Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, right, and Bryan Newland, Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs at the Department of the Interior, left, present President Joe Biden with a blanket from Eighth Generation, a tribally-owned business, embroidered with “Joe Biden Champion for Indian Country,” at the 2024 White House Tribal Nations Summit at the Department of the Interior in Washington, Monday, Dec. 9, 2024. SUSAN WALSH | AP

Biden creates Native American boarding school national monument to mark era of forced assimilation

By MATTHEW BROWN and MARC LEVY, Associated Press HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — President Joe Biden designated a national monument at a former Native American boarding school in Pennsylvania on Dec. 9 to honor the resilience of Indigenous peoples whose children were forced to attend the school and hundreds of similar abusive institutions. The creation of the Carlisle Federal Indian Boarding…

Pendleton’s Tugg McQuinn exults after a touchdown run during a state playoff game against Mazama on Nov. 8 at the Round-Up Grounds. KATHY ANEY | THE CUJ

Hats off to defense

Pendleton shuts out Mazama in first round By ANNIE FOWLER, The CUJ PENDLETON — Tugg McQuinn had four touchdowns and Pendleton had a strong opening-round showing with a 41-0 win over Mazama in the 4A state playoffs at the Pendleton Round-Up Grounds. “This is a big win for us,” Pendleton coach Erik Davis said. “This is our best team win…

Pendleton offensive lineman Landon VanPelt attempts to block La Grande’s Bekham Hibbert on Nov. 1, 2024, at the Round-Up Grounds. KATHY ANEY | THE CUJ

Pendleton ekes out win over La Grande

By ANNIE FOWLER, The CUJ PENDLETON —Mason Strong scored four touchdowns, and Pendleton sewed up second place in the Greater Oregon League with a 39-35 victory over La Grande on Friday at the Round-Up Grounds. “A great team effort,” Pendleton coach Erik Davis said. “A piecemeal game we were able to pull off. It was a great team win. My…

This week in area sports –

Saturday sports summaries

Weston-McEwen tops Gold Beach 47-30 for first win By ANNIE FOWLER, The CUJ BEND — Maddox King ran for 177 yards and three touchdowns as Weston-McEwen picked up its first win of the season Saturday, Sept. 21, with a 47-30 victory over Gold Beach at Summit High School. “It was a good game,” W-M coach Morgan Dunlap said. “The boys…

ICYMI Cross-country | CUJ STOCK PHOTO

ICYMI CROSS-COUNTRY

By ANNIE FOWLER, The CUJ Nixyaawii made a strong showing among the big schools at the Wallowa County Invitational, with Sun Schimmel breaking into the top 20 by placing 19th with a time of 20:33.6 at Wallowa Lake State Park. Also scoring for the Golden Eagles were Noah Piercen (22:41.9), Waptas Brockie (22:58.3), Wyatt Withers (23:17.8), and Ellis Ashley (26:24.7).…

Pendleton’s Landon VanPelt grins as he shakes off part of a banner the team burst through before playing Weiser on Sept. 20 at Pendleton High School. KATHY ANEY | THE CUJ ARCHIVE

Weiser has big second half to beat Pendleton

By ANNIE FOWLER, The CUJ PENDLETON — Pendleton played step for step with Weiser (Idaho) in the first half, but the Wolverines turned up the pressure in the second half for a 70-45 victory Friday, Sept. 20, over the Bucks. “We had a tough time stopping them,” Pendleton coach Erik Davis said. “They ran the ball well. They are a good…