The Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation’s (CTUIR) Enrollment Office has this week been preparing mailings that include a cover letter signed by Chair Kat Brigham, a “Frequently Asked Questions” document, and a needs-based grant application for CTUIR Tribal members who may have experienced a loss of income or increased costs related to the COVID-19 pandemic and are in…
Umatilla National Forest reopens roads into Tucannon
PENDLETON, Ore. – Forest officials on the Pomeroy Ranger District will reopen motorized access on Forest Service Roads (FSR) 47, 4712 and a portion of FSR 4713 on Saturday, Oct. 24. The Tucannon watershed experienced substantial road and trail damage from the February 2020 region-wide flooding across northeast Oregon and southeast Washington. Due to significant flood damage, long-term temporary closures…
CTUIR Receives Federal Broadband License
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has issued the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR) a license for the use of the 2.5GHz Rural Tribal Priority Window broadband. The FCC announced today that it issued 154 tribal licenses nationwide. Among these initial licensees were five Tribes in Oregon. This license will enable the CTUIR to eventually provide broadband connectivity,…
Board Reaffirms Fish Accord
The Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation’s Board of Trustees voted 8-0 on Monday, October 19, to reaffirm and amend its Fish Accord with Bonneville Power Administration, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Bureau of Reclamation (together, “Action Agencies”). The Accord funds CTUIR fisheries and wildlife projects in the Tucannon, Walla Walla, Grande Ronde, North Fork John…
Yellowhawk Tribal Health Center Temporarily Closing
MISSION – Yellowhawk Tribal Health Center issued a temporary order to reduce services as of 12pm on Thursday, October 15. The closure will remain in place through Friday, October 16. This closure is related to the reporting of two staff positive tests for COVID-19. Medical, lab, and pharmacy remain open and will continue to provide limited services on a case-by-case…
Dairy Queen closes at Coyote Business Park
Mission, OR – A Dairy Queen owned and operated by Windy River, a longtime tenant of Coyote Business Park, closed on September 30, 2020. Dairy Queen was an original tenant of Kusi Shopping Center when the building opened in 2012. Kusi Shopping Center, the 6,000 square foot retail center owned by Windy River, has received several inquiries from businesses interested…
Bentz visits Nixyaawii
MISSION – Former Oregon state senator and congressional candidate Clifford Bentz visited Nixyaawii Governance Center Tuesday, Oct. 6 for an informational tour and greet with tribal officials. Bentz, the Republican candidate, is running against Democrat Alex Spenser in Oregon’s 2nd Congressional District race – a position formerly held by Greg Walden, who retired this year. The visit allowed for a…
Editorial: A year without Round-Up
For only the second time in its history, the Pendleton Round-Up and Happy Canyon won’t take place here during the second full week of September. And when you say Round-Up and Happy Canyon you leave out a lot. Those two all-encompassing names just don’t realize the immensity of the week. The Indians add so much color and sound to the…
Air quality advisory extended through Saturday for Northwest, Central, Eastern and some parts of Southern Oregon
Sept. 18, 2020 The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality extended an air quality advisory through Saturday for Northwest, Central, Eastern and some parts of Southern Oregon due to smoke from fires in Oregon and California. ** Información en español ** Smoke is beginning to clear out of the I-5 corridor. Portland and Salem areas were still at the unhealthy levels Friday morning,…
Birch Creek Fire Update
Sept. 18, 2020 PENDLETON, Ore. – Firefighters continue to make progress securing containment lines on the Birch Creek Fire yesterday, which is burning on the North Fork John Day Ranger District west of the junctions of Forest Service Road (FSR) 54 with FSR 5412 and FSR 5411, approximately 12 miles northeast of Ukiah, Oregon. The Birch Creek Fire remains approximately…