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…
Category: Opinion
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…
Brigham: 2020 almost over, but we must remain diligent
By Kat Brigham 2020 is almost over. It has been a year with mixed emotions. Frustration being one that many of us have felt because we are not able to see this invisible enemy to prevent its spread in the community. Our ancestors had to deal with this and now we are too. But we all know what to do:…
Watchman: Being grateful, even in the midst of chaos
We cautiously enter the holiday season, exhausted due to unprecedented challenges that we’ve all had to confront during the chaotic year of 2020, such as floods, fires, COVID, high unemployment, online education, daycare shortages, tele-work, and even toilet paper scarcity! We also lost some degree of personal liberties, such as to travel afar, to (fully) practice our venerated Tamanwit, and…
Phinney: Retiring after 24 years as CUJ editor
It’s appropriate that I’m writing this ‘swan song’ column on deadline. The CUJ is supposed to be out the door on its way to a press in Caldwell, Idaho, in a couple of hours so I’m penning this thing at the last minute. But I’ve always thrived on deadlines. I like the pressure of deadlines. And by now, after 46…
Paying respect to a Umatilla hero
There’s a sight to be seen that connects my tribe and yours. It’s one headstone among thousands at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia. Lucas White, an enrolled member of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, was laid to rest there in 2006 at age 28. I’m one of a handful of Colvilles I know to pay respects in-person.…
Coyote Stories: The new face at the CUJ
Way, hast sxľxalt, iswkist Sin-ka-leep. (nselxcin Salish translation) Hello, good day, my Indian name is Coyote. I also go by Cary Rosenbaum, and I am a member of the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation. As of early October, I am officially a member of the Confederated Umatilla Journal staff. With that, I will be reporting for the foreseeable future…
Editorial: Uplifting the community
With COVID-19 causing emotional and mental distress perhaps as much as harming the economy and society, it is inspiring to see Nixyaawii Community School’s effort to uplift the community. In October, NCS sponsored a virtual photo contest to recognize Indigenous Peoples Day. The winning photo, at right, was taken by Meadow Fossek-Spencer. “Students from the new media class sponsored the…
Native American Activists See Purpose with Black Lives Matter
By Brian Bull/Opinion for Underscore For more than a century, “The Pioneer” stood tall on his pedestal on the University of Oregon campus in Eugene. With his bushy beard, boots, and buckskin, he struck many Oregonians as the embodiment of frontier courage and determination, representative of settlers who traveled thousands of miles to tame the Wild West and build a…