MISSION – The Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR) hosted more than 600 elders from various tribes for food, fun and fellowship at its annual Elders Honor Day Luncheon on Sept. 11 at the Wildhorse Resort & Casino (WRC).
Julie Taylor, CTUIR Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) director, said the luncheon honors tribal elders by hosting a gathering so they can visit friends and relatives as well as meet new people.
“Although we live in a small community, there are times when we do not see our relatives as often as we would like to,” Taylor said. “When you attend this event, all you see are smiles and you hear the best laughter ever. It is such good medicine for our elders and our people in general.”
According to a previous CUJ story, the luncheon helps fill the void of historical gatherings by Pacific Northwest tribes at Celilo Falls to trade, perform ceremonies and celebrate the season.
Taylor said although the luncheon is not a Pendleton Round-Up activity, it normally occurs around the city’s weeklong rodeo because many tribal elders from Oregon and other states come to Pendleton, making it an opportune time to host them.
The annual luncheon is open to any federally recognized tribal member who is 55 or older, and an elder can bring one caretaker to the event.
Taylor said DCFS, which has hosted the event for the past 14 years, usually serves around 600 people. The luncheon, with a 2026 theme of “Living Our Legacies with Pride,” began with a continental breakfast at 8 a.m. and songs by the Cayuse Singers. Emcee Fred Hill Sr. opened the ceremonies shortly after 9 a.m. with the posting of colors by tribal veterans and a flag honor song by the Cayuse Singers.
The Nicht-Yow-Way Elders Advisory Committee was introduced afterward before giving way to 2026 Happy Canyon Princesses MyaLyn Mills and Manaia Wolf around 10 a.m. Shortly after, the CTUIR tribal chiefs were introduced followed by an honoring of elders and veterans as well as the eldest male/female in attendance and eldest male/female veteran in attendance.
Guest speakers Muriel Hoisington, the 2026 Ms. Pášx̣apa, and Lindsey Pasena-Littlesky addressed the audience around 11 a.m. and then lunch was served. Courtney Little-Hoop was presented with an award for her artwork for this year’s luncheon poster after lunch with entertainment and closing remarks following. Raffles for prizes were also held intermittently.
“It’s really nice that all these elders can get together and see our friends from other reservations. It’s just a nice social thing that we like doing,” June Krise, a 71-year-old member of the Colville Confederated Tribes from Grapeview, Washington, said. “I like to enjoy myself and have fun. I’m 71, so over the years I’ve accumulated a lot of friends and associates, and this is an opportunity to see some of them that I don’t normally see.”
Taylor said she wanted to thank not just the elders who attended but those who helped host the event: Nicht-Yow-Way Elders Advisory Committee; CTUIR staff from DCFS, Finance, Communications and Building Our Life Skills Training and Employment Readiness or BOLSTER; WRC event staff; and the elders who contribute at monthly meetings.
Along with the Elders Honor Day Luncheon, DCFS also hosts an annual Christmas luncheon for CTUIR elders in December. Taylor said the Christmas event is for CTUIR members specifically, although members of other tribes who live on the Umatilla Indian Reservation do attend.
For more information, call 541-429-7300.
