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…
Board hears about distancing learning
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…
CTUIR plans to purchase some flood-damaged homes
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…
‘Report card’ released for NCS, Pendleton schools
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…
WW Hatchery Construction on Schedule
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…
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…
COVID IS HORRID: Tribal members share COVID-19 struggles
By Wil Phinney of the CUJ Frank and Nan Taylor suffer physically, emotionally For Frank Taylor, COVID-19 “got real” when nurses in the intensive care unit at St. Anthony Hospital suggested he might want to get his affairs in order. Frank is better, but for Nan Taylor, COVID-19 is still a nightmare. First it was a matter of life or…
Food pantry part of ‘Preparedness’
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…