Sunday, December 19 and 20. “Yellowhawk staff are working hard to protect the CTUIR community and now they are starting to get healthcare…
“I have said time and again that hope is on the way. Today, I can tell you that help is here.” (Salem, OR) — Governor Kate Brown issued a video statement today as the first doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine began arriving at Oregon hospitals. “In recent weeks, as COVID-19 vaccines reached the final stages of approval, I have…