Press Release from the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation
For immediate release: March 23, 2020
Contacts:
Carrie Sampson-Samuels, Public Information Officer – Public Health, (541) 240-8728
Jiselle Halfmoon, Public Information Officer – Tribal Governance, (541) 969-4801
CTUIR Command Incident Command Status Update
MISSION, Ore. – The Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR) Incident Command Team (ICT) is working on several plans to ensure the safety of the entire community. The ICT continues to monitor and manage the emerging situation concerning the COVID-19 pandemic. This is a very serious situation with Tribal, Local, National and International implications.
The ICT will share information on a frequent and regular basis as quickly as decisions are made. They have reviewed and considered all recommendations provided by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Oregon Health Authority (OHA) as they become available, however, the CTUIR has the authority to choose how the guidance is used in our community.
As of 8:00am today, Oregon now has a total of 191 people who have been diagnosed with COVID-19, after the Oregon Health Authority announced 30 new cases of the novel coronavirus.
OHA is reporting new cases in the following counties: Clackamas (2), Hood River (1), Linn (1), Marion (8), Multnomah (2), Polk (2) and Washington (14).
Officials have estimated March 24 through March 29 are CRITICAL for all Oregonians to comply with mandates set forth in order to protect the general public from larger scale spread of COVID-19 and point of no-return for intervention to prevent hospital overload.
Current CTUIR guidelines/updates as of March 23, 2020 at 5:00pm are as follows:
- Cayuse Technologies reports that residents should expect a slow-down in internet, cellular and landline services due to an anticipated increase in usage. Calls may take longer to connect or you may have to try a number several times. Online streaming is likely to be very spotty and some sites may go offline temporarily during peak times.
- Effective today, March 23, 2020, patients picking up medications from Yellowhawk Tribal Health Center can park in a designated parking space and have their medications brought out to them. Six parking spaces have been reserved in the south parking area, next to Elder parking. Patients can park in a marked space and call pharmacy at (541) 240-8691 for parking lot delivery of their order.
- The CTUIR has been in contact with both the Seattle Indian Health Board in Seattle, Washington and the Native American Youth and Family Center (NAYA) in Portland, Oregon regarding services available for Tribal members living in these areas. The Seattle Indian Health Board can be reached at (206) 324-9360. NAYA can be reached at (503) 288-8177. If you are a Tribal member living off the CTUIR and need assistance locating services in your area, please contact CTUIR Department of Children and Family Services at (541) 429-7300.
- All requests for first food sustenance gathering (wildlife hunting & fishing) will now be processed directly through CTUIR Department of Natural Resources Director Eric Quaempts who will make exclusive site approval recommendations and sanctions. Tribal Members in need of first food provisions will initiate that request through Julie Taylor at Department of Children and Family Services, (541) 429-7300.
CTUIR Board of Trustees polled and adopted Resolution 20-028 (exhibits attached) which includes the following orders:
- Non-essential tribal, longhouse, social and recreational gatherings of individuals outside of a home or place of residence (e.g. parties, celebrations or other similar gatherings and events) are prohibited immediately, regardless of size, if a distance of at least six feet between individuals cannot be maintained.
- Individuals are prohibited from doing business on the Umatilla Indian Reservation that are not operating consistently with those that are closed by the State of Oregon under Executive Oregon 20-12 (Attached as Exhibit 1).
- When individuals need to leave their homes or residences, they should at all times maintain social distancing of at least six feet from any person who is not a member of their immediate household, to the greatest extent possible, and comply with other social distancing requirements issues by Yellowhawk Tribal Health Center.
- Individuals may go outside for outdoor recreational activities (walking, hiking, etc.) and the exercise of the CTUIR member rights held under the Treaty of 1855, buy must limit those activities to non-contact, and are prohibited from engaging in these activities if it is not possible to maintain appropriate social distances of six feet or more between individuals.
- The Board authorizes further limitations on Wildhorse Resort and Casino Operations to the essential services offered by Arrowhead Truck Plaza and Mission Market effective noon, Wednesday March 25, 2020 as detailed in Exhibit 2.
- Funerals will be conducted in a manner that does not conflict with the limitations of social distancing and other criteria outlined in Exhibit 3.
- Failure to comply with any of the provisions of this Resolution constitutes an imminent threat to our public health. Ay person found to be in violation of this Resolution is subject to a penalty of up to 365 days in jail or a fine of $5,000 that can be enforced by the Umatilla Tribal police and Prosecuted by the Office of the Prosecutor or Office of Legal Counsel before the Umatilla Tribal Court and affording the accused with Due Process under Indian Civil Rights Act.
- This order extends through April 28, 2020.
- As authorized by Resolution 16-023 Incident Command will designate all further action for health, safety and continuity of government/enterprises consistent with the CTUIR Emergency Response Plan. Incident Command will continue to update the Board no less than weekly.
The Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation is made up of the Cayuse, Umatilla, and Walla Walla Tribes, formed under the Treaty of 1855 at the Walla Walla Valley, 12 statute 945. In 1949, the Tribes adopted a constitutional form of government to protect, preserve and enhance the treaty rights guaranteed under federal statute.
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