By the CUJ MISSION – Besides the challenges of making tribal government work from the isolation of their homes, leaders on the Umatilla Indian Reservation are feeling a little lonely like everybody else. They miss their friends and families. For General Council Chair Lindsey X. Watchman, that means “not being able to hug family members long and tightly, to see…
By the CUJ MISSION – A phased plan to re-open government and business on the Umatilla Indian Reservation was unveiled May 6 in a work session with the Board of Trustees for the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR). The Board of Trustees (BOT) on May 11 is expected to approve a resolution authorizing implementation of the plan,…
By Wil Phinney of the CUJ MISSION – More than two dozen members of Toby Patrick’s family gathered April 18 to honor the foods that his elders promised would protect them. Now he could face up to a year in jail or a maximum fine of $5,000 for violating a COVID-19 social gathering directive issued in March by the Board…
MISSION – The Incident Command Team is granting permission to CTUIR community residents and their immediate family members to practice traditional sweat, reconsidering a March 24 order prompted by the COVID-19 pandemic. “It is highly encouraged that sweat only continue with individuals that reside within your immediate household and does not include extended family or community members (to include community…
MISSION – The Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR) Incident Command Team (ICT) has worked on several plans to ensure the safety of the entire community. The CTUIR ICT has reconsidered the 75-mile travel restriction and have made the determination to remove the travel restriction and issue guidelines. The ICT would like community members to take the following…
By Andrew Westney, Law360 WASHINGTON, D.C. – Tribes and tribal groups would receive $24 billion as part of a proposed House package for coronavirus relief, with Alaska Native corporations made ineligible for the main tribal funding pool after the government’s plan to include them in the previous round of funding sparked a suit from federally recognized tribes. The $3 trillion…
MISSION – A Virtual Call Center has been established by the Office of the Executive Director so that each member of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR) will receive a call during the COVID-19 pandemic crisis. The purpose of the calls, according to CTUIR Executive Director Ted Wright, is to contact all Tribal member households and ensure…
PENDLETON – To accommodate the installation of new variable message reader boards over Interstate 84 the Oregon Department of Transportation will conduct occasional rolling slowdowns at various locations between Pendleton and La Grande during the next two months. The first slowdowns will take place Friday, May 15, in the eastbound lanes around 8:30 and 10:30 a.m. between milepost 200 west…
By the CUJ Update: This story corrects information from an earlier version. Tribal Police are not involved in any current investigation involving a COVID-19 incident. MISSION – The COVID-19 Incident Command Team is investigating a gathering of more than 30 people who attended a feast over the weekend at a home on the Umatilla Indian Reservation, according to Incident Commander…
By the CUJ MISSION – The Board of Trustees (BOT) at its meeting Monday, April 27 extended stay-at-home orders through June 1 – unless public health conditions for COVID-19 are achieved sooner – for residents of the Umatilla Indian Reservation. In addition to the public health requirement, the BOT resolution said the stay-at-home orders could only be relaxed earlier than…