ZILLAH, Wash. – Sydney John Jr. wasn’t able to complete his prep track career as a senior this year at Zillah High School, but he plans to continue his running at the Colorado School of Mines in Golden, Colorado, where he will enroll this fall. John is graduating with an honors diploma from Zillah High School with a cumulative grade…
Nixyaawii Community School Coach Shane Rivera talks to players during a time out in a game at the Class 1A State Tournament in Baker City in March. Rivera is resigning after an eight-year stint after he accumulated a 171-51 record that included a state title in the 2019 tournament. Standing behind Rivera are his three assistant coaches – Alan Crawford, Ken Mayfield, and Aaron Ashley.
Rivera resigns as NCS hoop coach
By Wil Phinney of the CUJ MISSION – Shane Rivera is resigning as head boys’ basketball coach after compiling a record of 171 wins against 51 losses in eight seasons at Nixyaawii Community School (NCS). Rivera took NCS to the Oregon Class 1A State Tournament five times, winning the title in the 2018-19 season. That year Rivera was Oregon Class 1A…
Carol Farrow stands in front of the home where she lives with her siblings on Thompson Road.
Heavy rains create May 20 flood scare
By the CUJ MISSION – The community mostly dodged another bullet May 20 when the skies darkened before dumping more than an inch of rain in less than 24 hours on the foothills of the Blue Mountains. It didn’t end up anything like the February floods that caused millions of dollars’ worth of damage throughout Eastern Oregon, but for a…
A pair of backhoes work on some of the remaining walls at the former Yellowhawk Tribal Health Center as demolition work continued at the July Grounds in April.
Demo provides opportunity for new vision at July Grounds
From the CTUIR Capital Improvements Committee MISSION – The month of May brought a significant milestone to the July Grounds – the demolition of the former Yellowhawk Tribal Health Center, as well as the demolition of the Cay-Uma-Wa Education Center, the former Prevention Building, and a modular that served as an office building for the Yellowhawk Finance Department. “These buildings…
BOT approves recruitment of Deputy Executive Director
By the CUJ MISSION – The Board of Trustees (BOT) for the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR) on May 13 told Executive Director Ted Wright to begin recruitment for an individual to work under his supervision as a Deputy Executive Director (DED). The exact duties of the DED were not fully flushed out during the BOT work…
Mt. Emily Pack likely to blame for livestock deaths
MISSION – Wolves from the Mount Emily Pack are likely to blame for five livestock deaths that occurred on the Umatilla Indian Reservation (UIR) over a two-week span between April 30 and May 13, according to a news release from the Confederated Tribes. At least one of those cases was confirmed as a wolf kill. A livestock producer found a…
Lindsey X. Watchman
Birthday hugs and kisses, long-awaited sweat brings spirit alive once again
By General Council Chair Lindsey Watchman Oykalo iinim himiyuume, iin wees lilooyca – I am thankful/happy. Around mid-May, I turned 48 years old. Like many of you (as well as our children), birthday celebrations have been a bit more challenging these past few months. Held virtually, and even car parades … who would have thunk? Yet, each of us have…
Chair of the CTUIR Board of Trustees
Healthy, safety remain top concern as we re-open
By Kat Brigham On behalf of the Board of Trustees (BOT), I say congratulations to the tribal community on successfully staying safe and healthy over the past three months. Yellowhawk conducted their second round of testing for our community and all tests were negative. This BOT is very concerned about your health and safety and we are providing all the…
Cloe McMichael has stayed busy during the COVID-19 stay-at-home directives tending to her horses, like Rosie here. Cloe will be attending Oregon State University in the fall where she intends to pursue a degree in Education with hopes of returning to teach at Nixyaawii Community School.
McMichael wins Ford Family scholarship
2020 salutatorian wants to return to teach history at Nixyaawii Community School Cloe McMichael is comfortable being a bit of a contradiction. Or should we say she’s not bothered if people thinks she’s a little different. When this light-skinned Indian heads off to Corvallis and Oregon State University in the fall, she will be one of the few students who won’t…
BOT approves amendment to compact with State of Oregon
MISSION – The Board of Trustees (BOT) on May 18 approved an amendment to its gaming compact with the state that allows the Tribes to waive its obligation to fund the Wildhorse Foundation, according to a CTUIR press release. The move came as a result of Wildhorse Resort & Casino’s closure due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Revenues are expected to…