Confederated Umatilla Journal 03-2018

The CTUIR Education Facility plans have been finalized.

For more information turn to page 5A

Yellowhawk Center preparing to open

Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs Tribal Council Member Carina Miller supports the marijuana industry on the WS Indian Reservation.

For more turn to page 30B.

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Confederated Umatilla Journal

2 Sections, 56 pages / Publish date March 1, 2018

The monthly newspaper of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation ~ Pendleton, Oregon March 2018

Section

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Volume 26, Issue 3

SBA nod should mean millions for Cayuse Technologies By the CUJ

MISSION – A U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) designation will be a “game-changing springboard” that could generate millions of dollars in federal contracts for Cayuse Technologies (CT) and the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR), according to CT Chief Executive Officer Billy Nerenberg.

The Tribal 8(a) Small Business Certification from the SBA allows Cayuse Technologies, which is owned by the CTUIR, to compete for some of the 5-20 percent of trillions of dollars in federal contracts that the U.S. government sets aside for small businesses.

“The program requires government agencies to give a percentage of their contracts to small businesses. This is like stocking a zoo or fishing pond exclusively for small businesses to be able to hunt or fish to grow,” said Nerenberg.

The SBA also created a mentor/protégé program that allows big businesses to work with small businesses to teach them “how to hunt,” Nerenberg said.

Congress wanted to help Indian tribes and so instructed the SBA to treat Tribes like small businesses, meaning Tribes can

CUJ photo/Phinney

Putting on a stately show Nixyaawii Community School senior Wilbur Oatman struts to the beat of the big drum in the gym at Baker City High School during half time of the Oregon Class 1A Girls Basketball State Tournament Championship March 3. The Nixyaawii Golden Eagles girls lost that contest, 5654, to Country Christian and ended a 56-game winning streak. Oatman, who was a member of Nixyaawii’s boys team, which also competed at the state tournament, was one of a handful of dancers to put on a show for fans at the state tournament. Fred Hill, left, was master of ceremonies at the halftime event. For more about district and state tournament basketball, turn to Sports in Section B.

Cayuse Technologies on page 20A

Valentine’s dancers participate at Mission Longhouse Pow wow dancers, young and old (single and taken), like Mollee Allen came out to strut their stuff in multiple categories during the Valentine’s Day Gathering at the Mission Longhouse Feb. 14. The gathering was a Celebration Committee organized event and had prizes for traditional pow wow categories as well as for an Owl Dance Special. See more on page 11A. CUJ photo/Dallas Dick

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CUJ News Vice Chair Jeremy Wolf thanks his supporters during his swearing in ceremony Feb. 16 at the Nixyaawii Governance Center. Judge Johnson, who swore Wolf in, listens behind him.

CUJ photo/Phinney

Wolf begins second term as Vice Chair

By Jill-Marie Gavin of the CUJ

MISSION – After winning re-election to the Board of Trustees (BOT) in the Feb. 12 run-off, Vice Chair Jeremy Wolf intends to continue his efforts to govern with First Foods and natural resources in mind.

This is the second term on the BOT for Wolf, who had to win the run-off after receiving the same number of votes (370) as challenger Shana Radford in the General Election on Nov. 7.

(Radford appealed the vote tally based on what she considered violations of the Election Code, but her complaint was denied by the Election Commission.)

In the Feb. 12 run-off vote, Wolf was the clear winner with 375 votes to Radford’s 277. In the polling-place, Wolf garnered support from 282 locals, while Radford had 199. Wolf had 93 absentee votes in his favor and Radford had 78.

Wolf said he isn’t sure what caused the change in voters’ minds. He said he did his best to hear Tribal member concerns and answer questions that ranged from historical knowledge of culture and governance to what the tribe is doing to protect, enhance or adapt. He said he also made sure to share his vision for future generations of CTUIR members.

Wolf was sworn in on Feb. 16 in front of a small audience, including friends, family and staff in the BOT Chambers.

Heading into his second term Wolf wants to see the BOT refocus its existing priorities of organizational excellence, education,

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health, housing, and Treaty rights protection, among others. He hopes the BOT can analyze what is being accomplished within these priority areas as well as focus on all of the current capital and non-capital projects..

Wolf said he has seen progress during his time on the BOT. “I have already seen some success with the First Foods Forums the Fish and Wildlife Commission has put on but I know that is just a start,” he said. “We look to continue that more casual roundtable discussion of our foods but additionally I’d like to ensure our membership understands how to use all our commissions and committees to serve their needs. Along with those efforts, increased communication between my fellow board members and administration on actions taken at our various assigned committee and commissions has helped our efficiency when it’s been done.”

Wolf wanted to convey is his gratitude to Tribal members who supported him.

“Thank you for this opportunity to serve our shared ancestry, our next generations and of course you,” Wolf said. “Thank you to my wife, children and all those who helped raise me. A special thanks to those who extended their necks out for me by writing supportive comments in the paper, by word of mouth or otherwise. I have been humbled by how much our people believe in our past, present and future - on both sides of the run-off. I wish Shana Radford the best and hope she continues the good fight on behalf of all of our futures. Our future is all of ours to define and protect.”

Cabbage hill pileup takes life

By The CUJ MISSION – Speed and black ice were the leading causes of the March 3 Cabbage Hill pileup, according to Oregon State Police.

OSP said in a news release that the preliminary investigation of the 20-vehicle pileup showed slippery road conditions and speeding drivers created a domino effect and resulted in the accident that took one life.

Mission local Alameda Addison was on her way back from the championship high school basketball tournament game in Baker City when her vehicle was involved in the accident.

Addison died March 4 at a Richland Hospital from injuries she sustained during the accident. Addison’s granddaughter, Zoe Bevis, was also in the vehicle and was transported by Life Flight to Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center in Spokane, Wash., where she was in critical condition as the CUJ went to press on March 7.

Mission residents and Tribal members have rallied to raise money for the Bevis family to help pay for medical and lodging costs while Bevis recovers in Spokane.

Bevis is a Nixyaawii Community School freshman and was the focus of an Indian Taco fund raiser held at the Eagles’ Nest Gym in Mission March 6.

(See photos on Page 20B.) Several other Mission residents were involved in the March 3 accident as a long line of cars traveled home from the Baker City championship game.

Among the first responders on the scene of the accident were OSP, Pendleton Fire, Umatilla County Fire District 1, Life Flight, Medic 400-Athena, Umatilla County Sheriff’s Office, Umatilla County Search and Rescue, Umatilla

County Emergency Management, Umatilla Tribal Fire Department, Umatilla Tribal Police Department, and Oregon Department of Transportation.

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March 2018

CUJ News Yellowhawk hires CEO

By The CUJ

MISSION – The Yellowhawk Tribal Health Center (YTHC) is heading into a leadership transition phase after hiring a Chief Executive Officer who is scheduled to start work March 26.

Nez Perce Tribal Member Lisa Guzman will serve as the new Yellowhawk CEO as announced by Communications Manager Kaeleen McGuire in a press release Feb. 23. Guzman has a background in healthcare, social services and education according to the release. She has worked most recently at the Camas Center Clinic, which is owned by the Kalispel Tribe of Indians in Usk, Wash.

Guzman worked as the Health Care Administrator and oversaw the management of the Ambulatory Care Clinic which provided medical, dental, purchase referred care, behavioral health and social work services. Guzman has a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from the University of Idaho and Masters degree in Social Work from Eastern Washington University.

The CTUIR Health Commission voted to hire Guzman after months of searching since former CEO Tim Gilbert resigned May 31. Since Gilbert left, YTHC employee Sandra Sampson has been serving as interim CEO. Health Commission Chair Shawna Gavin said of Guzman’s hiring, “Lisa brings a wealth of experience and we are excited to have her join us during our transition into the new clinic. We are confident that we have selected a CEO who shares Yellowhawk’s mission and vision, and one who will make a strong connection with our community.”

Yellowhawk opening delayed MISSION - After experiencing a number of weather delays and construction hiccups, Yellowhawk Tribal Health Center is closer to opening the doors to its new 64,000 square foot facility.

A soft opening for tribal members and patients is being planned, although a firm date has not been established.

“We want things to be right and we will be prepared when we open the doors,” said Sandra Sampson, Interim CEO. “Yes, there may be a few delays, but this new facility is something we can all share and be proud of.”

The soft opening will provide tribal members and patients an exclusive opportunity to tour the new clinic, learn about the new patient registration process, meet Yellowhawk employees, and discover opportunities with Yellowhawk programs and services, Sampson said. Healthy food and refreshments will be provided.

Final touches on the building interior, such as furniture placement and installation, are wrapping up. Next, outdoor equipment will be placed and landscaping will be completed. Finally, computers and phone systems will be networked and artwork will go on the walls.

March 2018

Using a huge crane, workers install beams that will support exterior sunshade to structurally resemble teepee poles. The unique design of the sunshade will highlight visual elements within the courtyard of the new Yellowhawk Tribal Health Center on the Umatilla Indian Reservation.

CUJ photo/Phinney Yellowhawk is planning a soft opening for tribal members, patients and the community, but a date has not been set.

Confederated Umatilla Journal

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CUJ News Mission Longhouse tests negative for methamphetamine

By The CUJ

MISSION – A positive meth test on the Warm Springs reservation prompted testing of the Mission Longhouse in February.

The test came back negative but the fear factor that cause an outcry for the test was an eye-opener according to community members.

On Jan. 31, 2018 the Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs released a memo online confirming that the Agency Longhouse had tested positive for methamphetamine.

Response on the Umatilla Indian Reservation was swift.

Shock and disgust were evident in the posts made by residents of the Umatilla Indian Reservation. The news resulted in a call to action from residents to test the Nixyaawii Longhouse in Mission.

The Warms Springs and Umatilla Indian Reservations are closely related by members as well as the shared religion and belief of Washat; the longhouses have common congregants.

On Feb. 9 the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR) released a notice that the Mission Nixyaawii Longhouse was tested for meth and the results came back negative.

The testing was conducted by the Housing Department and was administered using Occupational Safety and Health Administration Hazardous Waste Operation and Emergency Response Standards for the State of Oregon.

Among the areas tested were the bathroom stalls, kitchen, storage areas, entrance, showers, vents, refrigerator, doors and back rooms.

Housing Director Marcus Luke was immediately aware of the Warm Springs longhouse issue because of the spread of information on Facebook.

He said, “I was tagged on the Warm Springs letter. We have been asked for the last few years about testing our own longhouse but there hasn’t been probable cause.”

Housing Director Marcus Luke provided a photo showing the testing tools and process. First a surface is swabbed with a solution then put in a black container which reads the toxicity levels.

He said he wanted everyone to feel safe in a place they come to congregate and pray each week. The CTUIR Board of Trustees directed Luke and his staff to test every room of the longhouse. Luke said he was both thankful and glad that every room came back negative.

Housing Maintenance Manager Tanner Michael said in the CTUIR Press release, “The longhouse is very clean and I’m glad to know it’s been maintained. Now it’s meth free, no worries.”

Among the Mission residents who were most vocal online about the need for testing was Abby Farrow-Stapleman.

Farrow-Stapleman said of the Warm Springs memo, “It made me think about our longhouse, it’s been broken into several times. It made me think we need to test ours. We use it for so many different reasons; ceremonial, funerals, feasts and family gatherings, all at different times of the year.

I was very happy that I could question if it has been tested. A negative test coming back gave me hope that it is still a respected place by all our people.”

BOT seeks opioid stats for possible litigation By the CUJ

MISSION – The Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR) Board of Trustees (BOT) approved a resolution directing staff to collect information on local opioid use for possible inclusion in a lawsuit against manufacturers, distributors and retailers of common narcotic painkillers.

During their regularly scheduled Monday morning meeting Feb. 26, the BOT heard a resolution that stated “… the use and abuse of opioids has dramatically increased in the past 20 years so that drug overdose deaths are the leading cause of injury death in the United States, with opioids responsible for two-thirds of drug overdose deaths, which has created a national epidemic…”

It also references the assertion that there is currently a crisis surrounding pain pills in Indian Country. The National Congress of American Indians, the Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians and the Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board have all adopted resolutions calling for action to address the problem.

The BOT had questions for lead attorney Naomi Stacy regarding the resolution. Stacy said generally in these claims other tribes have depended on information gathered by the Center for Disease Control rather than gathering it independently.

BOT member Rosenda Shippentower questioned the gravity of the current issue on the Umatilla Indian Reservation (UIR) and remarked that she sees methamphetamine as a more serious drug issue.

Chair Gary Burke asked what would be the next step if there were grounds for a lawsuit. Stacy said the first step is to gather data and then make a plan of action.

The resolution was presented to Yellowhawk Tribal Health Center (YTHC) executive management team and the Health Commission, which both recommended CTUIR’s participation in the lawsuit. The BOT passed the resolution by way of motion with seven voting in favor and Shippentower voting against. The Department of Children and Family Services, YTHC and Umatilla Tribal Police Department were all named as sources for information regarding opioid use on the UIR.

Climate change grant adds 60K to DNR budget

By The CUJ

MISSION – A $60,000 federal grant will help continue work to better understand current conditions of the environment and natural resources on the Umatilla Indian Reservation and how they may be changing as a result of climate change.

Part of the money will assist a new Climate Adaption Planner who is being hired in the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) for the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR).

The CTUIR through DNR received the grant from the Bureau of Indian Affairs’ Rights Protection Implementation – Climate Change Program. It is a competitive grant program for use in assessing and addressing various existing and potential climate change impacts to all natural resources within tribal communities of certain treaty tribes. Total funding available for BIA’s Northwest region is about $1.3 million.

The CTUIR’s project – “Documenta-

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tion of Existing Environmental Conditions Vulnerable to Climate Change Impacts; Enhancing CTUIR Capacity to Adapt to Mitigate for Climate Change Impacts” has a goal of assessing and addressing current and potential future climate change impacts to First Foods – water, fish, big game, plants, roots and berries.

According to a letter outlining the Tribes’ request for funds, the information gathered will assist the CTUIR in “better understanding and managing resources as they face new threats from altered environmental circumstances.”

The money will be used for three things, according to the funding request.

First, it will provide additional money for a Climate Adaption Planner that is being hired within DNR. The planner will serve as the central “clearinghouse”/ coordinator/point of contact among various programs within DNR and other departments within CTUIR itself that may be working on climate change programs, and will “strive to integrate them

in a more cohesive, accessible manner.”

Funding primarily for the position’s salary is allocated, but more funds are needed to support additional functions such as more extensive coordination within the tribal organization and with external agencies and organizations (meetings, workshops, conferences, seminars, trainings). Estimated budget for enhancing the Climate Change Planner position and its functions is $10,000.

In addition, the funding request sets aside $15,000 for enhanced climate change assessment and adaption planning. The CTUIR anticipates other opportunities for other DNR staff to engage with other tribes, state and federal agencies, and interested organizations on climate change assessment and adaption planning.

For example, the CTUIR has expressed support for a Forest Service project that will examine how climate change will affect food-producing native shrub species of the Northwest, and in turn the agency will be seeking the active involvement

Confederated Umatilla Journal

and participation of CTUIR staff in aspects of the study and meetings addressing its results.

The biggest chunk of the grant $35,000 – is earmarked to expand and increase tribal capacity to sample and monitor water resources likely to be impacted by climate change.

The DNR includes the Water Resources Program that exercises tribal sovereign authority over on-reservation groundand surface-water resources. Among the program’s duties is ongoing monitoring of the resources, including obtaining information on quantity, parameters such as temperature and contaminants, and trends or changes over time.

According to the letter justifying the grant, “The current sampling regime is limited by financial constraints; some testing is quite expensive and also time and labor intensive. Proper characterization of tribal water resources, to plan for effective responses to mitigate for climate change impact requires more sampling and analysis than we currently conduct.”

March 2018

CUJ News This architectural rendering gives readers a good idea of what the new Education Facility will look like when it is built on the Bowman property west of the new Yellowhawk Tribal Health Center. A Project Team is hopeful permitting and paperwork will go as planned so that construction can begin in July of this year.

Construction is expected to take about 14 months and the Team wants the facility to open when school starts in September of 2019.

Education Facility design coming together Education Facility by the numbers Total building is 63,000 square feet.

Square footage:

Nixyaawii Community School – 12,450 Gym – 11,780 Early Learning – 9,933 Commons – 3,789 Language – 3,705 Kitchen – 2,869 Administrative – 2,138 Adult Education – 1,681 These numbers summarize programs and departments.

They do not include hallways, locker rooms, concession areas, etc.

Source: Wenaha Group

By Wil Phinney of the CUJ

MISSION – The new Education Facility for the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR), which is supposed to open its doors for students in the fall of 2019, will create a structure of learning under one roof for children ages 0 to 6 as well as a new high school for Nixyaawii Community School.

Construction is expected to begin in July and “with no hiccups” school will start in September of next year.

“We’re on a very tight schedule and we’ll have to hit every opportunity to get it done,” said Bill Tovey, director of the CTUIR Department of Economic and Community Development.

Tovey said the permit process can be cumbersome and he doesn’t want to get bogged down in that process before con-

struction begins. He told the NCS Board at its Feb. 26 meeting that construction will take 14 months.

The building has been designed to be culturally relevant with an outdoor space that includes an earth oven and it boasts a regulation-sized basketball court with seating for nearly 500 people.

The 63,000 square foot facility, which has yet to be named, has been in the planning stages for nearly two years, but is now down to the “nitty gritty” details such as the color of classroom walls, storage needs, and the kinds of desks needed for teachers and students.

Construction documents will be finalized in mid-May and will be followed by building permits from the CTUIR Planning Department, according to Tovey.

Education Facility, Page 15A

New NCS will be ‘night and day difference’ for students, teachers By the CUJ

MISSION – It will be “night and day difference” between its current space and the classroom square footage at the new building for Nixyaawii Community School, according to Principal Ryan Heinrich, who is anxious for students for the 2019 school year.

The smallest room in the new building will be 200 square feet larger than the biggest room in the current building, which is the former administration building vacated when the government for the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation moved to the Nixyaawii Governance Center eight years ago.

March 2018

There will be more hallway space, bathrooms and more drinking fountains. He said it will be “a real school with automatic door locks not glass doors, an alarm system, cameras, everything you’d expect in a school as opposed to a selftransformed building. It will be a nice change for the kids and the staff.”

Heinrich said the capacity of the building will be about 140 students with classes of about 25 students in six classrooms.

Heinrich said the building specs show four 900 square-foot rooms and two 1,200 square-foot rooms. One of the 1,200 square New NCS, Page 14A

Confederated Umatilla Journal

Security will be top priority By the CUJ

MISSION – Security at the new Education Facility will be tight with safe entry vestibules, panic buttons, badge-card, five-digit code access, and video surveillance.

Scott Rogers, a Senior Project Manager for Wenaha Group, the owner’s representative for the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR), has children at Athena Middle School, so he’s keenly aware of the need for security in education facilities.

“It’s a new reality of our life,” Rogers said 12 days after 17 people – students and adults – were gunned down Feb. 14 at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida.

A member of the Athena-Weston School Board, Rogers said safety is of paramount concern to him so security at the new Education Facility being built on the Bowman property near Nixyaawii Governance Center is as essential as desks and chairs.

Security, Page 14A

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CUJ Editorials Community was Golden in Baker City

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he Nixyaawii Community School did the Mission community and all the rest of its supporters proud at the U.S, Bank/Les Schwab Tire Oregon Class 1A State Basketball Championships in Baker City in early March.

Boy oh boy, the boys are young. The Old Oregon League and the rest of the state had best take notice.

Two seniors graduated. Two juniors will move up to senior status and the rest of the underclassmen will move up with more experience.

The girls, of course, came within a bucket of going undefeated two years in a row and winning two straight state titles. But basketball is a fickle game and the ball doesn’t always bounce the way you think it’s supposed to. (See Section B for plenty of basketball coverage.)

Fans were slack jawed at the end of the girls’ game.

The girls were dejected. Tears flowed.

Nixyaawii was number two. Country Christian was number one. But Nixyaawii was expected to win.

However, this editorial isn’t necessarily about winning. It’s about losing. And losing with respect. And moving on.

And that’s what the girls and the fans and the community are doing.

EllaMae Looney, one of the four senior girls who played their last game in the Nixyaawii maroon and gold, said, “Although we lost the championship, we have a lot more to do beyond this game. In my eyes we’re winners no matter what.”

Milan Schimmel told me after the game, “Everything we do on and off the court we do for the community. We know we represent the community and our familes as native people. We played hard and gave the best effort we could and it was a tough loss.”

Kaitlynn Melton said without the community support the team wouldn’t have compiled its 56-1 record.

“That’s something we can never repay,” she said.

And everybody knows Mary Stewart doesn’t talk much. ~ WCP Nixyaawii Coach Jeremy Maddern gathers his troops together at the end of the game.

CUJ photo/Phinney

The time has come to band together as a tribe

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or the first time since Election Day, November 7, 2017, it seems like there may be a chance for peace in the CTUIR government. First there were questions about the absentee ballots, then came the residency conversation surrounding Sally Kosey and then the contention and malice that accompanied the run-off election that have all clouded our community.

But now, for better or worse, Jeremy Wolf is our Vice Chair and for the first time since Justin Quaempts resigned, CTUIR has a fully staffed Board of Trustees.

While no one can forget the disruption that we as a tribe have faced over political differences, for the sake of progress it is time to set aside those disagreements and focus on a positive future for all.

Now that they are whole, the responsibility for

CUJ Confederated Umatilla Journal

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progress, change and all the things BOT members promised during their campaigns rests upon all of our shoulders.

Their time in the boardroom and every tribal dollar they spend belongs to all Tribal Members, so now is the time for accountability.

Now is the time to become active citizens of this tribe. Relying on hearsay is no longer an acceptable option with all of the contention that has been created over the past year.

While the BOT is responsible for bringing information to the people and representing our tribe honorably, it is the Tribal Member’s responsibility to take an active role in tribal governance.

General Council, Committees and Commissions, KCUW, Confederated Umatilla Journal and BOT meetings are all accessible avenues to find out what’s

46411 Timine Way Pendleton, OR 97801 541-429-7005 FAX 541-429-7005 e-mail: cuj@ctuir.org www.ctuir.org

Interim Publisher: Jane Hill

CUJ staff:

Wil Phinney, Editor Jill-Marie Gavin, Reporter/Photographer Dallas Dick, Freelance Photographer

going on with our tribe.

Keeping one another informed is important, however, each Tribal Member has the option of going straight to the source for information.

Taking control of our own consumption of news and current events is the best avenue to becoming politically aware citizens of CTUIR. Showing up to meetings and listening to the BOT take action and vote is a step in the right direction but it is important to remember that the General Council sits above the BOT and we have the right to request information from them.

If we are to move in the right direction as a tribe, it is important that we as Tribal Members take responsibility for our roles in tribal government and make sure our BOT is aware of our expectations. ~ J-MG

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March 2018

CUJ Op-Ed/Columns KCUW needs creative community stakeholders

By Jiselle Halfmoon, KCUW Operations Manager

This past February, KCUW Radio observed fourteen years of broadcasting on the homelands of the Cayuse, Umatilla and Walla Walla people. Because of the unremitting contributions of our loyal volunteers and staff, we proudly broadcasted 2,820 hours of original local programming in 2017.

Concrete evidence that community radio thrives on democratic participation.

It is within those thousands and thousands of hours of local content, you’ll find the heart of our operations. It is the encouraging musical tributes accompanied by local resources to fight addiction or the inspirational anecdotes to help a Jiselle Halfmoon listener struggling with a mental health crisis. It is the methodical recitation of tribal veteran’s names every week so their service continues to remain unforgotten. It is the thoughtful analysis of our tribal government procedures and processes so tribal constituents can better understand how our elected tribal leadership are conducting business on their behalf. It is the gravelly action packed play-byplay called into our operating board out from the middle of nowhere in order to bring our local youth

athletics directly to your homes. It is the carefully curated feature on Indigenous musicians and soulful explorations of days gone by.

It is community radio and it is in need of support.

Here are a few more important reminders of why our community radio station is worth investing in: • In a society where mainstream media has otherwise monopolized the microphone in favor of corporations, it gives small voices the opportunity to become the collective, and amplify a message, together. It builds awareness of common values, challenges and solutions.

• It is 100 percent inclusive. Anybody from our community that follows our simple program proposal process is able to utilize this space for expression, entertainment, education or dialogue.

• Our volunteers are often super fans of music. They are experts in particular sounds, history, samples, eras, genre’s and with no corporate play quota to fulfill, our DJ’s truly have your best listening interest at heart and will create a personal listening experience with every single broadcast.

• Our very own media spaces are instrumental in the development and sustainability of our culture and language. The more media we can create, the more reach we have to make a lasting impact.

• There are many layers of potential to reveal.

In only fourteen short years of operation, we still have

much untapped opportunity to educate, teach, learn, share, dialogue, construct, un-pack, create, encourage and express.

• Radio broadcasts can provide real-time information, broadcasted 24 hours a day to provide the most recent updates to listeners.

• Commercial Free. Period.

• We are responsible to the interests of the Confederated Tribes of The Umatilla Indian Reservation. To lose sight of the importance of hosting our very own broadcast would mean we are regressing in the age of information and communication and losing an extension of our expression in sovereignty and self determination.

Looking forward, it will take more than our limited staff and a few regular volunteers to take this station to the next level. KCUW needs new life from our community, from our listeners, from our leadership, from our critics, from our fans, from the city, from the rez, from our elders, from our youth and from every demographic in between. KCUW also needs substantial financial support from local businesses an entities seeking to make lasting community investments. If you’re already a supporter, we need you to find a way to give more and build a bigger, stronger audience for this vital information and service.

We need you to become a stakeholder.

We need you.

Reach out and support community radio today.

ICT enters a new stage CUJ Letters M

any years ago Richard LaCourse and I would sit around and toss ideas about what the perfect Indigenous newspaper would look like. LaCourse, at the time, was trying to create a new publication in Washington, DC. Imagination was his currency. What was possible?

LaCourse had a lot of experience answering that question. He had helped build the American Indian Press Association. He had edited or written for several tribal newspapers, including his own, The Yakama Nation Review. He launched a one-person crusade to raise the standards of Native American journalism.

I even remember the first time I heard him do that. It was on Feb. 24, 1977, at a workshop in Spokane. A workshop speaker was telling tribal editors that they worked for tribal Mark Trahant councils and should slant the news accordingly. LaCourse stood up. Angry.

Shaking his finger. “Are you aware of the 1968 law that guarantees freedom of the press in Indian Country? Indian newspapers should be professional, straight reporting operations, and your assumptions about cheerleaders for a point of view has nothing to do with the field of journalism. Why are you making this presumption?”

I am thinking of Richard LaCourse as we begin Indian Country Today’s third chapter. The goal is to build on the legacy of LaCourse - as well as from the first two chapters of Indian Country Today. The publication was founded by Tim Giago in South Dakota in 1991 and was followed by the ownership of the Oneida Nation of New York.

It’s hard to think of a better word than legacy, actually. The word is from the 14th century Latin legatus, an ambassador, envoy, a deputy sent with a commission. A century later the word had shifted and become associated with property, a gift. Both definitions fit. The gift is all of the work done before. The commission is the tasks ahead.

Indian Country Today is owned by the National Congress of American Indians—but we will act inde-

March 2018

Richard LaCourse established the Confederated Umatilla Journal in December of 1975. pendently. We are creating a framework to ensure that.

But our primary task is the same as LaCourse’s vision: Professional, straight reporting that tells stories about Indigenous people and our nations.

I’d like to thank the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) for engaging in this experiment. It would have been easy to say, “well, no.” Especially when the challenges of independence are factored into that equation. The NCAI has a long history of working with the Native press (even while our missions are different.) One of the great journalists of her generation, Marie Potts, a Maidu, and editor of California’s Smoke Signals best writing in Washington while on working on a fellowship with NCAI during the late 1960s.

The best way I know how to demonstrate our independence is to produce solid, thoughtful journalism. Every day. So there is a lot of hard work ahead. (And we will need some time to make this so.)

But Indian Country Today is back in business and we are ready to serve.

Our goal is to hire a team in Washington, create (and fund) reporting fellowships around the country, and build capacity for freelance contributors. We want to be partners, not competitors, with tribal newspapers, public media, and web publishers.

I have been teaching journalism for the past seven years and I am always telling students that this is a time of great opportunity. The digital world means that we can reach our audiences instantly. We can communicate ideas. We can explain a complicated process. We can expose wrongdoing. Or write a story of pop culture that makes us smile.

We can invent a new kind of news organization, one built on the currency of imagination.

Mark Trahant is editor of Indian Country Today. He is a member of the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes. Follow him on Twitter

Confederated Umatilla Journal

Writer apologizes for lost items

To the editor, I am an enrolled member of the Umatilla, Walla Walla and Cayuse Reservation, born and raised by my parents and grandparents – mother Suevina Shirley Albert Patrick, father Marvin “Wish” Patrick, grandmother Ada Jones Patrick and grandfather Isaac Billy Patrick who everyone called Gramps.

I was brought up with five brothers and sometimes an older sister across the river where my Dad had a house built for us. There were seven of us all together. I lost an older brother who was found hanging in a Pendleton jail cell on Christmas Eve. When the family moved to the housing projects on Walla Walla Court we had a backyard with the hillside for target practice. We shot at coffee cans with a .22 rifle along with learning how to gaff in the Tucannon.

Growing up was a challenge not having an older sister to teach me the way a young lady should act. Instead, I learned how to shoot.

After graduation, I thought I was in love and met the kids’ Dad. We have three together – Ricky, Suevina and Joseph Jr. Higheagle. He left us and went back to Lapwai, Idaho.

Years went by and along the lines I met a guy I thought was an alright horseman. We cleaned out a house on Whirlwind and made it a home.

I’d been trying to build up my small cottage industry making beadwork items such as moccasins, leggings, cuffs, hair ties, belts and numerous other items.

One night we split up and I had to box up my things without going through it and took it to a different property.

My mom had left me keepsakes including an antique buckskin dress older than the Pendleton Letter to the editor on page 23A

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CUJ Almanac Obituary Denialle May Bradford

July 8,1938 – Feb. 3, 2018 Denialle Bradford passed away February 3, 2018 in Portland, OR after a long illness.

Born on July 8, 1938 she lived in Portland all her life. She attended Russelville School and then Washington High School. She married Adrian Beasley and had four children: Kevin, Carletta, Adrian and Kenneth. They divorced and she later married Arlington Bradford and was married for 36 years.

Denialle was very reDenialle Bradford ligious and attended Albina Church of God for 40 years, she loved going to church. She loved and enjoyed a pretty yard and flowers. She also loved her car, and named it “The Lord’s Car.” Mother Bradford loved the Lord and spent her life dedicated in service to him.

She planted flowers at the entrance doors of the church and kept them watered and blooming.

Every Tuesday and Thursday she would get to church early to open up the doors in preparation for noon day prayer. She was a faithful prayer warrior.

She was often requested to sing one of her favorite songs.

“Don’t stop praying The Lord is nigh!

Don’t stop praying he will hear your cry, God has promised, and he is true, Don’t stop praying he’ll answer you.”

Mother Bradford took care of the communion service every first Sunday of the month.

She meticulously prepared the cup and bread and kept the towels and linens cleaned and ironed and neat. As Bishop Samuel Irving said: “She prepared a spick-and-span communion table.”

For many years she had a nursing home ministry. She would sing, play music, pray and share the word of the Lord to seniors living there.

Wherever she went she would spread the light of God’s love to everybody.

She loved her grand kids very much. She loved to dress them and take them to church.

She was a very neat person and dressed sharp. She was a “shoe and suit” person. She owned three closets full.

Denialle’s father and mother, Leo and Annie Griffith preceded her in death. They had ten children, eight have passed away. Her brother, Darryl Griffith and sister, Myrnalla Reese survive her.

Weather Weather information summarize data taken at the Pendleton Weather Station from Feb.128. Temperature is reported in degrees Fahrenheit and time in Pacific Standard Time.

The average daily temperature was 37.8 degrees with a high of 64 degrees on Feb. 8 and a low of 10 degrees on Feb. 21. With a departure from normal of -0.6 degrees.

Total precipitation to date in Feb. was 0.74” with greatest 24hr average 0.20” Feb. 14. 13 days out of the month had precipitation level greater than .01 inches with 3 days greater than 0.10 inches and with 0 day greater than 0.50”. There was a departure of 0.04” from average for the month of Feb.. Snow, Ice Pellets, Hail total for the month: 0.00” with greatest 24 hour: 0.00”. Greatest Depth: 0.00”.

The average wind speed was 40 10.5 mph with a sustained max speed of 20.4 mph from the West on Feb. 5 and a peak

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speed of 48 on Feb. 17. The dominant wind direction was from the West.

There were 0 Thunder storms, 13 rain days out of 28, 0 Stagnant events/days in the month of Feb. Air Quality Index values elevated remained good throughout the month of Feb..

Jobs Senior Fishery Scientist – Habitat/Watershed Program Leader; Classification: Regular, Full time, Exempt position; Recruitment dates: 1/26/18 - 3/16/18; Salary/ Grade/Step: $85,794-$111,530; (Equivalent to CRITFC Grade 13, steps 1-10); Location: Portland, OR; Responsibilities; oversees a team of scientists, biologists, and technicians developing tools and methods to monitor aquatic ecosystem recovery; develops and leads research projects evaluating threats and factors limiting salmonid populations, such as impairment to habitat quantity/quality, land use, climate change and other anthropogenic factors.

Job title: Fishery Technician (II-III) (2-3 positions), Department: Fisheries Science.

Classification: Full time, temporary (no benefits), Non-Exempt, Salary/Wage: $16.69 – 19.78 per hour (DOQ), Location: La Grande, Oregon, Closing date: March 16, 2018, Duration: 4 months, Start Date: June 4th, 2018, For a full job description visit: http://www.critfc.org/blog/jobs/fishery-technician-ii-iii/ additional Position Information contact: Deanna Jim-Juarez Manager Human Resources. (503)238-0667.

The City of Portland, Oregon’s Bureau of Development Services is recruiting for multiple positions and invites you to apply! Upcoming recruitments include:Building Inspector II – Open Now!, Plumbing Inspector – Open Now!, Commercial Plans Examiner - Open Now! , Electrical Inspector Development Services Supervisor II Program Coordinator Senior Community Outreach and Information Representative - Open Now! For details and to apply visit www.portlandoregon.gov/jobs, new recruitments posted every Monday!

Career Highlight Kinship Cafe is looking for a Lead Cook and cashier. The job closes March 19 and all complete applications turned into CTUIR HR by that date will be reviewed.

Title: Kinship Cafe Lead Cook/Cashier Salary: Pay Range 4: $29,950 - $38,826 annually DOE/DOQ Dept.: Kinship Cafe Location: Tamastslikt Cultural Institute Experience required: HS Diploma/GED, 2 yrs. food service and prep, front line guest service and point of sale operation. Current Driver’s License and proficient in Microsoft office.

See the job description at www.CTUIR.org for more info.

Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation Att: Office of Human Resources Online 46411 Timine Way Pendleton, OR 97801 http://ctuir.org

Community Watch will not meet in March

Community Forum

Community Forum will not meet in March

Classic Rock & Soul on KCUW - 104.3 Tuesdays 6-8 p.m/Friday 7-9 p.m./ Sunday 4-6 p.m.

Public notice

PUBLIC NOTICE Notice is hereby given that the Public Works Office of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation has developed a Draft Tribal Transportation Improvement Program (TTIP) priority list. The list identifies and prioritizes proposed road projects for the next 4 years and provides preliminary cost estimates for the projects.

The TTIP Inventory list of removal and added roads will be available for comment.

Priorities are based upon the 2018 funding for the Tribal Transportation Program as allocated by Congress and will change from year to year based upon a variety of factors.

Copies of the Draft TTIP are available at the Tribal Public Works Office located at 46411 Ti’Mine Way, Pendleton, Oregon 97801.

Questions regarding the draft TTIP may be addressed to Jonetta Everano, Public Works Director, at 541-429-7508. Copies can also be emailed if requested.

The public is entitled and encouraged to review the draft TTIP and removal and added roads list and respond in writing. Comments will be accepted by the Tribal Public Works Office until March 30, 2018.

Career Opportunities 1. On-Call Public Transit Bus Driver & Dispatch 2. Tribal Linguist 3. Education Culture Coordinator 4. Hanford Archaeologist 5. Teacher/Family Advocate 6. Communications Officer - On call/Part time 7. Re-Education/Intervention Facilitator 8. Public Transit Bus driver - Part Time 9. Juvenile Delinquency Coordinator 10. Police Officer 11. Surveillance Director 12. Radio Station Assistant 13. Fish & Wildlife Conservation Officer For more information visit:

Community Watch

Jonetta Everano Public Works Director

Water Commission to hold public hearing PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Water Commission of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation will hold the following public hearing: Water System Development Permit (WSDP), File WP-563 – Filed by the CTUIR Public Works Department, 46411 Timine Way, Pendleton, Oregon 97801.

The applicant seeks approval from the Water Commission to continue the development of Municipal Well 6 and has requested an annual use of 400-600 acre feet of water. (The well was drilled under WP-509 which was approved for 200 acre feet of water and this WSDP has expired). The well is located on Tax Lot 4401, Section 34, T2N, R33E, W.M. A public hearing will be held on March 20,

Confederated Umatilla Journal

2018, pursuant to Section 2.03; B of the Tribal Water Code, in the Walla Walla conference room (101A) the Nixyaawii Governance Center 46411 Timine Way, Pendleton, OR 97801 at 9:00 a.m. to consider an application for the continued development and use of water from Municipal Well 6.

The public is entitled and encouraged to attend the hearing and submit oral or written testimony pertinent to this application. Written testimony may be presented at the hearing or must be received by the CTUIR/DNR Water Resources Program, 46411 Timine Way, Pendleton, OR 97801 before the close of business March 5, 2018.

For further information, please contact the CTUIR/DNR Water Resources Program at 541429-7271.

March 2018

Committee, Commission vacancies This notification formally announces that applications are now being taken from tribal members who wish to serve on the Commissions/ Committees listed below. Appointed members will receive a $100.00 stipend per meeting effective January 1, 2016 once the minutes have been approved on CTUIR pay days.

1 position for CTUIR Culture Coalition – 2 year term, meet as needed – No Stipends 1 position for Economic & Community Development Committee – 2 year term, meets 1st & 3rd Tuesday @ 9 AM 1 position for Science & Technology Committee – 2 year term, meets 2nd & 4th Thursday @ 2:00 PM

All applications will be due on Monday, March 18, 2018 by 4:00 p.m. and BOT will make appointments on Monday, March 26, 2018.

Applications available at the Nixyáawii Governance Center or online at www.ctuir.org/ government/committees- commissions Completed applications should be submitted to the Nixyáawii Governance Center lobby. For more information, call 541-276-3165. Completed applications are to be returned to the Nixyáawii Governance Center switchboard desk. If you have any questions, please contact Kathryn Brigham BOT Secretary 541-429-7374 or Doris Scott, Secretary II at 541-429-7377.

Former Vice Chair guilty of harassment MISSION – Former General Council Vice-Chair Kyle McGuire was found guilty of harassment in a jury trial Feb. 6.

McGuire was charged April 30, 2017 for an incident involving then-interim Executive Director Chuck Sams that took place in the Nixyaawii Governance Center following a General Council meeting April 13, 2017.

Rosenda Shippentower, who was then the Treasurer of the Board of Trustees, was called as a witness in the trial.

The jury deliberated for less than half an hour following the presentation of the case by Kyle Daley, prosecutor for the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation.

Daley asked for a sentence of 100

days in jail, a mental health assessment, anger management counseling, alcoholand-drug treatment, and one year of probation.

Gallaher sentenced McGuire to 30 days in jail but suspended it. He is requiring McGuire to attend anger management counseling through Yellowhawk Tribal Health Center. He told McGuire he is to have no contact with Sams and no further incidents in front of Tribal Court. Gallaher said no evidence was presented that showed McGuire needed mental health or alcohol-anddrug counseling.

McGuire apologized to the court for taking up so much of its time and “inconveniencing” the judge.

CTUIR Board of Trustees

General Council

Chair Gary Burke

Chair Willie Sigo, IV

Vice Chair Jeremy Wolf

Vice Chair Michael Ray Johnson

Treasurer Doris Wheeler

Secretary Shawna Gavin

Secretary Kathryn Brigham

Interpreter Thomas Morning Owl

At-large BOT Members: Aaron Ashley General Council contact Info Sally Kosey Office: 541-429-7378 Rosenda Shippentower Email: GeneralCouncil@ctuir.org Meeting updates and information on: Woodrow Star

www.ctuir.org/government/general-council

CTUIR Executive Team :

Interim Director Chuck Sams

General Council Meeting

Pendleton Pioneer Chapel received three prestigious awards in 2009

w The Oregon Funeral Directors Association Award of Funeral Service Excellence w The Best Of Eastern Oregon Award as voted by the readers of the East Oregonian w Pendleton Chamber of Commerce 2009 Business of the Year

Our experienced family provides caring, compassionate care including:

Burial Services ~ Military Services Cremation ~ Monuments

March 2018

Nixyaawii Governance Center, March 15 2 p.m. Draft agenda: a. New Education Facility b. 2017 Year end Financial Report c. Cayuse Technologies Update d, Yellowhawk Tribal Health Center New Clinic Update

CTUIR Express Phone Directory

Tribal Court 541-276-2046

Human Resources 541-429-7180

Department of Children and Family Services 541-429-7300

Science & Engineering/Air Quality Burnline 541-429-7080

Enrollment Office 541-429-7035

Senior Center 541-276-0296

Finance Office 541-429-7150

TERF 541-276-4040

Finance – Credit Program 541-429-7155

Confederated Umatilla Journal 541-429-7399

Confederated Umatilla Journal

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CUJ News CTUIR wins leadership award for VAWA progress

By Wil Phinney of The CUJ

WASHINGTON, D.C. – National recognition for implementing provisions of the Violence Against Women Act was received by representatives of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR) at the 20th annual Leadership Awards Ceremony of the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) Feb. 13.

Desiree Coyote, CTUIR Family Violence Services Coordinator, and CTUIR attorney Brent Leonhard, who helped craft a pilot project in the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), accepted the award at NCAI’s Executive Council Winter Session.

Coyote said the award presentation was significant in two ways.

First, “It was excellent for NCAI to recognize the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation for all the work that was done to become a pilot program to hold non-tribal offenders accountable.” Second, Coyote said. “It was more exciting because the Board of Trustees (BOT) ensured that Brent Leonhard and myself attended and accepted the award on behalf of the Umatilla Indian Reservation. For me it was the people on the ground doing the work. It was a huge acknowledgment by the BOT of the work we accomplished.”

The CTUIR, the Tulalip Tribes, and the Pascua Yaqui Tribe were recognized for leading the successful implementation of the groundbreaking tribal jurisdiction provisions of VAWA. On the Umatilla Indian Reservation, Coyote and Leonhard led a team, which initially included then-BOT Vice Chair Leo Stewart, on a journey that began with national consultation to learn about VAWA, which was enacted in 2013. The first piece of the legislation they learned about was a sex offender registration component.

National Congress of American Indians President Jefferson Keel, left, presents Associate Attorney General Brent Leonhard, center, and Family Violence Coordinator Desiree Coyote, right, with the Government Leadership award for CTUIR’s successful implementation of VAWA.

The next major piece was a pilot project to hold non-native offenders accountable in tribal court. The process was brought back to the Umatilla Reservation. The team here pulled things together with the Law and Order Committee and the BOT, educating each about VAWA, the pilot program and the federal guidelines of the act. Because the Umatilla Tribal Court has already been fully established with a non-native jury pool that was not

an issue. Tribal codes were amended so that VAWA became CTUIR law.

Next, Coyote said, the CTUIR got the word out, using local media.

Then the work began.

Over the five years (July 2014-January 2018) of VAWA implementation on the Umatilla Indian Reservation, there have been 11 arrests, including nine domestic violence arrests. Eight of the arrests have involved children. Nine arrests have

‘It was a huge acknowledgment by the BOT of the work we accomplished.’

resulted in guilty pleas and nine have resulted in sentences to incarceration.

NCAI also recognized: Native American Leadership Award – Mark Trahant (Shoshone-Bannock Tribe) Native American Journalist and Founder of Trahant Reports. “As an independent journalist, Trahant elevates the presence of tribal nations and peoples through journalism, media, and innovative technologies to advance the authentic histories, stories and modern issues facing tribal nations and their citizens.”

Public Sector Leadership Award – Google American Indian Network (GAIN), Employee Resource Group Making a Positive Impact in Indian County.

“GAIN continues to foster tribal youth through program and support, raise the visibility and awareness of tribal nations, and collaborate on solutions for improved services to Indian County.”

Congressional Leadership Award – Senator Jerry Moran, U.S. Senator from Kansas. “Senator Moran demonstrated steadfast support of Indian Country and leadership in championing law and policies that strengthen tribal sovereignty and the federal government’s trust responsibility to tribal nations.”

Special Recognition Award – Julie Johnson (Lummi Nation of Washington State). President of Julie Johnson, Inc. “For the past 22 years, Johnson organized the National Indian Women’s Honoring Luncheon and continues to demonstrate strong support of Native women leaders and commitment to the success of present and future Native women.”

Native Voice Award – Ray Halbritter (Oneida Nation), Representative of the Oneida Nation and Oneida Nation Enterprises CEO. “As a leader who uplifted Native voices through Indian Country Today Media Network, Halbritter also championed accurate and respectful portrayals of Native peoples through the Change the Mascot movement.”

Tribal kindergartner scores show room to improve Native students out-scored peers in self-regulation and interpersonal skills By the CUJ

PENDLETON – Kindergarten assessment results for Pendleton School District (PSD) released in February show there still is a learning gap for Native American students, particularly in math.

Native American graduation numbers, also released in February, show a rate of 90 percent at Pendleton High School, but an overall rate across the District of 53 percent.

The kindergarten assessment covered four subjects: self-regulation and interpersonal skills, math skills, English letter name sounds, and English letter recognition.

Self-regulation and interpersonal skills Native American kindergartners in

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Pendleton schools, rated by their classroom teachers, scored higher in categories for all students in Oregon and all Native American students in Oregon.

Matt Yoshioka, Director of Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment for the Pendleton School District, said the children were assessed in the fourth or fifth week of school on social skills.

“Are they prepared for school, can they sit in the classroom, get along, listen to the teacher,” Yoshioka said.

Yoshioka said Native American students in Pendleton scored higher than the state average in self-regulation and interpersonal skills, which he said was a tribute to Linda Sampson and efforts by the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation in summer programs to prepare children for kindergarten.

English letter name sounds and letter identification In the English letter name sounds, students were asked to give the sounds of as many letters as they could. Native American children in Pendleton schools tested slightly above all students in Oregon and way above native students across Oregon. They tested below the rest of Pendleton students.

Tested for English letter identification, Native American kindergarten students in Pendleton were close to the average of all students across the state, but ahead of other Native American students in Oregon. Interestingly, Hispanic students in Pendleton knew their letters better than anyone else.

Math was a different story.

Kindergartners are asked 16 questions

Confederated Umatilla Journal

in the assessment. Adults administer the tests one-on-one, asking the child, for instance, to tell them a number that is missing in a sequence of four numbers.

The assessment results show that Native American kids in Pendleton tested below all others, even slightly under the Native American average across the state. Of the 16 possible answers, Native American children in Pendleton averaged about nine correct. The average among all students in Pendleton was about 12 and across the state for all students was about 11.

“We have the biggest gap in math,” said Yoshioka. “I have no concrete evidence, but I think nationwide there is a historical stigma with math. People think Test scores on page 23A

March 2018

Katrina Wallsee was one half of the winning couple in the Owl Dance Special at the Valentine’s Day Gathering Feb. 14.

Elwood Pattawa danced in the Golden Age category at the Valentine Gathering Feb.14.

Valentine Gathering results MISSION - The Valentine’s Day Gathering at the Longhouse on the Umatilla Indian Reservation Feb. 14 brought together singers, dancers and drummers of all ages.

All dancers from tiny tots to Golden Agers were winners and received gifts.

Competition with results for first through third were held in three categories:

Owl dance-1, Logan Quaempts and Katrina Wallsee. 2, Pedro Rivera and Keyen Singer. 3, Curtis Bearchum and Nizhoni Toledo.

Rabbit dance-1, Kanim Moses and Grace Watchman. 2, Sky Smith and Cloe Bevis. 3, Miles Minthorn and Denis Morning Owl. Hand drum contest-1, “Yours Truly,” Steve and Charles Wood III. 2, Andrew Tewawina and Ian Sampson. 3, Ben Dave and Thomas Morning Owl.

CUJ photos by Dallas Dick

Tiny tots Hazel Quaempts and Darryl Joe Mckay took to the floor during the Owl Dance Special at the Valentine’s Day Gathering held at the Mission Longhouse Feb. 14.

Be My V lentine 

Katrina Wallsee and Logan Quaempts won the Owl Dance at the Valentine Gathering.

March 2018

From left, Atish Williams, Emery Kordatzky, Miles Minthorn, Quincy Sams, Bryson Bronson and Anthony Nix all danced in the junior boys category during the Valentine’s Day Gathering at the Mission Longhouse Feb. 14.

Confederated Umatilla Journal

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Our vision: Our tribal community achieves optimal health through a culture of wellness. Our mission: We strive to empower our Tribal community with opportunities to learn and experience healthy lifestyles.

Y e l l o w h a w k

These two pages are sponsored by Yellowhawk Tribal Health Center.

Tlawxmamiyay Community Garden

‘It belongs to all of us’ The coming of a new season has begun and seasoned gardeners alike are planning for this year’s garden. As the seed catalogs come in the mail and stores put out spring flowers, the urge to plant becomes apparent but the know-how is sometimes lacking. Yellowhawk’s Garden Program offers garden classes to help beginning gardeners start planning their garden. It is becoming more important to know where our foods come from, why not start growing your own fresh produce? The ability to grown one’s own food is a very rewarding experience. You may be thinking of things that can keep you from growing your produce, but you would be amazed about how easy it is. From container gardening to homesteading, a person is capable of growing one single tomato plant or giant pumpkin patch! Building healthy soil is one of the most Adrienne Berry important ingredients in growing an abundant crop.

The Seed to Supper Beginning Gardening Course is a great place to learn the different aspects of how to garden and what it takes to get your vegetable plants to grow and produce fruits. This six-series course teaches topics such as planning your garden, building healthy soil, composting, planting your garden, caring for your garden, watering, harvesting, storing and using your bounty.

The participants in this class will walk away with free seeds, plant starts and priceless knowledge on how to start, maintain and grow a garden.

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Adults are welcome to attend these evening classes that are full of hands on activities, gardening experience, expert advice, and a chance to meet friendly people in your community.

Not able to attend? Already an experienced gardener? Want to garden but have no space? Come volunteer at the many sites the garden program provides! Yellowhawk’s garden program maintains 4 garden sites in the Mission community. The community garden, a greenhouse, the senior center container garden and the Nixyaawii community school garden (during summer months). The half-acre community garden is located on Confederated Way and Walla Walla Court. The community garden was established in 2005 and has been growing and improving ever since.

The garden was started through grant funding and a dream to have a place for community members to grow healthy food for a healthy life style. In 2016, the garden was expanded for a larger crop. Last year over 300 people harvested, volunteered, and visited the community garden.

We encourage you to come join our growing numbers that keep “our” garden alive and strong. Everyone can learn something new at a garden class or from volunteering at one of our sites.

Follow us on Facebook and Instagram: Yellowhawk Garden For more information contact: Adrienne Berry, Adrienneberry@yellowhawk.org or (541)278-7551 Garden Office is located at the Community Wellness Building at Yellowhawk Tribal Health Center.

Confederated Umatilla Journal

March 2018

N e w s

&

E v e n t s

@Yellowhawk4U

More Yellowhawk News on Pages 20B and 21B

March 2018

Confederated Umatilla Journal

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Security Continued from page 5A

Security, he said, has been a priority of the Project Team, which includes BBT Architects and a sub-consultant team of electricians that has done work on school facilities in Oregon and Washington, including construction and improvement projects in Pendleton (Washington and Sherwood Elementary schools, Pendleton High School and Sunridge Middle School), and at Athena-Weston Elementary and Weston-McEwen High School in Athena.

The new CTUIR Education Facility will have two entrances – the south side for the main administration office and the north side for Nixyaawii Community School.

Nixyaawii students will enter the first set of doors where they will continue through the administrative assistant’s office and into the school.

At both entrances, visitors will enter the first set of doors into a foyer that Rogers said has been described as a “mantrap.”

They will be met by a greeter at a window who will have the option of opening a door into an office where the visitors could sign in or, if the visitor is known, they could be buzzed through a second set of doors into the main build-

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ing. It depends on the facility’s decidedupon protocol, Rogers said.

The point is, Rogers said, there will be a degree of human engagement immediately when the visitor enters the building.

Both of the reception windows will have a discreet panic button that can put the entire facility into lock down mode.

Rogers said conversations have been held with Tribal Fire Chief Rob Burnside, Tribal Police Chief Tim Adelman, Public Works Director Jonetta Everano, and Informational Technologies Director Marguarite Becenti to create a “level of standardization” throughout the CTUIR organization.

It’s so the existing CTUIR staff is familiar with the access card and key code system, Rogers said.

Doors at the end of the corridors will be exit doors – unless a person has a card and a five-digit code to regain access.

Students will be able to exit to go outside, but they won’t be able to re-enter through those doors.

Rogers said he assumed the cardand-code access will be issued to staff and administration, to public works, first responders, and custodial workers during traditional business hours. Each staff member would have a card badge and their own unique access code.

The hours for when that access would be allowed is being discussed now, Rogers said.

“When do they need to be there? Does a teacher need to be there on weekends or late at night? That’s the next phase of the conversation. The system is largely programmable,” Rogers said. “Who comes in and when can be easily managed. You can always know who is there and when.”

The building will have video surveillance inside and out at entry points and exits, in the commons and central areas.

“It’s not Big Brother, but it’s enough to be adequate. It’s a practical approach to video surveillance,” Roger said.

The receptionists will have a monitor at their stations that will allow them to see what’s going on at different locations where video cameras are in use, such as the exit doors.

Also, while being respectful of night pollution, there will be extensive exterior lighting, including the parking lot.

Tribal Police said they don’t want any dark pockets in the parking lot where people could hang out.

“We’ve tried to take best practices using industry standards with input from stakeholders to build a system that meets their needs,” Rogers said.

Confederated Umatilla Journal

New NCS Continued from page 5A

footers can be partitioned so “really with the capability of seven classrooms”

that will allow smaller classes for such subjects as drumming and tribal history.

Heinrich said he’d like to see more electives offered at the school.

“We have seven classes right now.

One PE class and six classrooms. We have eight classrooms but one has to be off-site,” Heinrich said.

Heinrich likes the location at the Bowman property near NGC because he thinks it will keep students at school.

At the July Grounds, students had an easy walk at lunchtime to houses in the projects and often times came back late or didn’t come back at all.

“If they want to skip now they’ll have to walk a long ways,” Heinrich said.

Security is paramount among concerns, but Heinrich said that appears to be “high tech” in the plans.

“It’s going to be up to scale, where it needs to be for a school in this day and age,” Heinrich said.

Heinrich, who has part of the design team at times, said the school “hasn’t been too picky” because “we know it’s way better than what we have now. We just want them to break ground to make sure we’re in there in 2019.”

March 2018

Education Facility Continued from page 5A

At least seven firms from Oregon, Washington and Idaho already are prequalified to bid on the project, Tovey told the Nixyaawii School Board.

Throughout the process, CTUIR Education Department Director Modesta Minthorn, said the “Core Team” and a “Design Guidance Team” have made sure “every nook and cranny” is efficiently used.

Minthorn said the Early Childhood component of the facility, which will include Head Start, Daycare, and the After School program, will try to craft a “seamless” transition for children and eliminate “distance as a barrier” for teachers.

As an example, Minthorn said, if a toddler is having a bad day at Head Start then people at the After School program can be made aware of it.

“Nobody loses track of anyone,” Minthorn said. “It’s a big deal being under one roof. On a daily basis I think that’s the biggest benefit. You no longer have to call or email, you just have to have a conversation about a student. You sit down on a break and say so-and-so is having a bad day or I notice this student isn’t doing well in counting. Distance has been a barrier to connection. I believe one of the greatest impacts of the program will be more togetherness.”

The CTUIR Board of Trustees (BOT) began work on planning and design for the Education Facility in 2015 when it approved $1 million for the project. It established the project as a priority in March of 2016 and dedicated $6 million from the Ramah Navajo Chapter class action lawsuit settlement to the project in March of 2016. (The BOT borrowed an additional $10 million for the project.)

Based on a pros-and-cons comparison, the Board chose the Bowman property over a July Grounds spot as the site for the new Education Facility in February of 2017.

A Project Core Team, named in May of 2017, included Minthorn, Tovey, Planning Director J.D. Tovey, Finance Director Paul Rabb, former interim Executive Director Debra Croswell, then-Public Works Director Frank Anderson, Wenaha Group owner representative Dave Fischel, and CTUIR Board of Trustees (BOT) member Woodrow Star.

Early on in the process, in the summer of 2017, the entire CTUIR Education staff, plus NCS Principal Ryan Heinrich, were interviewed on basic information such as their needs, what they do, how many students they serve, etc. For example, Head Start was asked how many kids were on their wait list and how many students they could potentially serve if they had more room.

Minthorn, who took the lead for the Project Team, said the BOT was involved in every step along the way.

Wenaha Group was hired as the owner’s representative in July of 2017 and in September of last year the BOT selected BBT Architects out of Bend to design a project that would house both Tribal Education Department programs at the Nixyaawii Community School.

The search for an architect prompted more than two dozen inquiries and nine proposals. BBT Architects, which has been involved in designing several school buildings in the area, had a “much better answer” when questioned about the CTUIR. “At least they knew who we were,” Minthorn said.

Next, a site plan was developed.

The building was positioned; it was determined where the school would be situated and where the gym would go.

The estimates for square footage were bounced around. senior staff from the Education Department – Head Start manager, Day Care lead teacher, the After School Program teacher, the Language Program manager, Higher Education, Youth Services manager and the NCS Principal – took part in the “tedious” process, Minthorn said.

It was decided that the building would be constructed in an H-shape, although if you look at it from a different viewpoint it could be considered an “I” shape.

“We wanted to make sure each program had a section, but we were all still connected,” Minthorn said.

A Design Guidance Team, made up of the senior staff, began talking about things like classrooms, where bathrooms should go, what kinds of entrances would be needed, where they wanted tables, and what would be needed in the kitchen.

All the while, Minthorn said, it was im-

portant to do all that so the space would be used efficiently.

Then came the colors and so forth.

What materials did they want in the hallways, what should the common areas look like?

It will be pastels – pinks and yellows – on the kids’ side, earth tones in the common areas, and maroon and gold at Nixyaawii Community School.

Minthorn isn’t all that interested in the minutiae.

“If it were up to me it would all be one color. White. Plain Jane I guess,” she said.

But as for the bulk of the project, Minthorn is happy.

Is it everything envisioned?

“Pretty gosh darn close to what we wanted,” she said, “aside from my own personal workout room and juice bar.”

There were some changes, some modifications, even some reductions, but it didn’t take away from the overall space for educational needs, Minthorn said.

“After our pie-in-the-sky” dream facility, which carried a price tag of about $33 million, reality set in and the entire project was reduced to $23 million.

Construction cost of the Education Facility will actually be about $16.2 million.

Where’s the other $7 million come from?

Another $800,000 is going to renovate the Recreation Center and $288,000 is earmarked for demolition of the CayUma-Wa Education Center.

About $700,000 will go for furniture, fixtures, sound equipment, phones and technology, plus moving costs. Then there are costs for the architects ($1.4 million) and other design fees and construction management. Tribal costs for the TERO fee, cultural resources fee and planning permits total $372,000.

Legal and financial costs total $275,000.

Owner’s contingency, builder’s risk insurance and other administrative costs add another $1.8 million.

It all adds up.

“So, okay where do we cut?” Minthorn asked. “There were a lot of common areas, group gathering areas. We took some space out that was not essential, reduced

some common areas.”

Thankfully, she said, nothing was eliminated from the original vision.

“The team was very thoughtful. How can we do this without infringing on classrooms? If we were to make any adjustments we should focus on the common areas,” Minthorn said.

The Education Facility, as it is designed today, provides adequate space “for the needs we currently have.”

“Using the space efficiently is on us,” Minthorn said. “It’s definitely more than we have now.”

The Language Program is a good example. Each language – Umatilla, Walla Walla and Nez Perce – will have its own classroom. There will be a single room and a large room that can be separated into two rooms, providing space for the three languages. The Language wing also will have a sound-proof recording studio.

One of the highlights of the Education Facility, and one of the most awaited amenities, is the new gym. It will be a regulation 84-foot long gym for high school games with a main court and a floor big enough that a curtain can be used to create two 76-foot side-by-side (same length as the Recreation Center) basketball courts for games or room to accommodate PE classes. According to Minthorn, capacity will be 470 and will include handicap and elder seating.

Throughout the process of designing the Education Facility, Minthorn said, “We always kept in mind that it had to be an efficient space that was culturally relevant.”

Toward that goal, the building faces east and is shaped in a manner that facilitates cultural needs.

“If we want to do classes related to First Foods we have an appropriate facility to handle it and we have an outdoor space in front of the commons to the east for an earth oven,” Minthorn said.

“We always wanted to build one down here. We asked for dedicated space and the architects did that. At least now we have the space and we don’t have to go to Indian Lake in the fall to teach a class for moss.”

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15A

BMCC Pow Wow rescheduled PENDLETON - The Blue Mountain Community College Pow Wow is still on, but will be held April 12 instead of in March as originally planned.

Grand entry will be held at 6 p.m. in the McCrae Activity Center on the BMCC Pendleton campus.

Fred Hill is set to MC the event that will host Tiny Tot, Junior Boys, Junior Girls, 13 and Over Men and 13 and Over Women dance contests. The first 20 singers to set up will be awarded with $20 Arrowhead Travel Plaza gift cards.

The event is sponsored by BMCC Arts and Culture Series, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee and the CTUIR Higher Education Program. For more information contact CTUIR Native American Higher Ed Coach & Liaison Annie Smith at asmith@bluecc.edu or 541-278-5935.

Contractor Gary Edwards steps away from the new transit hub, which will provide a comfortable and safe waiting area for Kayak Transit riders. An opening is scheduled April 1 for the new hub, which is situated between the Nixyaawii Governance Center and the new Yellowhawk Tribal Health Center building.

CUJ photo/Phinney

Kayak Transit Hub to open before clinic in April

By The CUJ

MISSION - The opening of the new Kayak Transit Hub will take place April 1 on the Umatilla Indian Reservation midway between the Nixyaawii Governance Center (NGC) and the new Yellowhawk Tribal Health Center.

During the design and development phase of the new Yellowhawk facility, safe and reliable transportation needed to be considered for patients, staff, commuters, and visitors, said J.D. Tovey, Planning Director for the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR). Furthermore, it was determined that the addition of an Education Facility and future housing in the area will likely increase the need for a centralized loca-

tion for transit connections over time.

The site between the Governance Center and Yellowhawk will be accessible to everyone in the area, Tovey said.

The location will also reduce bus miles, improve circulation of the buses, and improve safety by moving the bus routes out of the NGC parking lot. The Transit Hub will be Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accessible and will have heating, air conditioning and Wi-Fi to make it more comfortable for riders while they wait for a bus. There will also be a monitor to display bus schedules.

In 2016, the CTUIR Board of Trustees allocated funds to help cover costs associated with a new northbound turn lane on Highway 331 into Timine Way and for the construction of the road to the south and west of the new Yellowhawk.

A portion of these funds was set aside to pay for the new Transit Hub. Tovey said that by providing transportation for those that have no other means, the program also reduces greenhouse

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gases and saves riders money by giving commuters other options to get to work.

Kayak is a public transit service funded by federal, state and local dollars to provide safe and reliable transportation options throughout the region.

Kayak has destinations in 15 communities in Umatilla, Morrow and Union counties in Oregon and Walla Walla County in Washington.

There is no fare for Kayak Public Transit at this time.

Kayak Public Transit updates schedules quarterly to account for road construction, seasons, new stops, etc. The opening of the Kayak Transit Hub on April 1 will coincide with the start of the second quarter for 2018; notifications and some additional wait time will be allocated at Kayak Transit Hub to allow people to become accustomed to the new location.

For more information about Kayak Transit Hub, a schedule, or paratransit, call Kayak Dispatch at 1-541-429-7519.

MISSION – The Tribal Environmental Recovery Facility (TERF) is the exclusive provider of solid waste and recycling services for the Umatilla Indian Reservation following a resolution approved in January by the Board of Trustees for the Confederated Tribes.

The resolution documents the exclusivity for TERF, which means no other solid waste collection company – like Pendleton Sanitary Services for instance – could come onto the reservation and provide such services, according to the BOT resolution.

TERF has been providing solid waste collection, transfer and recycling services within the Umatilla Indian Reservation since 2001.

March 2018

Associate Tribal judges sworn in By the CUJ

MISSION – Douglas Nash and David Gallaher were sworn in as Associate Judges for the Tribal Court for the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR) in a ceremony Feb. 16.

Chief Judge William D. Johnson gave the oath of office to the two men who had served in different functions for Tribal Court since the early 1970s.

In his remarks in front of about 15 people in the CTUIR Tribal Courtroom, Judge Johnson noted the Board of Trustees approved the appointment recommendations from the Tribal Law & Order Committee.

In past years, two associate judges were appointed to act as presiding judge in case of a conflict of interest or in the absence of the Chief Judge. One of those was a non-member of the CTUIR to assure no conflict would occur because of family relations.

These associate judges also served as appeals judges on decisions of the tribal judge.

Recently, according to Judge Johnson, there has been an influx of appeals involving employment law, constitutional issues, the Tribal Law and Order Act, the Violence Against Women Act, and tort claims.

“These have been processed with deliberate speed on an ad hoc basis by use of pro tem judges,” Judge Johnson said in remarks at the swearing-in ceremony. “But the influx accentuates a need for appointment of associate judges to be readily available.”

Johnson said Nash and Gallaher have been instrumental in establishment and operation of the court services for decades. Nash served as tribal attorney in the 1970s and 1980s. Gallaher has served as an associate judge since the 1970s.

Nash, an enrolled member of the Nez Perce Tribe, is a graduate of the University of New Mexico School of Law. He is a staff attorney for Native American Rights Fund, worked in private practice for 14 years, including as a tribal attorney representing the CTUIR. He is an adjunct Law Professor at the Seattle University School of Law. He serves as Chief Appellate Judge for Warm Springs Tribal Court of Appeals and for the Tulalip Tribes.

Nash played a significant role in the CTUIR’s retrocession of jurisdiction authority nearly 40 years ago. He worked with the likes of the Tribes’ first Chief Judge Raymond Burke, plus other leaders such as Sam Kash Kash, Philip Guyer and Bill Minthorn.

Gallaher, a graduate of Lewis and Clark Law School in Portland, served as the first associate judge for CTUIR in 1975. He served as a District Attorney for Umatilla County from 1974 to 1995 and currently serves as a municipal judge for the cities of Pendleton, MiltonFreewater, Helix and Pilot Rock.

In his remarks, Gallaher noted that he was sworn in

by Raymond Burke 40 years ago at the “little courtroom” next to the Nixyaawii Community Center basketball court. He called Nash the “architect” of the CTUIR court system and said there are “no two more noteworthy people” in Indian law than Bill Johnson and Doug Nash.

Judge Johnson presented Nash and Gallaher with their own name plates and gavels.

CUJ photo/Phinney

From left is Associate Judge David Gallaher, Chief Judge William Johnson and Associate Judge Douglas Nash. Nash and Gallaher were sworn in during a ceremony at the Umatilla Tribal Court Feb. 16.

BOT passes on discussion of residency requirement for election eligibility MISSION - The issue of a residency requirement for election eligibility was not discussed by the Board of Trustees (BOT) for the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation when they gathered for their retreat in Portland Feb. 28-March 2.

BOT Chair Gary Burke announced in an open meeting in February that the subject would be discussed after BOT member Sally Kosey said she intended to ask the General Council to consider a constitutional amendment declaring eligible residency to include lands within the boundaries of the Treaty of 1855.

Kosey said she would not comment on this issue when asked about it on March 5.

March 2018

Confederated Umatilla Journal

17A

Elk work their way down to a twilight dinner

CUJ photo/Dallas Dick

A herd of Rocky Mountain elk graze near Fowler Lane Feb. 20 after snow fell in the higher elevations and forced them to move to lower ground where food was easier to find.

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March 2018

CTUIR taking another crack at Land Buy Back Program

By The CUJ

MISSION – The Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation has beefed up outreach efforts amid the tribes’ second round of the Land Buy Back Program (LBBP).

The CTUIR Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD) Umatilla LBBP held an open house Feb. 22 at the Nixyaawii Governance Center.

During that meeting the DECD staff, Bureau of Indian Affairs staff and Dave Tovey, who works as a consultant for the Indian Land Tenure Foundation, provided information to Tribal member land owners.

The goal of the event was to educate land owners on the opportunities to sell their fractionated allotments and help them understand their avenue for sale.

Currently allotments are in the beginning stages of appraisal; when appraisals are complete all Umatilla Indian Reservation land owners and Tribal members who own less than 24.99 percent of an allotment will get an automatic offer from the Tribes for purchase.

DECD Director Bill Tovey said the second round of the LBBP, or “Buy Back Two,” is a result of the CTUIR’s swift and

March 2018

organized approach to the first round.

Not all tribes will get a second crack at reducing their fractionated lands, but CTUIR is getting the opportunity to do so.

During CTUIR’s first round of the LBBP it spent $4.16 million and purchased nearly 4,500 acres of land in 2014.

Dave Tovey attended the outreach event to publicize a program that will allow Tribal members to access specialized U.S. Department of Agriculture loans to purchase other portions of their fractionated allotments. This is an alternative to selling and will allow Tribal members to edge closer to land development.

The group opened the event with a video that explained the history of Indian reservation land fractionation and the goals of the LBBP. Part of the video was dedicated to instructing land owners to understand their land, review all their options and consider the financial implications of any sales or retention of land.

There will be another outreach event to educate Tribal member land owners on similar options and opportunities March 15 from 2 to 5 p.m. in the Yawishnma Conference Room at the NGC. Call 541429-7477 for more information.

Confederated Umatilla Journal

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also “hunt in this exclusive zoo.”

The difference, Nerenberg said, is that Tribes have fewer restrictions on what and for how long they can “hunt” so that Tribes can grow.

One of the primary reasons Accenture wanted to create CT in 2006 was to “hunt in this 8(a) zoo,” Nerenberg said. “They had wanted to get benefit from being the mentor while CT was the protégé.”

But Cayuse Technologies never successfully applied for the program and eventually Accenture lost interest. (Accenture ended its management in 2015.)

Now that CT has successfully applied for the program and has “access to the zoo,” Accenture and several other large companies, including IBM, are interested in being the mentor for Cayuse Technologies.

Nerenberg has a strategy, but he needs Tribal support and involvement.

General Council Chair Willie Sigo has asked Nerenberg to present the strategy at the April General Council meeting.

Continuing with his “hunting in the zoo” analogy, Nerenberg said he wants to find other successful hunters and hire them, which means he wants Cayuse Technologies to buy other businesses who can become “our hunters.”

Among the 8(a) limits on non-tribal business is that they can be in the program only nine years.

“All those hunters are being kicked out of the zoo and nobody wants them. The only market is the tribes. If we buy them then they are 8(a) again,” Nerenberg said.

And, Nerenberg explained, because Cayuse Technologies is 8(a), other CTUIR businesses are now pre-qualified for 8(a).

That means the Tribes could develop a company or buy a company under the SBA umbrella to go after federal contracts.

And the contracts would not have to be specific to CT work. For example, a new CTUIR business might be a food services company that bids to cater the Republican National Convention in 2020. If that company were to get the bid, that new CTUIR business would be able to “hunt” in the federal food services “zoo.”

This could work with construction, manufacturing, renewable energy, “essentially anywhere the federal government requires contract work today,” noted Debra Croswell, Cayuse Technologies Chief of Staff, Director of Compliance.

Nerenberg said gaining the SBA 8(a) certification has always been part of the company strategy. He explained a little of the background of the company and how today, as a CTUIR entity, it’s important for Tribal members to understand more about Cayuse Technologies.

Croswell said that now that CT has 8(a) certification it will help efforts to grow the business, creating more jobs available for Tribal members.

Accenture and the CTUIR created Cayuse Technologies in 2006 as a moneymaking venture. The Tribes owned the company, but Accenture managed it.

Accenture managers eventually left and by 2013 the Accenture’s involvement waned. By 2015, Cayuse Technologies’

‘It’s my job to use the skills we’ve acquired to train our teams here and deliver services to clients across the country.’

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sales dropped and the company began losing money.

Nerenberg was hired at the end of 2015 to right the ship.

“After the company was stabilized, we needed to grow what we could do – capability – and how much of it we could do – capacity,” Nerenberg said. This meant learning new skills and training more people to do them.”

Cayuse Technologies’ first acquisitions of two small Utah companies was an example of this, Nerenberg said.

“We acquired skills in Utah and then trained more people in Mission with those skills,” said Preston Eagleheart, Operations Chief of Staff.

“It’s my job to use the skills we’ve acquired to train our teams here and deliver services to clients across the country,” said Eagleheart.

Nerenberg’s next task is to demystify Cayuse Technologies to create more transparency for the Tribal membership.

“When Cayuse Technologies was created, not only was it a very new experience for most people, Accenture kept a lot of things very secretive,” Nerenberg said.

“Most Tribal members didn’t know what we did and employees were instructed not to talk about it.”

As a result, most Tribal members don’t know about CT today or have any idea about what goes on in the big building across Highway 331 from Arrowhead Travel Plaza.

They do, however, have expectations because they’ve been told that, like Wildhorse Resort & Casino, Cayuse Technologies will bring money to the Tribes.

“We will,” Nerenberg said. “But we are a very different business and need to grow differently. Cayuse Technologies is now completely Tribal, no longer Accenture.

We are your dog in the hunt. Feed us and we will bring back game.”

“The company has grown over the years and we’ve positioned ourselves to better compete on a national scale,” said Koko Hufford, Chair of the CT Board of Directors. She is confident Cayuse Technologies, especially with this new SBA 8(a) certification, is on the right road to growth and achieving the objectives set forth by the CTUIR Board of Trustees when CT was started.

“We need the Tribe pulling with us and helping us now more than ever. As CT grows, opportunities for Tribal members and future generations will grow,” Nerenberg said.

‘We need the Tribe pulling with us and helping us now more than ever. As CT grows, opportunities for Tribal members and future generations will grow.’

Confederated Umatilla Journal

- Billy Nerenberg, Chief Executive Officer at Cayuse Technologies

March 2018

Umatilla County, Tribe make mutual aid deal MISSION – In the event of a public health emergency, the Confederated Tribes have signed a mutual aid agreement with the Umatilla County Health Department.

The Board of Trustees for the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR) on Jan. 22 voted in favor of a resolution that already had been approved by the CTUIR Health Commission last November.

According to the resolution, the CTUIR does not presently have the capacity to provide complete responses to public health emergencies and disasters occurring on the Umatilla Indian Reservation.

A mutual aid agreement between the Umatilla County Health Department and the CTUIR will ensure “resources and mechanisms” are available to “quarantine, detain, or isolate individuals who pose a public health risk” on the Umatilla Indian Reservation.

The agreement does not bind either party to take a particular action and does not diminish the CTUIR inherent sovereignty to deal with public health emergencies on the Reservation.

The agreement, which is voluntary, does not create a legal duty to provide any requested assistance, according to the resolution. A party may elect to voluntarily furnish such mutual aid as is available, and shall take into consideration whether such actions might unreasonably diminish its capacity to provide basic public health services to its own jurisdiction.

March 2018

Snow blower reprieve for riders

CUJ photo/Phinney

James Wildbill, a Public Works employee for the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, shut down his snow blower long enough for riders to disembark from the Hermiston Hopper when it arrived at the Nixyaawii Governance Center in mid-February.

The region had snow on and off - and warm temperatures as well - throughout the month of February. According to the National Weather Service at the Pendleton Airport, the average daily temperature in February was 37.8 degrees with a high of 64 on Feb. 8 and a low of 10 degrees on Feb. 21.

Confederated Umatilla Journal

21A

DNR, Public Works take on Spring Creek runoff near Tribal housing

By The CUJ

MISSION – Brush has been removed, berms reconstructed, and channels cleared to reduce Spring Creek runoff and flooding onto Confederated Way near project housing and the lower portion of the walkway to Tamastslikt Cultural Institute.

The work by the Departments of Natural Resources (DNR) and Public Works (DPW) for the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR) took place from midDecember through mid-January.

The work was in response to flooding that took place in February and March of 2017 along Confederated Way and Walla Walla Court due to high levels of snow and rain through the Spring Creek watershed, according to David Haire, DNR’s Water Resources Program Manager.

In April and May of last year, the CTUIR Housing, DNR and DPW met to discuss potential short- and long-term solutions to the flooding problems. The actions taken this winter are considered a first step, with a goal of keeping flood water out of Confederated Way, Haire said.

“With the clearing of brush and debris along the berm and in the creek channel, and a much lower snowpack than last year, the wetland area south of Confederated Way has not spilled onto the roadway this year, yet,” Haire said in a news release. “There is still the potential for late season snows and heavy rain to cause the same problems as were experienced last year. The work will continue when weather and soil conditions allow.”

Long-term solutions to the problem include looking at the entire watershed of Spring Creek, from its headwaters on Cabbage Hill to its historical confluence (where it joins) with the Umatilla River, over two miles downstream of the Mission area. By understanding the source and pathways of the creek’s surface and groundwater, the Tribal departments responsible for managing and protecting water resources, housing, roads and other Tribal infrastructure, will be able to develop plans and designs to enhance Spring Creek, while protecting the health and safety of Mission area residents, Haire said.

By Aimee Green, The Oregonian/OregonLive

Photo contributed by DNR

Public Works employees Cecil Shippentower and Wally Rogers, operating the excavator, work on a Spring Creek project near Confederated Way.

“Making the creek an asset, rather than a liability, and protecting a valuable creek, floodplain system, and wildlife habitat is the ultimate goal,”

Haire said, adding that Housing, DNR, and DPW will be working together, with community input, to determine the best path forward.

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22A

Man who killed Martin Bettles gets 10 year prison term

Confederated Umatilla Journal

PORTLAND – A 37-year-old man who was extremely drunk when he fatally stabbed his friend in the calf was sentenced Feb. 5 to 10 years in prison.

Kelby Jake turned to the weeping relatives of his dead friend, Martin Richard Ochoa Bettles, 25, and told them he wakes up every day in his jail cell and can’t fathom why he hurt his friend.

Bettles was an enrolled member of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation and a 2009 graduate of Nixyaawii Community School.

At sentencing Jake said he didn’t remember what happened.

“I’m truly sorry,” Jake told Bettles’ relatives that included Martin’s father, Terry Bettles.

Jake and Bettles had attended a social gathering at a home and left together about 9 p.m. on Sept. 3, 2016, said Deputy District Attorney Amity Girt. About an hour later, Jake called a friend and said he needed help because Bettles was dead from a drive-by shooting.

The friend called 911, and a dispatcher called Jake. But Jake wasn’t giving the dispatcher his correct location, and police drove around for about 20 minutes looking for Jake and Bettles, Girt said.

Jake ultimately flagged down a stranger, and the stranger called 911 to tell dispatchers where Jake and Bettles were, at Northeast 111th Drive and Fargo Street in the Parkrose Heights neighborhood.

Police found Jake in the driver’s seat and Bettles’ body in the passenger seat.

He had a knife wound in one of his legs, but no bullet wound. Investigators quickly realized there had been no shooting.

Jake originally was charged with murder for “intentionally” causing Bettles’ death. Jake pleaded guilty Feb. 5 to firstdegree manslaughter for “recklessly” causing the death. Multnomah County Circuit Judge Eric Bergstrom accepted Jake’s plea.

Girt said Bettles could have survived if he had received immediate medical attention. The medical examiner estimated it took 10 to 15 minutes for Bettles to die.

“It did not have to be a fatal wound,” Girt said.

In agreeing to a plea deal, Girt said her office took into account that Jake was clearly confused when police encoun-

tered him. He staggered, spoke with a slur and passed out in the back of a patrol car.

Girt said there was no evidence that Jake held any animosity toward Bettles or that he tried to cover-up evidence, such as the knife that was found in Jake’s car, Girt said.

Jake also agreed to three police interviews in a 24-hour period, Girt said.

Several members of Bettles’ family spoke at the hearing, saying they struggle to come to terms with the loss of Bettles and not knowing why he’s gone.

March 2018

Test scores Continued from page 10A

it is more difficult and perhaps don’t get as much support as they need. It takes more time to truly understand math concepts.”

The overall graduation rate for PSD was 83 percent, but the graduation rate for Native American students was 53.7 percent. (Last year the graduation rate for Native Americans in the Pendleton School District was about 78 percent.)

Ninety percent of Native American students at Pendleton High School graduated, but the overall rate was pulled down by the 25 percent graduation mark at Hawthorne Alternative School and the 36 percent rate at Nixyaawii Community School.

The numbers, according to Yoshioka, can be deceptive for smaller schools.

The graduation rates are based on four-year “cohorts,” which counts any student enrolled in a school

Letter to editor as a freshman, sophomore or junior, even if that student drops out.

Take Nixyaawii for example. This year nine of 12 seniors graduated, which would look like a 75 percent graduation rate.

However, when based on a four-year cohort, it looks very different. Of 20 students who enrolled at some point during the four-year cohort, only seven of them graduated. That means 13 dropped out at some point in those four years and did not re-enroll anywhere else.

If they had enrolled at another school they would not have counted in the Nixyaawii rates.

Yoshioka noted the five-year completion rate for Nixyaawii is 83 percent. That means students that are one or two credits shy of meeting graduation requirements are taking the necessary steps to earn a diploma or a GED. (One Nixyaawii student who didn’t have enough credits to graduate in 2017 finished in the summer.)

Continued from page 7A

Round-Up, shell dresses, fully beaded outfits that I used at the Longhouse for Root Feast and other celebrations.

There were bags of new beads, buckskins, thread, materials, a whole bunch of my stuff I had accumulated in the years I was there – 15 crazy years.

In the summer of 2015 when this happened I moved on.

My life was a complete mess after that let me tell you. Since then it hasn’t been any better. I’ve been in and out of places including my own apartment in 2016 and with my youngest son and his girlfriend in 2017.

I was homeless for a while but now I’m living with friends and things are better.

To my friends, I want to tell you I have lost the items in one of these houses while I was getting my “small cottage industry” started up.

My actions to cope with my loss of my family members atway Idz, atway Cheryl M. Wilson, may they rest in peace.

Please forgive me and accept my apologies.

Ada May Patrick

“That’s encouraging,” Yoshioka said.

Happy Birthday Beautiful!

Mama & all of us from Oregon Love & Miss you!

VICTORY & FREEDOM IN CHRIST For the LORD your God is a merciful and compassionate God; He will not fail you, nor destroy you, nor forget the covenant with your fathers which He swore to them ~ Deuteronomy 4:31 My name is Leanne Frank and my life today is proof that God’s grace is limitless! I was an alcoholic and meth addict for five years. I felt alone and without hope. After two years clean, I was forever changed when Christians shared the gospel of Jesus Christ with me.

Today, I have friends who are treasures to my heart, a newly built home, a job, coworkers, and kids who follow the Lord.

Jesus has been so good and kind to me!

I encourage my native people to put their hope in the Living God! Cast your cares on Him! Live in obedience to Him! Advice from others with human knowledge did not save me, putting my hope in these things is what led me to addiction in the first place. Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God saved me! No one has ever said that following Jesus led them to addiction and self-destruction.

His will for you is pleasing and perfect.

I want my people to know there is hope!

If you are addicted, hurting, tired, or alone come to the altar and receive peace and the joy that I have! Joy that comes only from Jesus Christ, the risen Savior! I praise His name because He alone has given me victory and freedom.

Leanne Frank LeanneFrank@outlook.com CTUIR Member Paid advertisement

March 2018

Confederated Umatilla Journal

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Confederated Umatilla Journal

March 2018

News & Sports The monthly newspaper of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation ~ Pendleton, Oregon

Section

B

March 2018

NCS girls finish one shy of perfect Seniors’ unbeaten streak ends at 56 with second place at state

Nixyaawii Community School’s Golden Eagles basketball team, which compiled a two-year record of 56-1, a state championship last year and a trip to the title game March 3, was led by this senior foursome of Milan Schimmel, Kaitlynn Melton, EllaMae Looney and Mary Stewart. The foursome has played basketball together since they were little girls in grade school.

CUJ Photo/Dallas Dick

CUJ Photo/Dallas Dick

The Nixyaawii Community School Golden Eagles girls’ basketball team took second place in the Oregon Class 1A State Championships March 3 in Baker City. The team, which was 28-1 this year, included, front row kneeling from left, Tyanna Van Pelt, Adilia Hart, MacKenzie Kiona, Milan Schimmel with trophy, EllaMae Looney, and Lark Moses; and back row from left, Assistant Coach Jessica Azure, Alyssa Tonasket, Ivory Herrera, Assistant Coach Desiree Maddern, Ermia Butler, Kylie Mountainchief, Susie Patrick, Tristalynn Melton, Kaitlynn Melton, and Head Coach Jeremy Maddern. Not pictured: Mary Stewart.

Class 1A State Championship NCS girls fall in title game 56-54 Country Christian stuns Golden Eagles with 10-0 run in final 2:36 By the CUJ MISSION – Two years without a loss and a second state title on the line, an eight-point lead with twominutes and 45 seconds to go, and then those final twoand-a-half minutes without a bucket.

It was a stunning heartbreaker for the Nixyaawii Community School (NCS) Golden Eagles who had never trailed after the first couple of minutes in a game for the last two years, much less faced the possibility of a loss.

As Nixyaawii fans sat slack jawed, Country Christian (CC) came storming back to steal a second straight championship and a second straight undefeated season, 56-54, in the Oregon Class 1A State Championship Tournament in Baker City March 3.

It would have been the first time any team had gone back-to-back as undefeated state champions. Instead, the Golden Eagles finished second with a two-year record of 56-1.

At the 3:46 mark senior EllaMae Looney canned a three-pointer to make it 52-44 and with 2:45 to go Ermia Butler took a pass under the basket from senior Milan Schimmel for a shot off the glass to keep the margin at eight, 54-46.

But Country Christian outscored Nixyaawii 10-0 in the final 2:36 after Schimmel, an NCS unanimous selection to the tournament all-star team, picked up her fifth foul and had to watch the rest of the game from the bench.

“It was tough at the end,” said Schimmel, who scored 13 and grabbed nine rebounds. “I got the foul and dang.

The game ended and the Nixyaawiii Community School Golden Eagles girls prepared to shake hands with Country Christian players.

From left, the NCS team included, Mary Stewart, EllaMae Looney, Milan Schimmel, Ermia Butler, Tyanna Van Pelt, Tristalynn Melton, Lark Moses, Kaitlynn Melton, Susie Patrick, Adilia Hart, Alyssa Tonasket, and assistant coach Desiree Maddern.

Nixyaawii Community School players, coaches and fans reacted emotionally after the Golden Eagles girls lost the state championship game, 56-54, to the Country Christian Crusaders March 3 in Baker City. The loss halted Nixyaawii’s win streak at 56 games. At left, Ivory Herrera, Ermia Butler, and Desiree Maddern are shown after the game ended.

State Championship on page 5B CUJ Photos/Phinney

There was emotion on the court as well. Here senior Kaitlynn Melton, 20, demonstrates her best screening technique on Country Christian’s Anna Farmer. It gave NCS guard Mary Stewart the chance to dribble to the basket in the second half of the title game.

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Confederated Umatilla Journal

‘Everything we do on and off the court we do for the community.

We know we represent the community and our families as native people. We played hard and we gave our best effort and it was a tough loss.’

- Milan Schimmel March 2018

Class 1A State Championship

CUJ Photos/Dallas Dick

Nixyaawii Community School seniors Mary Stewart, 13, and EllaMae Looney, 32, can only watch from half court as Country Christian’s Mollie Lewandowski gets ready to make the game winning shot in the Oregon Class 1A state championship game in Baker City March 3. Stewart and Looney inexplicably ran into each other on the final play of the game.

Kaitlynn Melton, one of four seniors on the Nixyaawii Community School girls basketball team, puts a shot up over Country Christian’s Sierra Ross.

March 2018

NCS Coach Jeremy Maddern, left, shows as much emotion as anyone else in the crowd during action at the Oregon Class 1A state championship game in Baker City March 3. The Nixyaawii Community School finished second.

Confederated Umatilla Journal

3B

Class 1A State Tournament NCS girls blast Damascus Christian, Powder Valley in early state games BAKER CITY – To get to the championship, where they knew they should be, the Nixyaawii Community School girls made quick work of Damascus Christian, 74-30, and Powder Valley, 52-23, to win their 55th and 56th games in a row.

First up was poor Damascus Christian, which to their credit put up a fight in the first quarter and even the first half, trailing 30-19 heading into the third quarter.

But Nixyaawii outscored Damascus 28-4 in that third frame and led by 35 with the final eight minutes to play.

Milan Schimmel, named Player of the Game, had 19 points on 7-for-14 shooting with nine rebounds and six steals. Mary Stewart added 17 points and seven steals.

Kaitlyn Melton scored 14 points and pulled down eight boards. And junior Ermia Butler had a double-double with 12 points and just as many rebounds, including eight offensive boards.

MacKenzie Kiona, Lark Moses, and Tyanna Van Pelt each canned three pointers. EllaMae Looney had a tough shooting night and scored just two points, but pulled down four rebounds. Tristalynn Melton added one point.

This time Nixyaawii jumped out on Powder Valley, trying to establish a tone early. It was the fourth time the two teams have met. At district, Powder Valley put a bit of a scare into the Golden Eagles, trailing by just five heading into the fourth quarter.

But at state, Kaitlynn Melton made a free throw before Stewart hit back-toback threes, then dished to Schimmel to go up 9-0 with 4:35 left in the first quarter.

But those pesky Badgers, one of three Old Oregon League teams at the state tournament (Joseph), came back to trail by just six at the end of the quarter, 12-6.

By halftime, however, Stewart and Schimmel made it clear that Nixyaawii was heading to the championship. Before you knew it the Golden Eagles were up 23-8 with the second quarter just half over.

Schimmel ended up with 19 points (8-for-9 from the free throw line) and 11 rebounds and earned Player of the Game honors. Stewart scored 16 with five steals.

After that, Van Pelt was 3-for-3 for six points, Butler scored four and grabbed eight rebounds, and Tristalynn Melton added two.

“We always feel like if we can jump on a team, especially this team, we make sure they know we’re the better team,” said Coach Jeremy Maddern. “We were a little slow in the first half, but we cranked up the defense in the second half. The goal was to win every quarter and we did that.”

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Story, photos by Wil Phinney

NCS senior Kaitlynn Melton greets Powder Valley Badgers players before their semi-final game March 2 at the state tournament in Baker City. It was the fourth time Nixyaawii and Powder Valley have faced off this year and it was the fourth win for the Golden Eagles.

Mary Stewart scored 16 points and had five steals and four rebounds against Powder Valley March 2 at the Oregon Class 1A state basketball championships in Baker City.

Milan Schimmel scored 19 points, going 8-for-9 from the free throw line, and pulled down 11 rebounds against Powder Valley March 2 at Baker City.

Schimmel was named Player of the Game against Powder Valley and against Damascus Christian.

Confederated Umatilla Journal

March 2018

Class 1A State Championship

CUJ Photos/Phinney

Nixyaawii seniors Mary Stewart and Milan Schimmel hug as the end of their high school basketball careers come to a close at the Oregon Class 1A State Tournament in Baker City. Stewart and Schimmel were the Golden Eagles’ top ball handlers and scorers all year long. Both were unanimous selections to the all-tournament team.

Nixyaawii Community School Athletic Director Aaron Noisey consoles senior Kaitlynn Melton after the Golden Eagles girls’ basketball team was defeated in the state championship, 56-54, by Country Christian. The loss ended a 56-game winning streak for the Nixyaawii team that dated back to 2015 and included the 2017 State Championship.

State championship Continued from page 2B

It was my fifth. I didn’t know what to do except watch. I knew what was happening. They wanted it. I could see they definitely wanted it.”

Six hands slapped at Mary Stewart, another unanimous all-star selection, as she tried to move the ball toward the basket in those final two minutes.

“It didn’t come out the way we wanted, but just because we didn’t win second’s not bad,” said Stewart, who scored 28 in the game. “We wanted to bring attention to our school and we did that. Fifty-six and one isn’t bad.”

Holding that eight-point edge, the last five possessions for Nixyaawii went turnover, foul, turnover, foul, and a missed free throw.

Country Christian’s run included two made free throws on the Schimmel foul, then a steal, a made free throw, another steal, and another made free throw to make the score 54-50.

Then CC’s Anna Farmer hit a jumper before Mary Stewart missed a free throw with 1:01 remaining. CC’s Meghan McGrath rebounded and five seconds later Mollie Lewandowski, the third unanimous all-star who scored 26 points and raked in 10 boards, scored to tie the game for the fourth time.

The clock ticked down until Stewart drove to the basket, but the ball couldn’t find the hole and Sarah Phillips rebounded with 10 seconds left.

CC inbounded and as if by fate Stewart

March 2018

Milan Schimmel, number 24, and Mary Stewart, number 13, on the right, were unanimous selections to the U.S. Bank/Les Schwab Tires All-Tournament Team at the 2018 OSAA Class 1A Basketball State Championships in Baker City in March. Other all-tournament selections included Megan Bingham, a junior from Powder Valley; Alexis Sykora, a senior from Joseph; and Mollie Lewandowski, a senior and another unanimous pick from Country Christian who is still in uniform.

and Looney banged into each other and both fell to the floor as the ball moved up the court. Lewandowski scored uncontested with 2.7 seconds to play.

“I just remember running and we fell to the floor,” said Looney. She made the shot and I said ‘Oh my god.’ I was so made because I was trying to run down the court.”

On the inbounds Stewart threw up a desperation shot that missed the basket

and started the tears.

NCS Coach Jeremy Maddern admitted his squad was rattled and flustered at the end but said there was nobody to blame.

“We didn’t hit our shots, we didn’t execute,” he said. “Regardless of how many times you’ve been here kids are kids and they get nervous.”

Maddern said he was most disappointed that his four seniors won’t be back.

“I’m upset that they won’t be in the gym next year,” he said. “I’m only said that these four great kids won’t be there next year.”

Kaitlynn Melton, one of the four seniors on the squad, called it a heartbreaking loss.

“I’ve played with these girls since I was a little kid, my whole life. They’re like my sisters … Mary, Milan, EllaMae. We were all together at Cay-Uma-Wa (Head Start),” Melton said.

Maddern has been Melton’s coach for four years and led them to two undefeated seasons until their final game as seniors.

“Our freshmen year we were awful.

We didn’t make it to district and look at us now,” Melton said.

Looney said her family called it a bad dream.

“After the game I wasn’t really, like, made or anything. I was a little bit sade because it’s our last game. I wanted to win because had that goal to be undefeated with two state championships, but then again we made history and I’m thinking no other team is going to be able to break

Confederated Umatilla Journal

our record,” Looney said.’

Melton and Schimmel both had fond words for the community that’s supported them during their basketball years at NCS. “Without the support we wouldn’t be here,” Melton said. “The fans are family too, just like my teammates. They all supported us and that’s something we can never repay.”

Said Schimmel, “Everything we do on and off the court we do for the community. We know we represent the community and our families as native people. We played hard and we gave our best effort and it was a tough loss.

OSAA / U.S. Bank / Les Schwab Tires Class 1A Oregon State Girls Basketball Championship COUNTRY CHRISTIAN 56, NIXYAAWII 54 NIXYAAWII (28-0) Mary Stewart 9-21 5-7 28; Milan Schimmel 5-16 2-4 13; EllaMae Looney 2-4 0-0 6; Ermia Butler 2-7 0-0 4; Kylie Mountain Chief 1-2 0-0 2; Kaitlynn Melton 0-2 1-6 1; Tristalynn Melton 0-2 0-0 0; Tyanna Van Pelt 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 19-54 8-17 54.

COUNTRY CHRISTIAN (25-4) Mollie Lewandowski 10-19 6-7 26; Meghan McGrath 5-8 0-0 13; Sarah Phillips 3-3 1-3 7; Katie Sandberg 2-5 0-0 4; Kendall Halverson 1-3 0-0 3; Anna Farner 1-4 1-1 3; Debby Grandle 0-6 0-0 0; Sierra Ross 0-3 0-0 0; Madison Halverson 0-0 0-0 0.

Totals 22-51 8-11 56.

Nixyaawii......................... 17 14 15 8 - 54 Country Christian............. 19 13 8 16 - 56 3-point goals--Nixyaawii 8-21 (Mary Stewart 5-10; EllaMae Looney 2-3; Milan Schimmel 1-5; Tristalynn Melton 0-2; Ermia Butler 0-1), Country Christian 4-9 (Meghan McGrath 3-4; Kendall Halverson 1-1; Katie Sandberg 0-1; Debby Grandle 0-3).

Fouled out--Nixyaawii-Milan Schimmel, Country ChristianNone.

Rebounds--Nixyaawii 28 (Milan Schimmel 9), Country Christian 42 (Meghan McGrath 12).

Assists--Nixyaawii 8 (Milan Schimmel 5), Country Christian 10 (Anna Farner 6). Total fouls--Nixyaawii 15, Country Christian 14. Technical fouls--Nixyaawii-None, Country Christian-None.

Moda Health Players of the Game: Mary Stewart, Nixyaawii; Mollie Lewandowski, Country Christian

5B

Class 1A State Tournament Boys didn’t shoot single free throw in opener against Triad BAKER CITY – The state tournament was trimmed to two games for the upstart Nixyaawii Community School Golden Eagles boys’ basketball team, which dropped its first two games at the Oregon Class 1A Championships here March 1 and 2.

The boys lost a heartbreaker, 40-38, to Triad from Klamath Falls in a game in which Nixyaawii did not shoot a single free throw.

Triad went to the line 10 times and made four free throws in a game that ended on a last second bucket.

Tied at 38 with only seconds to play, a Triad player weaved his way end-to-end and laid the ball up off the glass at the buzzer.

Nixyaawii led after the first quarter and the two teams were tied at halftime 18-18. Triad lead by three at the end of the third quarter and the Golden Eagles outscored the Timberwolves 1312 in the final stanza.

Magi Moses led the team with 12 points, scoring 10 in the second half. He was named Player of the Game. Mick Schimmel scored 10, Deven Barkley 7, Quanah Picard 4, Noah Enright 3 before he injured his knee, and Dazon Sigo 2.

CUJ Photos/Phinney

Nixyaawii Community School sophomore Mick Schimmel flies around Hosanna Christian defender Will Maupin, 32, and over Nick Morris, 13, in the Golden Eagles 50-64 consolation loss on March 2 at the Oregon Class 1A State Tournament in Baker City.

23-5 season ends for NCS boys with consolation loss BAKER CITY – The season came to close for the Nixyaawii Community School Golden Eagles with a 64-50 loss to Hosanna Christian in an 8 a.m. consolation game at the Oregon Class 1A State Championships here March 2.

NCS finished the season with a 24-5 record as one of the best eight teams in the state.

Nixyaawii played the game without two starters – senior Noah Enright who continued to have nerve pain in a knee he injured during a state play-in game in February and junior Dazon Sigo, who hyper-extended his knee against Triad a day earlier.

Coach Shane Rivera went with a six-man rotation that included junior Deven Barkley, sophomores Mike Schimmel and Quanah Picard, and three freshmen – Magi Moses, Tyasin Burns, and Moses Moses. (Mick Schimmel was named Player of the Game for Nixyaawii.)

After falling behind 10-0 to a much older Hosanna Christian team, the Golden Eagles fought back to within single digits three times only to have the Lions stretch the lead with one of their nine three-pointers.

Barkley with 20 and Schimmel with 19 led all scorers, but Hosanna Christian had four players in

6B

double figures with 17, 14, 14, and 10.

The Golden Eagles tied it at 13-5 with a Mick Schimmel and at 16-8 with a Barkley three. It was nine-point edge with 3:29 to play in the second quarter when Schimmel hit a three from the top right circle to make it 32-23.

In the fourth quarter with 5:19 to play Barkley hit another three to make it 55-44, but that’s as close at NCS would get.

Coach Shane Rivera said Hosanna Christian came out as if they were playing in the 8 p.m. championship with a pair of threes and a frenetic defense.

His Golden Eagles, on the other hand, were rubbing sleep from their eyes.

“They were ready to go and we were still waking up,” Rivera said.

While Nixyaawii was sporting youth, Hosanna Christian was sporting beards – and physical maturity.

Rivera said physical conditioning should start now for his squad, which he has high hopes for.

“Next year for sure,” Rivera said. “This is a great experience going forward. There’s no guarantee we’re coming back, but I like our chances.”

Confederated Umatilla Journal

Tyasin Burns, a freshman point guard for the Nixyaawii Community School Golden Eagles, splits a pair of Hosanna Christian defenders, including Michael Irvine, 40.

March 2018

Class 1A State Tournament

CUJ Photo/Dallas Dick

Quanah Picard, a sophomore for the Nixyaawii Community School Golden Eagles, strides out ahead of freshmen teammates Tyasin Burns, 23, Magi Moses, 40, and Moses Moses, 2, in the team’s final game of the season against Hosanna Christian at the Oregon Class 1A state tournament in Baker City. Defenders include senior Andrew Breedlove, 21, junior Jacob Moore, 4, and senior Silas Sanchas, 2.

CUJ Photo/Dallas Dick

CUJ Photo/Dallas Dick

Deven Barkley, a junior at Nixyaawii Community School, dishes a pass between Country Christian deenders, including Waylon Cole, 30, during their semi-final game March 2 in Baker City.

March 2018

Confederated Umatilla Journal

Freshman Magi Moses, who was named Nixyaawii’s Player of the Game in the team’s opening contest against Triad on March 1, is guarded by a pair of Country Christian defenders, including Landon Watah, an Indian from Pit River Reservation in California, and Andrew Breedlove, one of two Crusaders who sported beards.

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Moses Moses glides to the basket ahead of a Days Creek defender in the sub-state game Saturday, Feb. 24, at Sunridge Middle School in Pendleton.

With the win, the Nixyaawii Community School Golden Eagles secured one of eight spots in the Class 1A State Tournament at Baker City.

Freshman Tyasin Burns ran the offense at the point for much of the game and made two back-to-back assists in the first half. He took the ball to the hole when the opportunity presented itself.

Boys dam Days Creek to win state spot Nixyaawii breaks open close game with 14-1 run in final frame PENDLETON – The Nixyaawii Community School boys’ basketball team held Days Creek to a bucket in the first quarter and a single point in the fourth quarter for a 44-29 victory to secure a spot in the Class 1A state tournament in Baker City.

The sub-state play-in game took place in front of a packed gym at Sunridge Middle School in Pendleton. The boys played after the Nixyaawii girls crushed Camas Valley 69-15 in their sub-state contest.

In spite of the defense in the first quarter, it was a threepoint game after three quarters because Days Creek outscored Nixyaawii by six over the course of the second and third periods.

It wasn’t a pretty game. The Golden Eagles committed 21 turnovers and didn’t shoot particularly well.

“We didn’t find a rhythm at all,” Coach Shane Rivera said.

“Maybe it was the atmosphere.

Offensively it wasn’t going our way. But we can fix turnovers.”

In the fourth quarter, after Dazon Sigo made a free throw, Mick Schimmel, who played sparingly after being saddled with two first quarter fouls, hit a three from the top of circle with 6:04 left to stretch the lead to 6. At the 2:06 mark, Tyasin Burns stole the ball, pushed it ahead to Schimmel who made a jumper from the elbow and the lead was seven. After that Days Creek, trying to stop the clock, sent the Golden Eagles to the line over and over. Nixyaawii made half their free throws – seven of 14 in the quarter.

Quanah Picard hit three of four in the quarter.

Picard had nine points and five rebounds; Schimmel had nine points and four rebounds; Sigo had eight points and six rebounds; Deven Barkley had six points, four rebounds, and four assists; Moses Moses had

Nixyaawii senior Noah Enright is assisted to the locker room by his sister, Cree, after an injury against Days Creek.

six points; Noah Enright scored four points before leaving the game with an injury, and Burns had two points.

Nixyaawii sophomore Mick Schimmel dishes the ball to a teammate in the Golden Eagles’ win over Days Creek in Pendleton Feb. 24.

The boys’ win gave them a 13-1 record and a spot among the state’s best eight teams heading into the Class 1A state tournament in Baker City, Feb. 28-March 3.

Dazon Sigo goes up to score over a Days Creek defender in the second half of Nixyaawii’s sub-state game Saturday, Feb. 24, at Sunridge Middle School in Pendleton. Nixyaawii won 44-29 after leading by just two, 30-28 at the end of the third quarter.

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Confederated Umatilla Journal

CUJ Photos /Phinney

March 2018

Girls stomp Camas Valley

PENDLETON – It was 23-0 at the end of the first quarter so there wasn’t much to shout about in Nixyaawii’s 69-15 win over Camas Valley Feb. 17 at Sunridge Middle School.

The win secured an expected spot for the Golden Eagles girls in the Class 1A state tournament in Baker City.

Coach Jeremy Maddern sat most of his starters midway through the second quarter when Nixyaawii held a 30-2 lead.

Milan Schimmel led the team with 24 points, nine rebounds, five assists, five steals and three blocked shots.

Mary Stewart had 14 points, eight rebounds, seven assists and six steals. Kaitlynn Melton had eight points and seven rebounds.

Freshman MacKenzie Kiona came off the bench and hit two three-pointers and scored eight points in about two minutes.

After that Ermia Butler had four, Trystalynn Melton had 3, Lark Moses 3, Tyanne Van Pelt 2, Ivory Herrera 2 and Kylie Mountainchief 1.

Senior Kaitlynn Melton got tied up, but won the wrestling match against Camas Valley’s Natasha Hibdon in the second half of Nixyaawii’s romp in the sub-state contest Saturday, Feb. 24, at the gym at Sunridge Middle School in Pendleton.

EllaMae Looney, one of the four senior starters for Nixyaawii’s defending state championship team, goes to the hoop ahead of Camas Valley’s Bella Pool and Joy Deross, in the Golden Eagle’s lopsided 69-15 win. The victory sent the girls into the Class 1A state tournament in Baker City.

Left photo: Milan Schimmel drives around Camas Valley’s Alissa Vradenburg to the basket in front of a packed house at Sunridge Middle School where the Nixyaawii girls and boys played sub-state game against Camas Valley and Days Creek, respectively.

Right photo: Mary Stewart rises above defenders to shoot the basketball in Nixyaawii’s win over Camas Valley in the play-in game at Sunridge Middle School on Saturday, Feb. 24.

CUJ Photos /Phinney

March 2018

Confederated Umatilla Journal

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OOL Champs

Nixyaawii Community School Old Oregon League Champions, left to right mixed rows: Assistant Coach Alan Crawford, Quanah Picard, Mick Schimmel kneeling, Coach Shane Rivera, Reuben Bronson in hat, Jace Ashley, Dazon Sigo, Wilbur Oatman, Noah Enright, Deven Barkley, Magi Moses, Moses Moses, Tyasin Burns, Assistant Coach Ken Mayfield, Luis Ortega kneeling, and Assistant Coach Aaron Ashley.

Boys best Powder Valley for district title Eyes on the prize, Quanah Picard carries the ball to the basket against Powder Valley’s Dawson Smith in the title game for the Old Oregon League in Baker City on Feb. 17. Nixyaawii Community School won the game, 56-47. Picard is a sophomore on the young Golden Eagles squad.

CUJ photos and stories

by Wil Phinney

Magi Moses put the ball through the defender’s arms for a clutch bucket in the fourth quarter against Powder Valley in the district title game.

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BAKER CITY – Dazon Sigo shot lights out to lead the Nixyaawii Golden Eagles to the Old Oregon League championship in front of a raucous crowd at Baker High School Feb. 17.

Sigo, a junior post, was six for seven from the field including three-for-three from long range to lead all scorers with 15 points. Freshman Magi Moses, who also was six for seven from the field, added 14 points, and sophomore Mick Schimmel, named OOL Player of the Year, added 13.

Nixyaawii trailed at the end of the first quarter after Tanner Eubanks, who led Powder Valley with 12, hit a pair of threes, but took control in the second period when Moses went inside. He made a baby hook at the buzzer to give the squad a 31-23 lead at half.

In the third, a pair of threes from Sigo and a trey from Noah Enright stretched the lead to 13 at the end of the quarter. In the fourth, Moses posted up for a bucket and his free throw made it 53-37 with 3:55 to play.

Schimmel added seven rebounds while Moses pulled down five. Enright had five points and four rebounds. Quanah Picard had four points, Deven Barkley had three points and four rebounds, and Tyasin Burns added two points.

Nixyaawii senior Noah Enright cuts his piece of the net after the Golden Eagles won the Old Oregon League title in Baker City.

Nixyaawii can always count on sophomore Deven Barkley to drive to the hoop when the lane opens. Here he takes the ball up with his left hand against a Powder Valley defender in the first half of the Golden Eagles’ win in the Old Oregon League championship played in Baker City on Feb. 17.

Confederated Umatilla Journal

March 2018

OOL Champs

Nixyaawii Community School Old Oregon League Champions, left to right mixed rows: EllaMae Looney kneeling, Coach Jeremy Maddern, Alyssa Tonasket, Kaitlynn Melton kneeling, Mary Stewart, Ivory Herrera, Tristalynn Melton, Tyanna Van Pelt, Kylie Mountainchief, Adilia Hart, MacKenzie Kiona kneeling, Susie Patrick, Milan Schimmel kneeling, Ermia Butler and Assistant Coach Desiree Maddern

Girls pushed, but bounce back against Badgers BAKER CITY – It was never really in doubt, but Powder Valley came as close as anyone has this year when they cut Nixyaawii’s lead to five at the end of three quarters in the Old Oregon League championship game Feb. 17 at Baker City.

The Nixyaawii Community School girls kept their unbeaten mark intact, coming alive in the fourth quarter with an 11-0 run and a final 18-point victory, 71-53, for their second straight OOL title.

Nixyaawii saw a 17-point lead dwindle to seven in the third quarter but led 49-44 heading into the fourth.

Immediately, the girls scored five points on set plays. They went inside to Tyanna Van Pelt for a shot in the paint. Then an inbounds play found Milan Schimmel wide open for a baseline three that hit nothing but net. An 11-0 run was capped by another three from Schimmel, who led all scorers with 28. A few seconds later, Schimmel, who was named OOL Player of the Year, stole the ball with 4:58 left and shoved it

ahead to Kaitlynn Melton for an easy lay-in to give Nixyaawii a 16-point lead and the game was all but over.

The Golden Eagles worked the clock with Mary Stewart, who had 27 points on 10-for-14 shooting, and Schimmel finding Ermia Butler under the basket twice for buckets and a 20-point lead with less than two minutes to play.

“We haven’t been in that situation before,” said Jeremy Maddern, who was named OOL Coach of the Year. “We hit a couple of shots and the lid finally came off the basket. We ran our sets and got some good looks.”

The Golden Eagles lead 26-12 after the first quarter and 35-24 at half, but were outscored 20-12 in the third quarter, before outlasting Powder Valley 22-9 in the final frame.

Following Schimmel with 28 points and 11 rebounds, Stewart had 27 points and four rebounds, Melton had six points and 13 boards, Butler had four points, and Tristalynn Melton, Van Pelt and Kylie Mountainchief each had two points.

Nixyaawii Community School Head Coach Jeremy Maddern was named Old Oregon League Coach of the Year and his four seniors received top honors as well. From left, Milan Schimmel was named OOL Player of the Year; Kaitlynn Melton; Mary Stewart was a first-team all-star; and EllaMae Looney was an honorable mention OOL all-star.

March 2018

Milan Schimmel, who was named Old Oregon League Player of the Year, drives around a Powder Valley defender in the the conference championship game in Baker City.

OOL names boys, girls all-star teams BAKER CITY – Nixyaawii Community School placed eight players – four girls and four boys – on Old Oregon League all-star teams, which were announced at the district tournament in Baker City in February.

All four seniors on the NCS girls’ team were recognized, including Milan Schimmel, who was named the OOL Player of the Year.

Joining Schimmel was Mary Stewart, who was last year’s Player of the Year.

Kaitlynn Melton was named to the second team and EllaMae Looney received honorable mention.

On the boys’ side, sophomore Mick Schimmel repeated as the OOL Player of the Year.

Fellow sophomore Quanah Picard earned second team recognition.

Junior Deven Barkley, who arguably deserved a higher spot on the list, and senior Noah Enright, received honorable mention.

OOL All-Stars Girls First team – Milan Schimmel and Mary Stewart, both seniors, Nixyaawii; Alexis Sykora, senior, Joseph; Sam Kerns, senior, and Megan Bingham, junior, Powder Valley; Sadie Wilson, senior, Griswold (Helix).

Second team – Marti Huff, senior, Echo; Sabrina Albee, freshman, Joseph; Maggie Ledbetter, senior, Cove; Kaitlynn Melton, senior, Nixyaawii; Kim Williams, senior, Powder Valley; Emma Fehrenbacker, senior, Griswold.

Honorable mention – EllaMae Looney, senior, Nixyaawii; Josie Ash, senior, Powder Valley; Emma Hite, junior, Joseph; Kailey Mize, senior, Griswold; Riley Ferre, junior, Wallowa; Sophia Pettit, junior, Cove; Sammy Polluck, freshman, Pine Eagle.

OOL All-Stars Boys First team – Mick Schimmel, sophomore, Nixyaawii; Christopher Nobles, junior, Wallowa; Caevan Murray, senior, Joseph; Hunter Davis and Tanner Eubanks, both seniors, Powder Valley.

Second team – Morgan Marcum, senior, Echo; Quanah Picard, sophomore, Nixyaawii; Tucker Gulick, junior, Pine Eagle; Dawson Smith, senior, Powder Valley; Tyler Homan, junior, Joseph.

Honorable mention – Deven Barkley, junior, and Noah Enright, senior, Nixyaawii; Omar Benites, junior, Powder Valley; Chase Murray, freshman, Joseph; Emilio Ortiz, senior, and Dawson Gaertner, sophomore, both of Cove; Eli Sprenger, freshman, Griswold.

Confederated Umatilla Journal

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CUJ Sports Remodeling to begin in April at Recreation Center

Champions again

Contributed photo

The Cayuse Young Chiefs boys’ basketball team won its division at the ninth-annual “For the Love of the Game” tournament Feb. 10-11 in Hermiston. The Cayuse Young Chiefs played in the seventh-grade division, which included 14 other teams. The squad went 4-1 in the tournament. They lost to Sunnyside, Washington, on the first day, but came back through the bracket and beat Sunnyside, 51-34, in the championship game. They also beat teams from Hanford, Eugene, and Hermiston. In January, the Young Chiefs won their division for the third straight year at Pendleton’s Clash at the Border AAU tournament. Their competition included 15 teams from Tri-Cities, Yakima, Eugene, Walla Walla, Hermiston, Boise, Zillah, Sunnyside, Othello, and Lewiston. Coached by Jeremy Barkley, the Cayuse Young Chiefs include 11 boys enrolled with the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation and one enrolled with the MHA Nation from North Dakota. The boys on the team include, bottom row from left, Dylan Abrahamson, Bear Moses, Saint Schimmel, manager Evan Minthorn, Tommy Moore and LeBron Bronson; and top row from left, Coach Jeremy Barkley, Chris Minthorn, Coyote Jackson, Lyle Soaring Eagle, Shane Rivera, Alyric Redcrane, Bryson Bronson and Aaron Barkley.

Pick-up 3-on-3 games on Fridays PENDLETON – Pick-up three-onthree basketball games are being played every Friday at the Pendleton Recreation Center on Southwest Dorion Avenue with a mini tournament played on the last Friday of each month, according to information from the Pendleton Parks and Recreation Department.

The courts are open for contests from 3:15-5 p.m. The activity is open to boys and girls ages 13-17. Teams are formed

MISSION – New locker and shower rooms, renovation of existing restrooms and the addition of another, and remodeling of the existing office area are the main components of the work planned in April at the Recreation Center on the Umatilla Indian Reservation.

Construction work should begin in mid-April after contracts are finalized, according to Scott Rogers at Wenaha Group, the owner representative for the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR).

The Recreation Center project, with a price tag of $800,000, is part of the $23 million Education Facility project planned on the Bowman property west of the new Yellowhawk Tribal Health Center. The $23 million also includes $288,000 for demolition of the current Cay-Uma-Wa Education Center once the new Education Facility is completed.

The renovation work at the Rec Center should be completed in late June in time for summer recreation activities, which are scheduled to begin the second week of July.

According to Rogers, the scope of work

for the base bid will include: Replacement of an existing classroom with new locker and shower rooms; Renovation of the existing office area; Renovation of existing restrooms; Addition of a restroom in an existing fitness room, and; Replacement of an existing rooftop unit (HVAC).

Based on results of the bidding process, alternative projects could include: Adding access controls on some select exterior doors; Repainting some existing exterior walls; Replacement of some select exterior doors with hollow metal doors with access control, and; Removal of existing decommissioned exhaust ducts in the gym (from the HVAC upgrade a few years ago) and patching the roof.

The CTUIR issued bid documents March 2 to seven pre-qualified general contractors. A non-mandatory site walk was planned March 14 and bids are due back on March 20.

based on who shows up.

For more information, contact Pendleton Parks and Recreation at 541-276-8100 or visit pendletonparksandrec.com. The office is at 865 Tutuilla Road next to Olney Cemetery and is open Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Participants can register online at the website. For the most up-to-the-minute information, “like” Pendleton Parks and Rec on Facebook.

Okinawan Karate classes offered through Pendleton Park and Rec PENDLETON – Classes in Okinawan Kemp Karate, a traditional martial art, are being offered by Sensei Lars Hansen through the Pendleton Parks and Recreation Program.

Participants meet Tuesdays and Thursdays. Beginners six and older meet from 5-5:30 p.m. and intermediates 10 and older meet from 5:30-6:30 p.m. at the Pendleton Recreation Center at 510 SW Dorion Avenue in Pendleton.

Cost for the program is $20 per month for beginners; $25 per month for intermediates.

Okinawan Kemp Karate classes are based on developing good human character, according to information from the Parks and Recreation Program.

“We use karate as a tool to make ourselves into better people,” the information states. “Because we don’t compete with others, children as well as older adults can learn and practice this art to become healthy in body and mind. We

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study katas, traditional Okinawan wood weapons, and calligraphy.”

According to the Parks and Rec info, Hansen has studied karate for more than 10 years and is a second degree black belt.

He is certified by a national board to teach this type of karate.

The per month registration fee is due the Thursday prior to the first class day of the month. There is a $20 shirt fee to get started. Participants can wear their own black sweats to start or purchase karate pants from the instructor, but yoga pants are not allowed.

For more information, contact Pendleton Parks and Recreation at 541-276-8100 or visit pendletonparksandrec.com. The office is at 865 Tutuilla Road next to Olney Cemetery and is open Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Participants can register online at the website. For the most up-to-the-minute information “like” Pendleton Parks and Rec on Facebook.

Sams looks to pass

CUJ Photos /Phinney

Dakota Sams, a freshman guard for Pendleton High School’s Buckaroo boys basketball team, looks to pass in a 50-46 loss Feb. 20 to Hermiston, which decided the Columbia River Conference championship. Pendleton moved on to beat Putnam, 60-39, in a play-in game Feb. 28, but was knocked out of a chance to go to the state tournament when they were bounced 58-40 by Thurston on March 3. The team finished 6-3 in conference play and 15-11 overall. The team was ranked 16th at the end of the year. Sams is the son of PHS assistant coach Ryan Sams.

Confederated Umatilla Journal

March 2018

CUJ Community News BOLSTER begins again MISSION – The Building Our Life Skills Employment and Readiness program will start taking applications March 12 with actual training beginning April 3.

Participation is for members of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR). After completing an application, participants will be added to an intake and orientation list on a first-come-first-served basis. Those who are interested in the program have been directed to bring CTUIR tribal ID, state ID and a Social Security Card.

The first group of participants who complete all necessary paperwork will attend an orientation at the Nixyaawii Governance Center March 29.

Tribal members who participate in the program will be paid a daily stipend for the four-week training, which is three days a week. Classes focusing on CPR and first aid will be administered, as well as on-the-job training offered through CTUIR Housing and Public Works departments. The first wave of participants will include two crews of five trainees for a total of 10 trainees. Work done through the training program will be performed outside in the maintenance areas for Public Works and Housing.

The training program is seasonal and will run in four-week increments until September. Unlike traditional jobs through the Tribe, the BOLSTER program requires no drug test or background check.

For more information contact the Department of Children and Family Services at 541-429-7300.

CTUIR raises women’s heart health awareness

CUJ photo/Miranda Vega Rector

CTUIR employees wore red Feb. 2 for National Wear Red Day to raise awareness about cardiovascular disease among women. From center to left are Aaron Worden, Jonni Spencer, Teddi Bronson, Sally Kosey, Andrea Rodriguez, Mal Hancock, Jennifer Karson Engum, Christina Barkley, Viola Tendler, Cami ElShoura, Melinda Alexander, Kristi Gartland, Leslie Cain, Mary Ann Rhoads, Toni Cordell and Cor Sams.

BOT meets new Pendleton school superintendent

By Wil Phinney of the CUJ

MISSION – Sensitivity was the main topic of discussion Feb. 14 when Chris Fritsch, Superintendent of Pendleton School District 16R, met with the Board of Trustees for the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR).

Fritsch, accompanied by CTUIR Education Department Director Modesta Minthorn, met with the BOT for the first time since he was hired last July.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Tribes and 16R has led to a “strong relationship,” Minthorn told the Board. The MOU calls for monthly meetings between staff from Pendleton and the CTUIR. Fritsch went through 16R’s five-year 2017-2022 Strategic Plan, which includes four goals – the first of which speaks specifically to Native American student needs.

Goal 1, “Pursuit of Instructional Excellence,” asks that all staff are “culturally competent” and have the “knowledge and skills to address the diverse needs” of students and families.

Ways by which accomplishing that goal can be measured, according to the Strategic Plan, include, specifically, “increasing the on-time graduation rate for Native American students by 5-7 percent each year” and “reducing the achievement gap on SBAC (Smarter Balance Assessment Consortium – state assessment tests for third through eighth graders, and 11th graders in math and reading) for Native American students by 3-5 percent each year.”

The CTUIR, through the Tribal Absenteeism Pilot Program at Washington Elementary School, sought to have analysis of data specific to Native American students. Further, the state of

March 2018

Oregon separates out Native American statistics in its effort to improve graduation rates and reduce the “achievement gap” between Native American students and the general population.

However, BOT Secretary Kat Brigham was concerned that the Pendleton School District goals’ measurables “branded” and “segregated” Native American students.

She said listing Native American students specifically could label them as “not smart enough” or mark them as unable to afford certain computer devices necessary for today’s education.

“I hope we’re not branding tribal students as not being smart enough or because they don’t have the right technology,” Brigham said. “I recognize some students need special help, but I don’t want to see them segregated.”

Brigham asked if any other ethnic groups were separated out in the school’s planning.

There are no other ethnic groups like Native Americans in Pendleton schools. But, Fritsch said, there are two other subgroups that are followed: students that live in poverty and students with special needs or who need special education assistance.

General Council Chair William Sigo IV, who has a background in education, told Fritsch sensitivity training is needed from “bus stop to bus stop.”

To catch the bus to Pendleton High School or Sunridge Middle School, students must be at the bus stop waiting, “regardless of the weather,” at 6:45 a.m., even though drivers might not show up until 7:10 a.m., Sigo said.

Superintendent on page 31B

Confederated Umatilla Journal

The new Superintendent told the BOT that new teachers in District 16R are required to take a three-hour tour at Tamastslikt. Also, the School District purchases a book of the teacher’s choice at the Tamastslikt book store.

“Is that all we should be doing? Probably not,” Fritsch said.

“We need to make sure the teachers understand the culture they are working with.”

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Athena-Weston School District hires high school principal ATHENA – The Athena-Weston School District has hired Rob Shell, current principal and athletic director at Elgin High School, as the new principal for Weston-McEwen High School for the 2018-19 school year.

The interim principal position was filled this school year by Jim Reger.

The district’s hiring process included a student-led interview panel and a staff Rob Shell interview panel. Superintendent Laure Quaresma said the district looks forward to having Shell as part of its administrative team.

“We know Rob’s background and experience in the high school setting will be great assets for our district, and we look forward to welcoming him into our community,” Quaresma said.

Shell was previously a history teacher and served in the U.S. Navy. He will start his job as Weston-McEwen’s principal on July 1, 2018.

rez rock friday 4-6 pm / sunday 12-2 p.m.

Family from several states gathered at the Nixyaawii Senior Center for Theda Scott’s retirement party as she leaves her position at Department of Children and Family Services. From back left is Kayeloni Scott, Akela Scott, Harold Scott, Theda Scott, Brenda Kemp, Wenona Scott, Adolph Laso, Yvonne Scott and Tyrone Wilson. From front left is Jay Sohappy holding Shayley Sohappy, Lynette Scott, Danielle Scott, Sharon Navarro and Doris Thompson.

CUJ photos by Jill-Marie Gavin

Senior Activities Coordinator retires MISSION - Theda Scott retired in February from the Department of Children and Family Services, where she worked for 12 years.

She worked as the Senior Activities Coordinator for eight of the 12 years.

Her family and friends held a retirement party with Mexican style food, a slideshow of photos and a handmade money tree for gift donations.

Scott thanked all of her guests for coming, many of whom spoke of her work with the program.

DCFS is currently advertising for the open position Scott has left behind while they gear up for this year’s travel.

Theda Scott shares a cake with Shayley Sohappy during her retirement party held at the Senior Center March 3.

Elders Advisory Committee approves 2018 trip schedule Handmade by us, Home baked by you

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MISSION – Since Theda Scott retired from the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) in February the search has been on for a new Senior Activities Coordinator.

The part-time position is being readvertised on www.ctuir.org, but the Elders Advisory Committee and DCFS are still working hard on the 2018 elders’ calendar of events.

The Elders Advisory Committee includes Chair Alan Crawford, Vice Chair Lorena Thompson, Treasurer Roberta Kipp and Secretary Adele Guyer.

At the Feb. 2 meeting the committee

Happy Birthday Jacob!

approved the dates and destinations for their 2018 trips. To participate in the trips elders must have a current participation form, which can be picked up at DCFS. For the first trip on May 2 the elders will head to Siletz, then June 8 to Nez Perce, July 9 to Grand Ronde, June 14 to Tulalip and Oct. 4 to Coeur d’Alene.

Sign-ups for the trips are now open and those who are unable to make it to the Senior Center can call the DCFS office at 541-429-7315. New participation forms and sign-up sheets are provided together at DCFS and are required for participation on the trips.

The Elders Advisory Committee will also provide Wednesday Movie Matinee passes, Farmer’s Market tokens, meat distribution, and craft events at the Senior Center.

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Confederated Umatilla Journal

March 2018

YOW! County embarks on year-long health endeavor PENDLETON – A year-long countywide effort to promote pre-existing community events that positively influence the health of residents and the environment will begin in April, according to Meghan Field, coordinator for the Umatilla County Public Health Department’s Year of Wellness.

Also known as YOW, the campaign will strive to increase community engagement at health-related events and programs throughout the county, according to Field.

“The effort is made to help promote healthy lifestyle choices that can be easily adapted by all county residents,” Field said in an email.

Field is an AmeriCorps VISTA working through the County Health Department coordinating YOW using information from previous work the department has identified from health assessments.

She is working closely with a number of individuals from several organizations across the county to help bring in perspectives outside of the health department.

“The different perspectives that they bring are ones I haven’t encountered before,” Field said in an email. Suggestions have been made to make calendars kid-friendly and easy to read by using graphics and make events accessible to people who can’t travel.

Organizations involved so far include Lifeways, Good Shepherd Hospital, Veterans Affairs, Pendleton Downtown Association, and Blue Mountain Community College. The Downtown Association and BMCC, Field said, have provided YOW with “outlets to be part of physically active and engaging events rather than typical health fairs.”

YOW begins in April and will continue through March of 2019 with a calendar of

Thank you letters THE CELEBRATION COMMUNITY, along with the Wednesday Night Culture Club, wishes to thank everyone who supported us in putting on the Valentine’s Day Pow-Wow making it a big success!

Thanks to our sponsors: The Saddle Restaurant, Yellowhawk Prevention, RDO, Cash and Carry, and Cayuse Technologies. Thanks to Fermore Craig Sr., Abel Matamoros and Curtis Bearchum for posting our flags and staff. And thanks to our whip man Andrew Wildbill.

A big shout out to Jan Jones, Linda Jones, Koko Hufford, Dave Kosey and Lori Gaines for preparing the dinner. Also a big thanks to our girls from culture class who baked and decorated the cakes, and to parents who provided food and cakes. Thank you community members who came to eat and have fun, listen to our drummers who did a great job, and watching our dancers. The large turnout of hand drummers - there were 10 hand drums contestants - provided great entertainment for everyone who attended.

Fun was had by all.

Celebration Committee and Wednesday Night Culture Class

Letters to the editor and thank you letters due on news deadline.

March 2018

events distributed in quarters “because we are constantly collecting community events months out in advance,” Fields said.

Each month will have a unique theme regarding a different facet of health. For example, the themes for the first quarter are Environmental Health in April, Physical Health in May and Nutrition in June.

A calendar can be picked up at a Umatilla County library, on the Umatillacountyyow.com website, Facebook (@ UCoHealthYOW), or at an event.

YOW representatives will be at as

many community events as possible, Field said. In the first quarter, YOW already plans to attend the following events: April 14 – Passport to Wellness in Pendleton at the Convention Center May 3 – Community Cleanup Day in Pilot Rock May 5 – Cinco de Mayo Festival in Hermiston at the Umatilla County Fairgrounds June 23 – Umatilla Landing Days in Umatilla Field said YOW is seeking support in financial donations or in-kind contribu-

tions from organizations and businesses.

The money raised will help cover costs of incentive prizes, printing, advertisements and materials.

People who donate their time, product, or money are listed as a sponsor under one of four tier options, Field said. Each sponsor tier gets certain perks, she said, such as advertising on media platforms and/or their logo on shirts and banners.

For more information, visit YOW online or contact Field at meghan.field@ umatillacounty.net, or at 541-278-5432, ext. 6354.

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Contributed photo

Tania Wildbill has joined “Dancing With Your Pendleton Stars” to raise money for the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation Department of Children and Family Services. If she wins April 7, the program will get an additional $2,000 from an event sponsor.

Spring Cleaning Artwork Sale March 2-30 Pendleton Art + Frame

Cherise Baker / Dena Summerfield 36 SW Court / Pendleton / 541-276-3617

www.pendletonartandframe.com / find on Facebook

EMPLOYEES OF THE MONTH!

Front Line Adam Minthorn, ATP Station Attendant Adam is a hard worker, does the job that is expected of him but will also do other duties that are asked of him. He always stays busy and on task.

Support Staff Riley Rosenberg, Warehouse Riley has always had a good attitude and is always helpful, he is a very hard worker and makes sure we are taken care of when we need anything from the warehouse.

Supervisor Carrie Simrell, Cage/Vault Lead Carrie’s job requires her to change hats, one day she is needed as a cage cashier, next day maybe supervising the cage, and another day supervising the vault.

She does a great job for the department. Keeps that happy face going.

Wildbill to dance for Tribes’ Children and Families programs MISSION – Local yoga instructor and entrepreneur Tania Wildbill will be joining the cast of Dancing with Your Pendleton Stars, presented by Community Action Program of East Central Oregon, on April 7.

Wildbill, owner of Wellness Wave, is scheduled to perform and raise money for the Department of Children and Family Services on the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation.

Wildbill said she signed on to participate in the event when the coordinator, Sally Brandsen, asked her to.

Each “celebrity” participant will be paired with a professional dancer. Wildbill said that although she went to La Guardia High School of the Arts in New York City and studied dance at Harkness School of Ballet, choreography is not her forte.

Wildbill taught Zumba dance and exercise classes briefly, but said she decided to stick to yoga because of her struggles with synchronized steps.

She said, “I’m awful with choreography so I stopped teaching Zumba and I always try to lead Cedric (her husband) rather than him leading me. Freestyle and improv are my best moves so I’m going to need a cheering squad April 7

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to get me through performing structured choreography.”

Also dancing in the event is Dale Primmer, Director of Umatilla County Community Justice; Jennifer Keeton, proprietor of Virgil’s at Cimmiyotti’s; Jerrod Dickerson, who works for Amazon AWS in Boardman; Jennifer Currin, partner at Corey Byler & Rew Law firm; and Tim McFetridge, manager of Banner Bank.

Besides DCFS, other charities chosen are Guardian Care Center, Pendleton Relief Nursery, East Oregon Rugby Club, Pendleton Children’s Museum, Cason’s Place, and Pendleton Animal Welfare Shelter.

Tickets are currently on sale and available at Pendleton Arts and Frame, Dave’s Chevron, Pendleton Grain Growers, in the DCFS office at Nixyaawii Governance Center, and also through Wildbill at Wildbill@wtechlink.us. The tickets are $20 each and the proceeds will go to support the CAPECO Food Bank.

Each contestant will raise money individually for the April 7 event and the winning dancer will earn a bonus $2,000 for their charity of choice.

The event begins at 7 p.m. at the Pendleton Vert auditorium and the doors open at 6:30 p.m.

Romans 12:9 Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good.

April CUJ ad deadline March 20

Confederated Umatilla Journal

March 2018

Throughout the month of MARCH

A boot full of cash

CUJ Photo/Phinney

Kristi Gartland, the Wellness Coordinator for the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, and Rob Burnside, CTUIR Fire Chief, hold a fire fighter’s boot filled with more than $660 contributed during a fundraising Heart Savers spaghetti luncheon on Valentine’s Day. The event fed 140 people in the Nixyaawii Governance Center. The money will go to support the Fireman’s Easter Egg Hunt, which will take place Saturday, March 31. Last year, it took more than five hours for eight firefighters and players from Dave’s 14U softball team to fill 5,000 eggs with some 80 pounds of salt water taffy. Said Burnside, “Set up time for the hunt takes about an hour and all the eggs are picked up by the kids in less than two minutes.”

Nixyaawii Chamber shows small-business TED talks MISSION – The Nixyaawii Chamber of Commerce (NCC) held a screening of tribal- and small-business- focused TED Talks at the Wildhorse Resort & Casino Feb. 22.

NCC Chair Preston Eagleheart said the Board of Directors decide which TED Talks to show based on current topics to help tribal and local area businesses gain insight and possibly identify strengths and weaknesses in their operations.

TED Talks are recorded presentations given by public speakers that focus on Technology, Entertainment and Design.

During the event, 45 minutes of TED Talks were played in a theater at the Wildhorse Cineplex. The four talks focused on why start-ups succeed, building resilient communities, techniques for public speaking and innovation in business.

The first talk was by Bill Gross and focused on factors that help start-ups succeed. Gross developed a rating system that evaluated five areas of a start-up company that lend to its success. The five areas include ideas, team, business model, funding and timing.

Gross is an entrepreneur who has founded several start-up companies.

Through his analysis and rating system he determined that the most valuable factors for a new business are timing and the consumer’s need for the product or service being offered.

The next talk was given by Nick Tilsen, a self-described citizen of the Oglala Lakota Nation from Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. Tilsen spoke about the traumas that affect reservations and Native American communities. He painted a picture of how these traumas have caused a stunted community lacking in basic

March 2018

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needs. He also spoke of his dream to develop the Thunder Valley Community Center. The community center, Tilsen said, was dismissed as a pipe dream by those around him. Tilsen said dreams must be as big as obstacles and closed his talk with the announcement that the Tribe would break ground on the project during 2017.

Eagleheart said the inclusion of Tilsen’s TED Talk was motivated by issues of poverty, high unemployment rates, domestic violence and substance abuse. He said showing talks such as the one featuring Tilsen will hopefully shed light on how to face the struggles “head-on” as a community and illustrate how tribal communities have overcome obstacles with positive outcomes.

The third talk featured Julian Treasure, who spoke eloquently and was animated in his 10-minute coaching for public speakers. He offered voice inflection and mouth exercises to increase proper tone and delivery.

The last talk was delivered by Eddie Obeng, who is a business instructor and offered a frantic 10-minute speech on the importance of innovative modern-day business. His unorthodox delivery, he said in the video, was designed to show viewers that the world of business is rapidly changing.

Eagleheart said NCC plans to host an April event that will allow chamber members to network and hold round table discussions. He said NCC is open to accepting ideas from members that identify specific needs creating more valuable content for chamber members.

To provide feedback or to suggest a topic send an email to nixyaawiichamber@ live.com.

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Trump’s plan to open drilling off Oregon, Washington coasts draws tribal opposition

By The Associated Press

NASA comes to Nixyaawii

CUJ Photo/Phinney

Markus Cruzada from the NASA Space Grant Consortium and Northwest Earth and Space Science Pipeline (NESSP) works with students at Nixyaawii Community School in February. The students, from left, Adilia Hart, Ashlynn Looney, Dancingstar Leighton and Pierce Watchman - were building a vehicle using parts provided in a kit. The objectives of the National Space Grant Consortium are to promote a strong science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education base from elementary through secondary levels while preparing teachers in these grade levels to become more effective at improving student academic outcomes, according to the NSGC website. The National Earth and Space Sciences Pipeline is funded through the NASA Science Mission Directorate and housed with Washington NASA Space Grant Consortium at the University of Washington. NESSP supports community-based science and engineering events in partnership with underserved and under-represented communities.

SEATTLE — The Trump administration’s proposal to expand offshore drilling off the Pacific Northwest coast is drawing vocal opposition in a region where multimillion-dollar fossil fuel projects have been blocked in recent years.

The governors of Washington and Oregon, many in the state’s congressional delegation and other top state officials have criticized Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke’s plan to open 90 percent of the nation’s offshore reserves to development by private companies.

They say it jeopardizes the environment and the health, safety and economic well-being of coastal communities.

Opponents spoke out March 5 at a hearing that a coalition of groups organized in Olympia, Washington, on the same day as an “open house” hosted by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management.

Attorney General Bob Ferguson told dozens gathered — some wearing yellow hazmat suits and holding “Stop Trump’s Big Oil Giveways” signs — that he will sue if the plan is approved.

“What this administration has done with this proposal is outrageous,” he said.

Oil and gas exploration and drilling is not permitted in state waters.

In announcing the plan to vastly open federal waters to oil and gas drilling, Zinke has said responsible development of offshore energy resources would boost jobs and economic security while providing billions of dollars to fund conservation along U.S. coastlines.

His plan proposes 47 leases off the nation’s coastlines from 2019 to 2024, including one off Washington and Oregon.

Oil industry groups have praised the plan, while environmental groups say it would harm oceans, coastal economies, public health and marine life.

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee met with Zinke in D.C. for the National Governors Association conference and again urged him to remove Washington from the plan, Inslee spokeswoman Tara Lee said March 5.

There hasn’t been offshore oil drilling in Washington or Oregon since the 1960s.

Drilling on page 21B

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March 2018

CUJ Briefs BMCC spring classes start April 2 PENDLETON – The admission deadline is March 16 for spring term classes at Blue Mountain Community College (BMCC). Classes begin April 2.

Information, including an online application, is available at www.bluecc. edu/enrollment-services/ge�ng-started.

For information about new student orientation, placement testing, and to get help scheduling spring term classes contact Annie Smith, Native American Liaison and Success Coach, at asmith@ bluecc.edu or by calling 541-278-5935.

Smith also knows about the 2018-19 BMCC Foundation Scholarship, which has a deadline of March 15.

Aug. 2 picked for Community Picnic MISSION – A date of Thursday, Aug. 2, has been selected for the annual Community Picnic organized by the Housing Department for the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation.

The big event, which annually draws hundreds to the July Grounds, will again take place from 4-7 p.m., according to Marcus Luke II, Housing Director.

“It’ll be the same set up, volunteer time and areas as last year. It went very well. We’ll have prizes and lots of burgs n dogs too!” Luke said in an email.

Walden challengers’ forum March 23 PENDLETON – Democratic candidates challenging Oregon Republican Congressman Greg Walden for the Second Congressional District seat in the November election will participate in a question-and-answer forum Friday, March 23, in the Bob Clapp Theatre on the campus of Blue Mountain Community College.

The forum, which is set from 6-8 p.m. and open to the public, is sponsored by the Umatilla County Democratic Party.

For further information contact Sue Peterson at 541-377-0752.

Summer camp apps due April 16 MISSION – The deadline for Washington State University NaHaShnee Summer Program applications is April 16.

The summer program is open to Native American students in grade nine to eleven who are interested in health careers. The program will be

held at the WSU Spokane campus from June 18 to 29. The program is free but transportation to and from is not provided. For more information contact Emma Noyes at 509-324-7215 or emma.noyes@wsu.edu. The event is also posted at https://spokane.wsu. edu/about/community-outreach/ native-american-health-sciences/.

Nature conservancy positions open WALLOWA – The Nature Conservancy is looking for people interested in spending eight to ten weeks this summer living on the Zumwalt Prairie and learning plant ecology and botany.

Four positions are available for five possible dates of volunteer work. The time commitment is 35 hours of volunteer service per seek, generally Monday through Thursday.

The dates stretch from the end of May through the end of September.

Work is on a voluntary basis; room and board is provided by the Nature Conservancy.

Deadline to apply is March 9.

To apply, email a resume, cover letter and a list of three references to Molly Doherty at mdougherty@tnc.org. Indicate the dates you would be available.

For more information email Dougherty or call her at 503-802-8100.

Wildhorse payouts top $6 million in January PENDLETON — Wildhorse paid out more than $6 million in jackpots in January, according to a news release from the casino on the Umatilla Indian Reservation.

Wildhorse Resort & Casino, which boasts 1,200 Vegas-style slots, in January paid out 5,763 jackpots of more than $500 with an average daily payout of $193,695 a day.

Of those jackpots in January, 1,170 were worth $1,200 or more; 268 were for $2,500 or more; 100 were for $4,000 or more; and 27 jackpots paid out more than $8,000.

In 2017, Wildhorse paid out more than $74 million in slot jackpots of $500 or more. The casino averaged 200 slot payouts of more than $500 every day.

TERO plans flagging class at NGC MISSION - TERO clients can attend flagging certification class March 30 at the NGC. The class will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.. For more information contact the TERO office at 541-4297180.

Crow’s Shadow chooses Golden Spot residents From Nika Blasser, Crow’s Shadow Institute of the Arts

MISSION – An artist from New Delhi, India, a Northwest avant-guarde filmmaker, and a professor of Indigenous Nations Studies at Portland State University are the 2018 Golden Spot residency award recipients at Crow’s Shadow Institute of the Arts.

Crow’s Shadow announced its lineup of artists who will visit the studio on the Umatilla Indian Reservation later this year.

Funded with the support of the Ford Foundation, the annual Golden Spot Awards began at Crow’s Shadow in 2010 to support regional artist residencies.

Each of the Oregon-based artists will spend two weeks at Crow’s Shadow developing limited-edition prints, which will be hand pulled by Crow’s Shadow’s collaborative Master Printer, Judith Baumann.

The final prints will enter the Crow’s Shadow permanent collection; in previous years, prints from the Golden Spot residencies have travelled extensively to galleries and cultural institutions around the region and nationally.

All three of the artists will be working in the Crow’s Shadow studio for the first time.

Avantika Bawa, who will do her residency in June, splits her time between her hometown of New Delhi, India, and her current home in Portland. Bawa’s art practice incorporates drawing, painting, sculpture, and installation, often with strong architectural elements. Her

March 2018

Contributed photo

From left are Crow’s Shadow Golden Spot residents Avantika Bawa, Vanessa Renwick and Ka’ila Farrell-Smith. Bawa is an artist from New Dehli, India, Renwick is a filmmaker and Farrell-Smith is a painter and mixed media artist from Portland.

drawings are often characterized by minimalist forms and subtle interactions between the work and installation space. Bawa has a BFA in painting from Maharaja Sayajirao University in Baroda, India, and an MFA in painting from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.

Bawa is one of the co-founders of Drain, a journal that explores contemporary art primarily through imagery, interviews and creative writing. She is represented

by Gallery Maskara in Mumbai, and Saltworks Gallery in Atlanta, and has attended multiple residencies including the McDowell Colony, Djerassi, Kochi Biennial Foundation, and Skowhegan among others. Bawa is a fellowship recipient for the Oregon Arts Commission. In addition to her active art practice she is also a curator and an Associate Professor of Fine Arts at Washington State University at the Vancouver, Washington campus.

Vanessa Renwick, who will visit

Crow’s Shadow in July, is primarily known in the Northwest as an avantguarde filmmaker, often working with themes of nature and human interactions with the land. Her work in experimental cinema is punctuated by a wry sense of humor exemplified by the name of her production company, the Oregon Department of Kick Ass. Renwick’s work – whether film, installation, show posters, or public interventions – is permeated by her counter-culture punch aesthetic and a sharp cultural critique. She has screened work in a wide array of locations around the world, including the Museum of Modern Art, Light Industry, the Wexner Center for the Arts, Art Basel, Oberhausen, the Museum of Jurassic Technology, Centre Pompidou, the Andy Warhol Museum, and the International Film Festival Rotterdam, among numerous others. In 2016 she presented Next Level F---ed Up, an ambitious 7-channel video installation

Confederated Umatilla Journal

at the Portland Art Museum. Notably, Renwick received a Bonnie Bronson Fellowship in 2014. She is represented in Portland by PDX Contemporary Art. Ka’ila Farrell-Smith, a Klamath Modoc, will visit Crow’s Shadow in late summer or early October. A painter and mixed-media artist based in Portland, Farrell-Smith’s work engages with intertribal native communities, reflecting the mixed and sometimes conflicted heritage of multi-ethnic and indigenous families living in a post-colonial world. Her paintings and installations are deeply symbolic and frequently figurative, employing dynamic mark-making and textural explorations. Farrell-Smith is one of the directors of the Signal Fire artist residency program, and is a professor of Indigenous Nations Studies at Portland State University, She has attended artist residencies at Caldera, Djerassi, Ucross, and the Institute of American Indian Arts among others. She holds a BFA in painting from the Pacific Northwest College of Art, and an MFA in Contemporary Art Practices Studio from Portland State University.

Crow’s Shadow Institute of the Arts is located on the Umatilla Indian Reservation in the foothills of the Blue Mountains in Northeast Oregon. The institute’s mission is to “provide a creative conduit for educational, social, and economic opportunities for Native Americans through artistic development.” Over the last 25 years Crow’s Shadow has evolved into a world-class studio focused on contemporary art printmaking.

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Community shows up to raise funds for Bevis family MISSION – When crisis arises, Mission springs into action. That is what happened March 6 when a Nixyaawii Community School student’s family faced the fallout of a tragedy that occurred over the weekend.

A 20-vehicle pileup took the life of Alameda Addison, the caretaker of her granddaughters Chloe and Zoe Bevis, and seriously injured Zoe March 3. The loss was felt deeply throughout the community which responded swiftly to the family in need. Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation Education Department staff sprang into action and planned an Indian Taco fundraiser to pay for lodging and travel costs for the family to see Zoe in Spokane, Wash.

The fundraising brought in $3,800 from a steady line that stretched out the door for two hours solid. Community members showed up in droves to support the Bevis family during this tumultuous time. So much food was sold that kitchen staff had to send for more. Organizers and helpers for the event included Andria Scott, Keysha Ashley, Linda Sampson, Rosie Jackson, Teara Farrow-Ferman, Marissa Baumgartner, Rachel Matamoros, Aaron Noisey, Ryan Heinrich and Zack Brandsen.

CUJ photo/Dallas Dick

Keysha Ashley takes lunch orders from Shawn Joseph during the fundraiser for Zoe Bevis and family at the Nixyaawii Eagle’s Nest Gym concession area March 6. The group raised nearly $4,000 to go toward lodging, travel and funeral costs for the family.

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CUJ photo/Dallas Dick

Rosie Jackson, left, and Linda Sampson, right, were among the cooks who kept three skillets going for several hours to feed all of the community members who came to show support for the Bevis family. The line stretched out the door for more than two hours while donations rolled in to help the survivors of Alameda Addison stay afloat.

Confederated Umatilla Journal

March 2018

Nixyaawii brings culture to big game in Baker City Drummers sang with pride during halftime of the girls’ Oregon Class 1A basketball championship game against Country Christian March 3. From left, facing away from the camera in blue, is Toby Patrick, Isaiah Pacheco, Kelsey Burns, Elijah Bevis, Tyasin Burns, and Brian Goatsen holding baby Hey Hey Crawford.

CUJ photo/Phinney

Drilling

Continued from page 18B

There hasn’t been much interest in offshore oil and gas exploration in recent decades though technology has improved, said Washington’s state geologist David Norman.

“It’s a very active place tectonically.

We have a really complicated tough geology. It’s got really rough weather,” Norman said.

There’s more potential for natural gas than oil off the Pacific Northwest, said BOEM spokesman John Romero. A 2016 assessment estimates undiscovered recoverable oil at fractions of the U.S. total.

Proponents have backed the idea as a way to provide affordable energy, meet growing demands and to promote the U.S.’s “energy dominance.” Emails to representatives with the Western States Petroleum Association and the American Petroleum Institute were not immediately returned Monday.

Sixteen members of Washington and Oregon’s congressional delegation last month wrote to Zinke to oppose the plan, saying gas drilling off the Northwest coastline poses a risk to the state’s recreational, fishing and maritime economy.

Kyle Deerkop, who manages an oyster farm in Grays Harbor for Oregon-based Pacific Seafood, worried an oil spill would put jobs and the livelihood of people at risk.

“We need to be worried,” he said in an interview, recalling a major 1988 oil spill in Grays Harbor. “It’s too great a risk.”

Tribal members, business owners and environmentalists spoke at the so-called people’s hearing March 5 organized by Stand Up To Oil coalition.

The groups wanted to allow people to speak into a microphone before a crowd because the federal agency’s open house didn’t allow that. Instead the open house allowed people to directly talk to staff or submit comments using laptops provided.

March 2018

DID YOU KNOW?

In the spring the tribes gathered along the Columbia River at places like Celilo Falls to fish for salmon and trade goods with other tribes. They dried the salmon and stored it for later use. In late spring and early summer they traveled from the Columbia to the foot hills of the Blue Mountains to dig for roots which they also dried. In late summer they traveled to the upper mountains to pick berries and to hunt for deer and elk. In the fall the tribe would return to the lower valleys and along the Columbia River again to catch the fall salmon run. All would stay in winter camps in the low regions until spring when the whole cycle would start all over again.

Gathered from www.CTUIR.,org

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Indian Country News Readers re-evaluate Alexie amid sex misconduct allegations

By Felicia Fonseca of the Associated Press

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. - Amid anonymous allegations of sexual misconduct against prominent author Sherman Alexie - and his acknowledgement of harming others - readers of his work are re-evaluating what place he has in their curriculum and on their bookshelves.

Alexie, 51, is likely the most famous Native American author of his time, a hero to some and the focus of simmering misgivings that he’s the white man’s idea of an Indian writer. A brash public figure who has spoken openly about his personal struggles and navigating life on and off Washington’s Spokane Indian Reservation, he’s best known for his semi-biographical novel, ``The Absolutely True Diary of Part-Time Indian.’’

Tristan Chasing Hawk used the novel and other Alexie writings in speech and debate competitions, and to form his own identity as a member of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe of South Dakota. He was attracted to Alexie’s universal way of writing and because he communicates in a Native mindset to people outside tribal cultures.

But Chasing Hawk made the decision after he saw the allegations against Alexie to drop his own performances based on Alexie’s short stories in ``War Dances’’ in support of any victims. ``It would be like watching a Woody

Contributed photo

Allen movie or Roman Polanski movie or supporting Harvey Weinstein after the allegations come out,’’ said the 21-yearold student at the University of South Dakota. ``There was no question in my mind.’’

Allegations against Alexie so far have been vague, referring to unwanted advances, inappropriate remarks and threats against fellow Native American writers. In a written statement this week, Alexie acknowledged ``there are women telling the truth about my behavior’’ but said he didn’t threaten anyone or their

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careers.

His publisher, Hachette Book Group, deferred to Alexie’s statement. His agent, Nancy Stauffer Cahoon, has not responded to numerous requests for comment. Phone messages left this week with Alexie have not been returned. ``Absolutely True Diary’’ won the National Book Award for young people’s literature in 2007, and it has been the goto for a Native American perspective in children’s literature, landing on required reading lists at schools nationwide.

Alexie also has written poetry, stories and a memoir about his mother, ``You Don’t Have to Say You Love Me,’’ which recently won the Carnegie Medal for excellence in nonfiction.

Laura Jimenez was required to teach ``Absolutely True Diary’’ as a graduate student but doesn’t assign it to her students now at Boston University. She said the novel was groundbreaking but believes it reinforces stereotypes about Native Americans and promotes a singular experience for tribal communities. ``Maybe this is going to give room

March Birthdays: 1st: Michael Hussey and Talia Lindsay 5th: Michael VanPelt, Jr. and Hanna Cummings 6th: Andrea Rodriguez 10th: Rhonda Scott 11th: Dorothy Jones and TT Rodriguez 13th: Percy “Waine” Brigham and Amber Gillpatrick 15th: Nadia Kash Kash 16th: Megan VanPelt and Allen Kash Kash 18th: Dianne Billy 25th: Tasha Rae 26th: Kathryn Harrison 27th: Chance Wigger

Confederated Umatilla Journal

for other authors and other voices, and especially Native American women,’’ Jimenez said. ``Maybe they finally are going to get some of the recognition they deserve because he will not be taking up, claiming all the limelight.’’

David Aitchison, an adjunct assistant professor at North Central College in Illinois, said he relies on ``Absolutely True Diary’’ for its themes on education, race and class, and its humor and accessibility to engage students who call themselves reluctant or resistant readers.

He plans to take time before teaching a writing course in the fall to decide whether to stick with Alexie or find another text. ``The challenge is, if you take his book away, we have a real hard time finding something that does the same kind of work,’’ he said. ``We lose something that is a great teaching tool.’’

James Welch, whose novels include ``Winter in the Blood’’ and ``Fools Crow,’’ once praised Alexie for bringing humor and ``a real strong energy’’ to Indian writing. Alexie has brought equal passion to his comments about the work of others. He has a long history of confrontation, attacking white writers such as Ian Frazier for ``objectifying’’ Indians, and has in turn been criticized for focusing too much on the negative side of reservation life.

He has mocked the idea of being any kind cultural ambassador, noting that he doesn’t have the diplomatic skills. ``There is a certain injustice in what I do,’’ Alexie told The Associated Press in 2000. ``I’m a celebrity who’s an Indian who’s mad at the world who’s making money off being mad at the world. Where do you go with that?’’

Debbie Reese, the founder of the American Indians In Children’s Literature blog, has chosen not to promote Alexie by striking out mentions of him and removing his image from a picture gallery. She said she’s heard for years of people holding back uncomfortable or angry feelings about Alexie who now might feel empowered to say something publicly. ``A caring piece inside of me was like, one of these young people who he hurt comes to my blog and sees him, it’s another hurt,’’ Reese, an enrolled member of Nambe Pueblo in New Mexico, told the AP. ``As a person who works in a community sense, I’m very conscious of that.’’

Students in Beth Piatote’s Native American literature class at the University of California-Berkeley spent last week discussing Alexie’s novel ``Flight,’’ a story of betrayal centered on a Native American foster teenager and said when they heard about the accusations, they also felt betrayed. ``They were in tears,’’ she said.

Associated Press writers Hillel Italie in New York and Russell Contreras in Albuquerque, New Mexico, contributed to this story. Fonseca and Contreras are members of AP’s Race and Ethnicity Team.

March 2018

Indian Country Today revived, veteran Native journalist at helm Mark Trahant tapped as editor of storied publication

By Kevin Abourezk, Indianz.com

The demise of Indian Country Today will be short-lived following a Feb. 28 announcement by the National Congress of American Indians that

March 2018

it plans to relaunch the publication and hire a veteran Native journalist to lead it.

Mark Trahant, an independent journalist and journalism faculty member at the University of North Dakota, will serve as editor of the publication, which will be under the ownership of NCAI. “We are excited to have Mark Trah-

ant on board to help us lead this next chapter of Indian Country Today,” said NCAI President Jefferson Keel in a statement. “Mark is respected in and beyond Indian Country for his professionalism, journalistic skills and keen insight into issues and developments impacting tribal nations.”

Trahant, a citizen of the ShoshoneBannock Tribes, has had a storied jour-

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nalism career, having worked at a host of mainstream daily newspapers like the Arizona Republic, Seattle Post-Intelligencer and Salt Lake Tribune, as well as tribal publications like the Navajo Times and Sho-Ban News.

He is the former president of the Native American Journalists Association and publishes a blog called TrahantReports.Com.

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Tribal Member travels to DC for Ag conference

By The CUJ Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation Tribal Member attends the 94th Agricultural Outlook Forum in Washington D.C. Angela Heay said it was an honor to attend the forum with her ‘sisters’ from the Native Youth Food Sovereignty Alliance.

The Native Youth Food Sovereignty Alliance (NYFSA) is an umbrella organization under Intertribal Agriculture Council’s (IAC) executive board and was established in December 2017. The NYFSA is the IAC’s youth council. Heay said there were close to 30 application and only 12 seats available. She said, “I was chosen for the Northwest region.

In December we all met in Vegas and basically outlined Contributed photo what the board should be like such as, position on board, From left is Angela Heay, Mariah Gladstone, Shelbi Fitzpatrick law and policy, sponsorship, networks, sub-committees, and Karli Moore at the national conference. Heay was the only initiatives, values, outlook, motto, and agenda.”

CTUIR member in attendance.

At the end of January the Indian Food and Agriculture During the Rural America and the Opioid Crisis the Initiative wanted to send four members of the NYFSA group talked about prescription drug abuse. Rural areas board to Washington D.C. for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s 94th Annual Agriculture Outlook Forum: Roots facing an addiction rate higher than other areas because of Prosperity. The four selected were Karli Moore from the of lack of resources or outreach in the community Heay Lumbee tribe of North Carolina, Shelbi Fitzpatrick from learned. She said the addiction policy forum members have the Blackfeet Tribe of Montana, Mariah Gladstone from a survey where they gather information from each rural the Blackfeet Tribe of Montana, and Angela Heay from area that is affected and come up with a plan to help by usConfederated Tribes of Umatilla Indian Reservation. Heay ing programs, counselors in the area, addiction hotlines, etc.

She said they explained how much positive feedback said the purpose of going on this scholarship is so she could report back on how USDA’s outlooks would be beneficial they have had from establishing these practices within rural to agriculture in Indian Country. Each participant attended communities. She made sure to ask “how do you plan to four different sessions. Heay chose Building Tomorrows work with tribal communities?” to which they replied it Agriculture, Rural America and the Opioid Crisis, China’s would be something to look in to.

During the China’s Evolving Market’s and Policies sesEvolving Markets and Policies and Restoring America’s sion Heay learned that China is building a road system to Watersheds.

She said of her experience, “Building Tomorrow's Ag- reach all rural areas who do not have food security within riculture talked about using gene editing systems instead their communities. She said they are building this system of genetically modified. For example, they take a certain because they believe that they will have a lot easier access gene or trait from one type of tomato, such as a weed re- to these rural areas. She said, “I also learned that China sistant gene, and inject it into another tomato to make that doesn’t accept U.S. grain and hardly accepts U.S. beef betomato weed resistant, without using chemicals or unsafe cause of their strict policy and regulation. There are several practices to modify the plant. The first example they gave steps to follow before they will certify beef to be sold in their us of gene-editing was corn. Native America’s took corn country. The US is working hard to meet in the middle with and bred it throughout history with different genes until China, though, because of their high population and low rate of food security. Another crazy fact I learned was that we got the yellow corn that we have today.”

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they pay for everything by phone. Could you imagine?”

Lastly, Heay went to a session called Restoring America’s Watersheds where a geologist from the Coca Cola presented.

John Radtke, is in charge of a Coca Cola 1 Billion Liter Replenishment Project because of water supply instability.

Coca Cola needs for water for their products and employed geologists to help address the issue. Radtke showed one example of a project Coca Cola had started in Albuquerque, NM where water ceases in the summer due to cattle disrupting the stream beds. Radtke illustrated how they restored the steam beds and brought back native plant habitat to the area; there is water year round now. Heay said she learned Coca Cola has partnered with the U.S. Forest Service and the National Forest Foundation and thinks it would be ‘amazing’ to start a project with them because she’s have seen disrupted stream beds on the reservation from cattle and it's worrisome.

She said, “There are beautiful opportunities for Indian Country if you read between the lines. The event was mainly about how we can become more sustainable and feed and profit the whole world, especially for rural areas who struggle in that aspect.”

The theme of the conference was “Roots of Prosperity” which was explained to mean that in order to prosper globally together communities must find a median within agriculture to satisfy the global population.

Heay said, “Agriculture does not only capture food security, it also opens the door for profit making, especially in poor countries or areas. In the future I would like to gain a bachelor's of science in Forestry Management and a PHD in Sustainable Forestry Management. I'm in my second year of college for a B.S. with these degrees I hope to restore the reservation lands from invasive species, fix the ecosystem, and have it flourished and thriving than ever before. I especially want to establish a higher rule on First Foods security. In my opinion I feel like not enough is being done to protect them, so that is my initiative and goal. Again, I was honored to be chosen to attend by my board to this forum.

For find more information about youth in agriculture, Intertribal Agriculture Council, and the NYFSA board visit www.Indianaglink.com.

March 2018

Elizabeth Warren gives speech on ‘Pocahontas’ as slur, addresses claims of native ancestry

Importance announcements from Land Acquisition

By Jenna Amatulli of the HUFFPOST

Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) surprised guests at the National Congress of American Indians on Feb. 14 with an impassioned speech calling out President Donald Trump’s habit of calling her “Pocahontas.”

“I’ve noticed that every time my name comes up, President Trump likes to talk about Pocahontas. So I figured, let’s talk about Pocahontas,” Warren said.

“Not Pocahontas, the fictional character most Americans know from the movies, but Pocahontas, the native woman who really lived, and whose real story has been passed down to so many of you through the generations.”

Elizabeth Warren Warren went on to emphasize that a 10-year-old Pocahontas lived “no love story,” and that her life was one of “heroism, and bravery, and pain.”

Trump has used the name “Pocahontas” as a slur to refer to Warren on multiple occasions, beginning during Warren’s 2012 Senate race when she made claims that she had Native American heritage.

At NCAI, Warren spoke in detail about her own supposed Native American heritage. She also pointed out that “our country’s disrespect of native people didn’t start with President Trump,” but that “it started long before President Washington ever took office.”

“We have a president who can’t make it through a ceremony honoring Native American war heroes without reducing native history, native culture, native people to the butt of a joke,” Warren said.

“The joke, I guess, is supposed to be on me,” she went on. “I get why some people think there’s hay to be made here.

You won’t find my family members on any rolls, and I’m not enrolled in a tribe.

And I want to make something clear.

I respect that distinction. I understand that tribal membership is determined by tribes — and only by tribes.”

“I never used my family tree to get a break or get ahead,” she said. “I never used it to advance my career. But I want to make something else clear too: My parents were real people.”

Warren said that her mother’s family was part Native American and her father’s parents “were bitterly opposed to their relationship.” They eloped anyway.

“They’re gone, but the love they shared, the struggles they endured, the family they built and the story they lived will always be a part of me,” she said.

“And no one — not even the president of the United States — will ever take that part of me away.”

It remains unclear whether Warren

March 2018

‘The joke, I guess, is supposed to be on me. I get why some people think there’s hay to be made here.

You won’t find my family members on any rolls, and I’m not enrolled in a tribe. And I want to make something clear. I respect that distinction. I understand that tribal membership is determined by tribes — and only by tribes.’ is indeed part Native American, as she claims. The Washington Post’s “Fact Checker” column declined in 2016 to rate the assertion as true or false, but noted that “there is no documented proof of Warren’s self-proclaimed, partial Native American heritage, which experts have noted is difficult to prove to begin with.

Warren has maintained since 2012 that this is an issue of family lore.”

Warren pledged to be an advocate for native people and to amplify their stories.

“I’m here today to make a promise: Every time someone brings up my family’s story, I’m going to use it to lift up the story of your families and your communities,” she said.

Near the end of her speech, Warren implored the crowd to “stand with everyone who has gotten the short end of the stick from Washington over and over and over.”

“We must weave our voices together to make them strong,” she said. “We must come together to write a new story, not just for Native Americans, but for all Americans.”

Boston Globe reporter Matt Viser tweeted that Warren received a standing ovation, and that the National Congress of American Indians’ president shouted “We’ve got your back!”

There have been many rumors swirling about the possibility of Warren running for president in 2020, but none have been confirmed.

Confederated Umatilla Journal

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BOT Minutes summary DATE: January 8, 2018 BOT Present: Gary Burke, BOT Chairman; Jeremy Wolf, Vice Chairman; Doris Wheeler, Treasurer; Kathryn Brigham, Secretary; Rosenda Shippentower, Member; Aaron Ashley, Member; Woodrow Star, Member; Sally Kosey, Member and William Sigo, General Council Chairman. Full quorum present.Old Business. a. Polled Resolution 17-86: Cayuse Technologies Line of Credit. RESOLVED, that the Board of Trustees hereby authorizes an extension of the Confederated Tribes line of credit with Charles Schwab Institutional Brokerage of up to $1,000,000.00 for the purpose of relending to Cayuse Technologies as a revolving line of credit, subject to the following conditions: 1) Cayuse Technologies shall submit requests for disbursements of the revolving line of credit to the Confederated Tribes’ Finance Office; 2) that Cayuse Technologies shall fully repay the principal of such disbursements within 160 days from the date of the disbursement; and 3) the revolving line of credit is extended through December 31, 2018; AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, the extension of the line of credit will allow Cayuse Technologies to grow and to diversify the tribal economy, consistent with the Confederated Tribes’ Comprehensive Plan goals; AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that Cayuse Technologies shall pay to the Confederated Tribes by the 30th of each month an amount equal to the interest charged on the line of credit balance in the previous month; AND BE IN FINALLY RESOVLED, that the Cayuse Technologies Chief Executive Officer and the Board of Trustees appointee to the Cayuse Technologies Board of Directors shall provide monthly financial reports to the Confederated Tribes Finance Office in sufficient detail to allow monitoring of Cayuse Technologies’ operations, expenses, and revenues. AND, that said Resolution has not been modified, amended, or repealed and is still in full force and effect. DATED this 21st day of December, 2017. MOTION: Kat Brigham moves to ratify polled resolution 17-086,Woodrow Star seconds, Motion carries 7 for (Kat Brigham, Woodrow Star, Aaron Ashley, William Sigo, Jeremy Wolf, Doris Wheeler, and Sally Kosey) - 1 against (Rosenda Shippentower) – 0 abstaining Resolution 18-001: Topic: Indian Land Tenure Proposal. RESOLVED, that the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation fully supports the Indian Land Tenure Foundation’s Social Impact Bond project and pledges to authorize staff and Committees/Commissions to provide support, guidance, and information: AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation agrees to conceptually with a full guarantee of the Indian Land Capital Company loan to be used through the Credit Enterprise to lend to Tribal members to acquire undivided interests in agriculture allotted lands; AND BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation directs the Office of

Legal Counsel, the Finance Department, and the Department of Economic and Community Development to work with Indian Land Tenure Foundation and Indian Land Capital Company staff on appropriate contracts and agreements for further Board of Trustees final approval; AND, that said Resolution has not been modified, amended, or repealed and is still in full force and effect.

DATED this 8th day of January, 2018. MOTION: Kat Brigham moves to adopt Resolution 18-001, Woodrow Star seconds, Motion carries 8-0-0.

Resolution 18-002: Topic: BPA Quennett Creek Substation Memorandum of Agreement. RESOLVED, that the Board of Trustees hereby approves the attached Memorandum of Agreement between the Confederated Tribes and BPA and authorizes its Chairman to execute other documents, if any, that are necessary to carry out the purposes of this mitigation and this Resolution; AND, that said Resolution has not been modified amended or repealed and is still in full force and effect. DATED this 8th day of January, 2018.

MOTION: Jeremy Wolf moves to adopt Resolution 18-002, Aaron Ashley seconds, Motion carries 8-0-0. Other Board Action: Commission/ Committee Update by Kat Brigham, BOT Secretary. Enrollment Commission, 1 vacancy with two applications from Jonetta Everano and Marlene Taylor. ACTION: by secret ballot Marlene Taylor was appointed to Enrollment Commission for a four year staggered term. Tiicham Conservation Board, advertising for one position with one application from Michelle Shippentower. MOTION: Kat Brigham moves to appoint Michelle Shippentower to the Tiicham Conservation Board for a 2 year term, Woodrow Star seconds,Motion carries 8-0-0. Housing Commission, one vacancy with one application from Carman Chalakee. MOTION: Kat Brigham moves to appoint Carman Chalakee to the Housing Commission for a 4 year term. William Sigo seconds, Motion carries 8-0-0.

Wildhorse Foundation. City of Pendleton representative John Turner term expired on November 30, 2017. On January 2, 2018 received a letter from the City of Pendleton to reappoint John Turner to the Wildhorse Foundation. MOTION: Kat Brigham moves to reappoint John Turner to the Wildhorse Foundation with term expiring on November 30, 2019, Sally Kosey seconds, Motion carries 8-0-0.Terms Expiring: Cecelia Husted, CTUIR Culture Coalition, term expires February 2, 2018. MOTION: Kat Brigham moves to send letters notifying member of expiration of terms and advertise for the vacancy, Woodrow Star seconds, Motion carries 8-0-0.

All applications will be due Monday, January 22 by 4:00PM. A BOT work session will be scheduled January 26 at 8:30 AM to review applications and will take action on the application appointments on Monday, January 29.

BOT Travel Reports. None BOT Leave and Travel Requests. 1) Aaron Ashley, travel, Jan. 18-19 to Portland to attend G2G/ACOE meeting.

2) Doris Wheeler, Birthday leave, Jan. 12. 3)

Oregon Trail Gallery & Trading Post

621 Sixth St. in downtown Umatilla

Closed on Mondays Open Tuesday-Sunday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

On call 24 hours a day 541-922-5123 Evenings 541-922-5567

l Dentilium Shell Cape Commercial and brain tanned buckskin l 6 white buckskin dresses l Dentilium shell dresses l Money cowrie dress All old style trade cloth dresses F Large stock of moccasins - all sizes F Extra Large Dark Otter F Men’s old style buckskin shirts lBeaded antique old and new shawls lTule mats l Men’s, women’s & children’s hard-sole fully beaded mocassins l Roaches, shell dresses for women and children lWhite buckskin dresses for women and children l Old style trade cloth dresses for children l White 3X large deer hides lOtter hair wraps l Wing and jingle dresses for women and girls l Large stock commercial and brain-tanned hides

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Gary Burke, travel, Jan 21-26 to ATNI Convention and DOI meeting at Portland. 4) Kat Brigham, travel leave, Jan. 12 to attend conference at Portland. Travel, Jan. 19 to Celilo with Bobbie Conner to meet with Karen Jim to gather info for TCI. Travel, Jan. 22-26 to attend ATNI, Roy Sampsel funeral and G2G meeting. 5) Rosenda Shippentower, personal leave, Jan. 9 from 7:309:30 AM. Personal leave, Jan. 12 from 9-11 AM. 6) Sally Kosey, personal leave, Jan. 8 from 11:30-noon. Personal leave, July 5-6. Personal leave, Aug. 13-17. 7) Willie Sigo, Columbia River Gorge Commission meeting. MOTION: Kat Brigham moves to approve leave requests, Woodrow Star seconds, Motion carries 8-0-0.

DATE: January 22, 2018 BOT Present: Jeremy Wolf, Vice Chairman; Kathryn Brigham, Secretary; Rosenda Shippentower, Member; Woodrow Star, Member; and Sally Kosey, Member. Gary Burke, BOT Chairman; Doris Wheeler, Treasurer; Aaron Ashley, Member; and William Sigo, General Council Chairman on travel status attending ATNI Convention at Portland. Quorum present.

Old Business. Polled Resolution 18-003: Topic: CRSO MOU. RESOLVED, the Board of Trustees approves the MOU between the Confederated Tribes and the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation, Pacific Northwest Region; and U.S Department of Energy, Bonneville Power Administration, as Co-lead Agencies; AND BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, the Board of Trustees authorizes the Chair to sign all necessary documents to effectuate this MOU; AND, that said Resolution has not been modified amended or repealed and is still in full force and effect. DATED this 22nd day of January, 2018. MOTION: Kat Brigham moves to ratify amended Resolution 18-003, Woodrow Star seconds, Motion carries 4-0-0. Polled Resolution 18-004: Topic: Amend ATNI Membership List. RESOLVED, that the Board of Trustees, which is the official governing body of Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, hereby authorizes Gary Burke, who is the principal delegate of the Tribe, to join ATNI; AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that pursuant to Article VII, Section 1 of the ATNI Constitution, the Tribe designates the following persons as Delegates and Alternate Delegates, and instructs them to become individual Members in Good Standing in ATNI in order to fulfill their responsibilities as Official Delegates to the Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians Winter Conference, Mid-Year Conference and Annual Conventions: Gary Burke, Chairman as its official delegate and the following Board of Trustees members as alternate delegates: 1) Jeremy Wolf, Vice-Chairman 2) Doris Wheeler, Treasurer 3) N. Kathryn Brigham, Secretary 4) Aaron Ashley, Member 5) Rosenda Shippentower, Member 6) Woodrow Star, Member 7) Sally Kosey, Member and 8) William Sigo IV, General Council Chairman Ex-Officio. AND that said Resolution has not been modified amended or repealed and is still in full force and effect. DATED this 19th day of January, 2018. MOTION: Kat Brigham moves to ratify Resolution 18-004, Woodrow Star seconds, Motion carries 4-0-0. Resolution 18-005: Topic: Amendments to Criminal Code Increasing Minimum Age for Cigarettes & Tobacco Product Sales and Possession. RESOLVED, that the Board of Trustees hereby approves the following amendment to Section 4.149 of the Tribal Criminal Code with the language to be stricken lined through and the new language underlined: SECTION 4.149. PURCHASE OR POSSESSION OF CIGERETTES OR TOBACCO PRODUCTS BY A PERSON UNDER 21 YEARS OF AGE. SECTION 4.149. PURCHASE OR POSSESSION OF CIGARETTES OR TOBACCO PRODUCTS BY A PERSON UNDER 21 YEARS OF AGE. A. No person under the age of 21 years shall attempt to purchase or acquire cigarettes or tobacco products. B. No person under the age of 21 years shall have personal possession of cigarettes or tobacco products. C. No person shall provide, sell, or give, or attempt to provide, sell or give cigarettes or tobacco products to a person under 21 years of age. D. Any person or enterprise who sells cigarettes or tobacco products shall display a sign clearly stating that the sale of cigarettes or tobacco products to persons under 21 years of age is prohibited by law. E. It shall not be a violation of this Code for any person to purchase, possess or use tobacco for Tribal

Confederated Umatilla Journal

traditional, religious or ceremonial purposes. F. Violations of this section shall be punishable only by a fine or not more than $250.00 per violation.

G. Definitions. For purposes of this section the following definitions shall apply: 1. Cigarette means any product that contains nicotine, is intended to be burned or heated under ordinary use and consists of or contains any roll of tobacco wrapped in paper or in any substance not containing tobacco. 2. Tobacco products means bidis, cigars, cheroots, stogies, periques, granulated, plug cut, crimp cut, ready rubbed and other smoking tobacco, snuff, snuff flout, Cavendish, plug and twist tobacco, fine-cut and other chewing tobaccos, shorts, refuse scraps, clippings, cuttings and sweepings of tobacco and other forms of tobacco, prepared in a manner that makes the tobacco suitable for chewing or smoking in a pipe or otherwise, or for both chewing and smoking Tobacco products shall include any device or system that delivers tobacco products or nicotine for human consumption or inhalation. AND BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, Tribal enterprises shall immediately cease sales of cigarettes and tobacco products to any person under 21 years of age.

AND, that said Resolution has not been modified amended or repealed and is still in full force and effect. DATED this 22nd day of January, 2018.

MOTION: Rosenda Shippentower moves to adopt Resolution 18-005 with date correction, Woodrow Star seconds, Motion carries 4-0-0.

Resolution 18-006: Topic: Public Health Emergency Mutual Aid Agreement with Umatilla County Health Dept. RESOLVED, that the Board of Trustees authorizes the Chairman of the Board of Trustees to sign the attached Mutual Aid Agreement (Exhibit 1) with the Umatilla County Health Department to ensure there are resources and mechanisms in place to deal with public health emergencies on the Umatilla Indian Reservation; AND, that said Resolution has not been modified amended or repealed and is still in full force and effect. DATED this 22nd day of January, 2018.

MOTION: Sally Kosey moves to adopt Resolution 18-006, Rosenda Shippentower seconds, Motion carries 4-0-0. Resolution 18-007: Topic: TERF Exclusive Provider of Solid Waste and Recycling Services. RESOLVED, that the Board of Trustees hereby grants to the Tribal Environmental Recovery Facility (TERF) the exclusive right and authority to collect and dispose of solid waste and recyclables within the Umatilla Indian Reservation; AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Environmental Health and Safety Code (Code) is hereby amended by adding a new Section 7.060 as follows: 7.060 TERF the Exclusive Provider of Solid Waste and Recyclables Service for Umatilla Indian Reservation.A. TERF shall be the exclusive provider of Solid Waste Service, as that term is defined in Section 7.010 (22) of this Code, and the collection of Recyclables, as that term is defined in Section 7.010(19) of this Code, within the boundary of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, except as provided in a rule authorized under Subsection B of this Section. B. That TERF shall have the authority to develop and implement rules that govern its Solid Waste and Recyclables collection and disposal operations, including but not limited to delegating or waiving its exclusive provider status for certain materials or areas of the Umatilla Indian Reservation that TERF is unable to serve, as determined by the TERF O p e r a t i o n s M a n a g e r .

C. Any commercial entity or person providing Solid Waste Service or Recyclables collection in violation of this Section shall be subject to a citation and enforcement action by the Environmental Health and Safety Officer as provided in Chapter 3 of this Code. AND BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that the exclusive franchise granted to TERF to provide Solid Waster Service and Recyclables collection within the Umatilla Indian Reservation shall be effective as of the date of this Resolution and shall remain effective until terminated or amended by official act of the Board of Trustees. AND, that said Resolution has not been modified amended or repealed and is still in full force and effect. DATED this 22nd day of January, 2018. MOTION: Sally Kosey moves to adopt Resolution 18-007, Woodrow Star seconds, Motion carries 4-0-0.

Resolution 18-008: Topic: Healing Lodge Appointment. RESOLVED, that Rosenda Shippentower will report on the Healing Lodge meetings with the Board of Trustees and apSee BOT Minutes Summary on page 27B

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BOT Minutes summary Continued from page 26B propriate staff. AND, that said Resolution has not been modified amended or repealed and is still in full force and effect. DATED this 22nd day of January, 2018. MOTION: Kat Brigham moves to adopt Resolution 18-008, Sally Kosey seconds, Motion carries 3 for (Kat Brigham, Sally Kosey, and Woodrow Star) – 0 against – 1 abstaining (Rosenda Shippentower).

Other Board Action: Commission/Committee Report Memo by Kat Brigham, BOT Secretary. Review of the 2018 C/C Annual Report dates. The memo requested all C/C members attend and encourage C/C members stay for duration of all reports. General Council will coordinate dates for C/C to make a summary public presentation to General Council.

BOT Travel Reports. 1) Kat Brigham reports: Jan. 12 to Portland as speaker on CTUIR Treaty and tribal government at PSU. Jan. 14 to Olympia, WA to give testimony on SB 1611 Hirst and attend Sen. McCoy dinner. Sally Kosey moves to approve reports, Woodrow Star seconds, Motion carries 4-0-0.

BOT Leave and Travel Requests. 1) Gary Burke, Travel, Feb. 4-6 to Salem to attend Gov. State of State address. 2) Kat Brigham, Travel, Feb. 22 to Portland as speaker for Hatfield School of Government. Travel, March 22-23 to Portland as speaker for the “The Mighty Columbia” Conference. 3) Rosenda Shippentower, Travel, Jan 31-March 2 to Coeur D’ Alene to attend Healing Lodge meeting. Personal leave, Jan. 23 from 1-4 PM. 4) Sally Kosey, Personal leave, Jan. 25 from 7:30-8:30 AM. 5) Willie Sigo, Travel, April 3-5 to Toppenish, WA as invited panelist to Washington State Indian Education Association. 6) Woodrow Star, Personal leave Feb. 22-23. Verbal request for Jan. 26 as personal leave. Rosenda Shippentower moves to approve leave requests, Woodrow Star seconds, Motion carries 4-0-0 DATE: January 29, 2018 BOT Present: Gary Burke, BOT Chairman; Jeremy Wolf, Vice Chairman; Doris Wheeler, Treasurer; Kathryn Brigham, Secretary; Rosenda Shippentower,

Member; Aaron Ashley, Member; Woodrow Star, Member; Sally Kosey, Member. William Sigo, General Council Chairman on personal leave. Quorum present.Old Business. Polled Motion supporting ATNI We are Still In (WASI).

During the ATNI Convention, January 23rd at Portland the CTUIR BOT polled to support the Tribal and ATNI Declaration to Join (WASI). All across Indian Country there have been dramatic impact of Climate Change and tribal nations have taken steps to address its cause as well as adapt and mitigate its effects. MOTION: Woodrow Star moves to ratify polled motion ATNI “We Are Still In” that support “Paris Accord”, Jeremy Wolf seconds, Motion carries 7-0-0.

Next Resolution 18-009: None.Other Board Action: Commission/Committee Update by Kat Brigham, BOT Secretary. No applications submitted. Terms Expiring:-Talia McLaughlin, Credit Board, expires March 2. Pamela Shippentower, Education & Training Committee, expires March 7. -Lisa Ganuelas, Water Commission, expires March 7. MOTION: Kat Brigham moves to send letters of notification to members of term expiration and advertise for the vacancies, Sally Kosey seconds, Motion carries 7-0-0.

B O T L e a v e a n d Tr a v e l R e q u e s t s .

1) Rosenda Shippentower, personal leave Feb. 20 dept. at 2 PM and all day Feb. 21. 2) Verbal from Jeremy Wolf for personal leave, Wed. Jan 31 from 2:30-4 PM. 3) Verbal from Gary Burke for personal leave on Tues. Jan. 30. MOTION: Kat Brigham moves to approve 4 leave requests, two written and two verbal, Rosenda Shippentower seconds, Motion carries 7-0-0.BOT Travel Reports. 1) Aaron Ashely, ATNI Convention, Jan. 21–25 in Portland, where he met with the City of Portland tribal liaison. 2) Jeremy Wolf, government-to-government and CRITFC meetings at Portland, Jan. 24-26. 3) Kat Brigham, 2 reports: 1) Celilo to meet with tribal member on Celilo history. 2) ATNI Convention, Jan. 21–25 in Portland, Roy Sampsel’s memorial and government-to-government meeting.

MOTION: Rosenda Shippentower moves to approve reports, Aaron Ashley seconds, Motion carries 7-0-0.

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‘We can’t let this pass us by’

Here’s how a Native American tribe in Oregon sees hope with marijuana

By Kurtis Lee of the Los Angeles Times

WARM SPRINGS, Oregon - A weathered marquee near the center of this small Native American reservation perched on the high desert plateaus of central Oregon reads “Every Day Is Another Chance,” offering a sense of optimism that can be hard to find among anybody who lives here.

The once-bustling lumber mill that sliced and shipped Douglas fir throughout the Pacific Northwest closed two years ago when the machines got too old and expensive to replace. The tribe tried a casino, but it was located half an hour from the highway, and nobody came.

Now they’ve opened another one, but meanwhile, nearly a quarter of those living on the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs reservation are unemployed.

To Carina Miller, a member of the tribal council, it’s time for the tribe to wade outside its comfort zone, to go beyond the traditional native economies of bingo, gambling and hydropower.

If everybody in Oregon is talking about getting rich off legalized marijuana, she figures, why should the tribe be left behind?

“We’ve got to think bigger and think about the future,” Miller, 30, said as she stood at the site of a large pot-growing facility the tribe wants to develop on its reservation about two hours east of Portland. “We’re already behind on a lot of things. We can’t let this pass us by.”

Many tribes for years have turned a wary eye at legalized cannabis, mindful of the substance abuse problems that have plagued many Native American populations.

But in 2015, recreational use of marijuana in Oregon became legal, and selling it became good business.

As marijuana laws expand across the West, a handful of tribes in Nevada and Washington state have explored selling pot at dispensaries, both on and off reservations.

But no tribe is as far along in the process of becoming a fully operating venture as the one here at Warm Springs.

Spearheaded by younger tribal members who are eager to join the legalization movement sweeping the country, the tribe has taken steps to become the first vertically integrated Native American pot operation — growing pot on the reservation and selling it off-site.

The effort has detractors, particularly elders who worry about substance abuse and bristle at the idea of inviting more federal scrutiny to their land. But they are hardly being heard in the push to explore this new opportunity.

The tribe’s pro-pot effort began in 2015, after Oregon voters legalized the sale and possession of up to an ounce of marijuana. As pot shops and grow facilities popped up across the state, Miller, a lifelong resident of the reservation made up of 5,000 members of the Wasco, Warm Springs and Paiute tribes, watched as the economy and quality of life declined on the reservation.

The Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs in Oregon is hoping to capitalize on the marijuana market, with the tribe voting to legalize pot and build a large grow facility. Some tribal leaders see it as a key to survival.

She and other organizers — many of them under 30 — saw big new pot economies develop in states including

(Kristyna Wentz-Graff / For The Times)

High unemployment and poverty plague the Warm Springs community.

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(Kristyna Wentz-Graff / For The Times)

The Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs in Oregon is hoping to capitalize on the marijuana market, with the tribe voting to legalize pot and build a large grow facility.

Colorado and Washington. They wanted in.

A referendum was drafted for the reservation’s December 2015 ballot. The pitch to voters: Let’s grow pot on the reservation and sell it at dispensaries in Bend and Portland.

The organizers held town halls, scouted potential grow spots and consulted the federal government.

Despite a winter storm on election day, 1,450 people voted — nearly 1,200 of them voting “yes.” The Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs had made history as the first tribal group in the state to pass a pro-pot measure — though it is still illegal to use or possess pot on the reservation.

The celebratory spirit was stifled a few months later when Warm Springs Forest Products Industries — the tribe’s lumber mill — announced bankruptcy and the scaling-back of jobs.

The tribe had purchased the mill in the 1960s and for nearly half a century it was a major employer. But over the last decade, the company began to founder. The mill’s equipment was suited for larger logs that over time became increasingly rare, leaving the company with little work.

Layoffs came in spells, and when the mill officially closed in the spring of 2016, nearly 100 people lost their jobs.

Desperate, many boarded up their homes and fled in search of work.

“Generations of families worked there,” said Miller, whose aunt and uncle chopped wood at the mill for several years. “It was our source for money.”

Miller and others figured the marijuana measure would provide a good alternative, but have grown frustrated by a series of setbacks — a combination of bureaucratic complications, turnover of tribal council members and insufficient seed money has left the roughly $3-million effort in limbo.

Initial plans to construct a 36,000-square-foot indoor grow facility have been scaled back to 4,000 square feet.

Between the construction and maintenance of the building, the tribe estimates the project will still create 20 new jobs, a number they expect to keep growing, and bring in about $1.5 million a year. The money, proponents say, will fund several things on the reservation, including healthcare and education.

Laurie Danzuka, who is overseeing implementation of the cannabis project, joined Miller one recent morning for a tour of the site of the proposed facility, a barren vacant lot not far from the fire station. Nearby a half dozen wild horses sprinted across dried sagebrush. A crisp wind whipped up dust.

“I can really see brighter days for the reservation — for our people as a whole,” Danzuka said. “I just wish it would have happened earlier. This, in some ways, is a crisis situation for the tribe’s economy.”

Both Danzuka and Miller expect pot to bring in more money than the gaming industry — the leading source of income for many tribes nationwide. They say pot is a more reliable money source, especially in a rural area such as Warm Springs, far from major cities or tourist destinations.

Along Route 26, the Indian Head Casino, the main attraction here, rakes in an average of $1 million a year — a figure that some tribal officials say is declining. In 2011, another local casino, Kah-Nee-Ta, shuttered its doors because of a dwindling clientele.

Even so, others are fearful of wading into the marijuana industry, which they view as illegal.

Raymond Tsumpti, a tribal council member who was among the minority to oppose the ballot referendum, was police chief on the reservation for nearly a decade and still holds his law-and-order views.

“It’s illegal and classified a Schedule I drug by the federal government,” said Tsumpti, 73. “That’s all I need as proof it’s not needed on this land.”

To Tsumpti, the risk of getting shut down by the federal government, which has not legalized marijuana, is too great.

In 2014, the Obama administration issued a directive that advised all U.S. attorneys to follow the so-called Cole memo when enforcing marijuana laws on tribal lands. The memo urged prosecutors not to interfere with state-sanctioned cannabis laws, as long as people weren’t violating specific federal priorities, such as selling to minors or shipping pot across state lines. In January, U.S. Atty. Gen. Jeff Sessions announced he was ending the Cole memo protocol.

That means a big risk, as far as Tsumpti is concerned.

“It’s not worth it,” he said.

He’s also worried about encouraging young people to engage in substance abuse, a concern expressed not only by some here, but at other reservations. In 2013, the Yakama Nation, about 200 miles north of here in Washington state, opted against allowing marijuana, citing, among other things, concerns about substance abuse.

Tsumpti said the pot-grow plan reminds him of the KahNee-Ta casino’s decision to start selling alcohol on the reservation in the 1970s — also highly controversial at the time.

“All for the sake of making money,” Tsumpti said, shaking his head. “People suffer from alcoholism and it’s all because we wanted to make a little money. We don’t need this now.”

For the moment, most people seem to be worried more about supporting their families than anything else and fret that the marijuana project is taking too long to get off the ground.

On a recent afternoon, Jackson Mitchell stood outside his mother-in-law’s fry bread stand, a pop-up camper placed near the center of town. A handful of brick buildings — the library, a post office, a market — surrounded the stand. A park nearby sat empty; its cracked concrete basketball court with netless hoops looked as if it hadn’t hosted a pick-up game in years.

Mitchell lost his job at a water-bottling plant last year and now works part-time at the stand.

“All of Oregon is making bank. … We’re the first people to inhabit this land, we should be making a profit off it as well,” said Mitchell, who voted for the 2015 referendum and said he’ll try to get a job at the new facility whenever it’s ready. “I will be the first to sign up. I want to work, I need to work,” he said.

Mitchell figures he’s not the only one who’s waited years for something good to happen on this beautiful land.

“We have to have a brighter future,” he said. “And marijuana seems to be it.”

‘All of Oregon is making bank. … We’re the first people to inhabit this land, we should be making a profit off it as well.’

Confederated Umatilla Journal

March 2018

Superintendent Continued from page 13B

The driver shows up anytime within that 25-minute time frame.

“Then the driver picks up whoever is there and will not wait for anyone,” Sigo said in an email after the meeting.

“If someone is late and they are running to the bus stop waving and yelling the driver turns his or her head straight down the road and departs. Many of these children have no other way to school after missing the bus.”

Sigo also told Fritsch that the School District needs to do more to include CTUIR history in its curriculum.

He said a “one-size-fits-all” curriculum “does not fit native children.”

Fritsch told Sigo that through Senate Bill 13, which was passed in 20xx, school districts throughout Oregon are developing a curriculum that includes relevant tribal histories. Hopefully that curriculum, Fritsch said, will be ready for classrooms when school starts in the fall of 2018.

Sigo, who has two children that attend school in town, ended his comments telling Fritsch that tribal children who get on the bus at 6:45 a.m. and don’t get home until 4 in the afternoon have a long day.

When they come home to “poverty and other issues it’s hard to be successful,” Sigo said.

Fritsch was told about past cultural trainings that took place on the Umatilla Indian Reservation. One of those trainings at Tamastslikt Cultural Institute

Happy birthday Dani Girl 

March 2018

drew teachers from around the area – but nobody from Pendleton, Brigham told Fritsch.

The new Superintendent told the BOT that new teachers in District 16R are required to take a three-hour tour at Tamastslikt. Also, the School District purchases a book of the teacher’s choice at the Tamastslikt book store.

“Is that all we should be doing? Probably not,” Fritsch said. “We need to make sure the teachers understand the culture they are working with.”

Additionally, Sigo told Fritsch about “colonization training” several years ago when Pendleton teachers didn’t return for the afternoon session. He called it a “slap in the face.”

BOT Board member Sally Kosey, who was at that training, said one Pendleton teacher returned, but others walked out because they didn’t like the presenter.

She said the situation was “embarrassing and very disappointing.”

Fritsch said “I understand why I need to earn your trust.”

BOT member Rosenda Shippentower had a different take on the sensitivity issue and she acknowledged she was probably the only one on the Board who did.

She said she had a good experience at Pendleton High School that didn’t include all the trauma being talked about.

“We met challenges well enough,” Shippentower said. “We finished school … nobody solved our problems for us.”

Today, Shippentower said, teachers who should be teaching the ABCs have

to be social workers that know “cultural components” of their students.

“Who would want to teach?” she asked.

“We rode the bus to Helen McCune (Pendleton Junior High). We had fights, skirmishes … we didn’t run to the Education Board for help … we had fights in the back of the bus, on the playground we duked it out and got over it.”

Shippentower said students and parents need to understand there are “challenges out there in the big world, the real world” and that people will “not always be there to take care of you.”

“Sometimes you’ve gotta be tough … not crying around, cry baby, victim, this

and that,” Shippentower said.

Kosey said there have been a lot of changes in the last several years but acknowledged there needs to be a time when “we stop talking about oppression.” She mentioned, however, an incident where a child had his feelings hurt when a teacher questioned why he was wearing a ribbon shirt on picture day.

“Teachers need to think before saying something culturally insensitive,” Kosey said.

Shippentower said, “We need to be strong people. If we continue to be so sensitive we start to believe that we need this stuff to make us feel better.”

Happy Birthday CK

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Confederated Umatilla Journal

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