WHITE SWAN, Wash. – Teal Soaring Eagle, a 6-foot-2 guard from White Swan High School, signed a letter of intent to play basketball at Haskell Indian Nations University in Lawrence, Kans. this fall. The CTUIR member earned his scholarship after performing well in a basketball tournament in Oklahoma City in early May. Instead of celebrating his birthday weekend, he decided…
By Cary Rosenbaum of the CUJ, KENNEWICK – In referencing the aspirations to work together with the City of Kennewick, Board of Trustees member Armand Minthorn recalled the discovery of Kennewick Man, a 9,000-year-old ancestor of the Columbia Plateau Tribes who gained world interest for more than 20 years. “Not too far from here, Kennewick Man was discovered,” he said…
By Cary Rosenbaum of the CUJ, MISSION – Robert Windy Boy is a one of a kind — literally. The Pendleton High School student earned the Oregon Seal of Biliteracy after becoming the only student to pass the CTUIR Language Department’s Nez Perce language proficiency test. The honor — which recognizes high school graduates who have attained a high level…
By Cary Rosenbaum of the CUJ, MISSION – Nixyaawii Community School added three new faces in May. Robby Bill (Behavior Support), Nicci Harrison (Language Arts) and Aaron Noisey (PE/Health) received contracts with the school. Bill, a CTUIR member, was hired in a Behavior Support position which is grant-funded. His role will be similar to an on-site counselor, the school announced,…
By Cary Rosenbaum of the CUJ, MISSION – Former Yellowhawk Tribal Health Center CEO Lisa Guzman will be remembered as one of the key figures within the CTUIR that helped combat COVID-19. The Tribe’s Health Commission accepted her resignation in late May, designating Human Resources Director Aaron Hines to serve as Interim CEO, effective May 28. “Lisa’s service to the…
MISSION – After a sudden surge in COVID-19 cases at the start of May, Yellowhawk Tribal Health Center saw a sharp decline. Of the 23 cases diagnosed on the Umatilla Indian Reservation, 18 were school-aged. Nine were diagnosed on one day alone on May 10. Following the increase, the Incident Command Team advised parents to keep students home for one…
By Cary Rosenbaum of the CUJ, POMEROY, Wash. – Instead of history in the making, it was history in the releasing. On May 21, the long-awaited restoration project came to fruition with the release of approximately 150,000 juvenile Pacific lampreys in waves by the thousands. A decade has passed since a revitalization effort was launched to bring back lamprey to…
Mission, OR – The Health Commission of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR) has accepted the resignation of Yellowhawk Tribal Health Center CEO Lisa Guzman. The Commission designated Human Resources Director Aaron Hines to serve as Interim CEO effective May 28, 2021. “Lisa’s service to the Tribe has been exceptional. She lead through a global pandemic, rolled…
Cayuse Shared Services is launching the second year of its Apprenticeship Program; an effort started in 2020 to support Tribal member college students as they work towards a degree and a career at Cayuse Holdings. According to Cayuse Shared Services President Debra Croswell, the lead organizer of the Program, “We support our apprentices with a part-time paid job, financial support…
MISSION, OR – The Tribal Environmental Recovery Facility (TERF), owned by the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR), has announced a temporary closure due to a fire on May 22, 2021. Commercial and residential routes for solid waste service will continue on schedule, however no self-hauling or onsite services will be available until further notice. The fire was…