Tom Baker carries dirt from one side of a field to the other to block water running from Isqúulktpe west toward his house. See more on Page 11A.
Emily Delgado, the 11-month-old daughter of Rachel Ellenwood, slept through the second half of the Oregon Class 1A state championship game in Baker City. The Nixyaawii girls won going away. More on pages 6B and 7B.
Whitman College students spent a week in March on the Umatilla Indian Reservation learning the history and helping where needed. Read more on page 16.
Confederated Umatilla Journal
2 Sections, 52 pages / Publish date April 6, 2017
The monthly newspaper of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation ~ Pendleton, Oregon
Section
April 2017
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Volume 25, Issue 4
Groundwater contamination ‘big issue’ for Market fuel pumps By the CUJ
All eyes on groundwater During the Department of Natural Resources’ Open House, Head Start students and teacher eyeball groundwater flow as Kate Ely, left, injects a color dye into the groundwater simulator. Students in front row, from left, are Quincy Sams, Chance Squiemphen Jr., Greyson Lewis, and Awnaee Najera. In second row from left are Charlie Morrison, Ethan Marsh, behind Sams, Fallyn Plume, Lisa Faye McIntosh, and Ela Morrison. Teacher Peggy Petrovich-Knibbs, unknown peaking behind McIntosh and Plume, and Dazha Josheph. For more photos and story see page 16.
MISSION – Mission Market has fuel pumps at the top of its list of improvements because gas is the only commodity likely to make the grocery store profitable. Other proposed improvements include a major remodel to the store and a 30-foot electronic sign. But any upgrades are limited to a $1.5 million budget and if that means it all goes to the fuel pumps then so be it, said Cal Tyer at Wildhorse Resort & Casino, who is in charge of the Mission Market project. Tyer said Tribal leaders asked for a plan to make Mission Market profitable and the options included one or a combination of things – fuel, cigarettes and alcohol. If there’s any money left after the fuel tanks are installed, Wildhorse would remodel the store next and construct the sign last. But first the proponents of the fuel pumps will have to jump over several hurdles, not the least of which are rules put in place to protect the groundwater on the Umatilla Indian Reservation. There appear to be issues including parking and the addition of fire hydrants, plus several minor bureaucratic issues. But the “biggest issue,” said CTUIR Planning Director J.D. Tovey, is the lack of clay-lined
Photo by Gary James
Mission Market on page 19A
New digs Iosefa Taula, a Wildlife Technician in the Department of Natural Resources, watches from atop the trailer while Scott Peckham, Big Game Ecologist in the Wildlife Program for the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, lets cow elk loose near Isqúulktpe Creek in March. More on Page 5A. Photo by Lindsay Chiono
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CUJ News Dazha Joseph holds her tongue just right in her jingle dress dance contest.
BMCC powwow
Alana Bevis and Elsie Wilson dance at Blue Mountain Community College.
BMCC pow-wow results Junior boys – 1, Anthony Nix. 2, A’tish Williams. 3, Garian Morningowl. Junior girls – 1, Alayna Bevis. 2, Julianah Matamoros. 3, Stella Hines. 13-and-older mens – 1, Aiden Wolf. 2, Logan Quaempts. 3, Alyric Redcrane. 13-and-older womens- 1, Aurelia Heay. 2, Rosie Hines. 3, Mollee Allen.
Abi Kordatzky, above, performs in the fancy dance competition. At right, Kindel Spencer and Alana Bevis dance together at the BMCC pow-wow.
CUJ by Dallas Dick
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April 2017
‘She taught you to admit your faults and be a good person.’ Syreeta Thompson Azure, Nixyaawii Class of 2009
Mary Green closing book at Nixyaawii ‘Respect’ best describes departing favorite teacher at community school By Wil Phinney of the CUJ
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ormer students use words like patient and kind, inspirational and comforting to describe Mary Green, who is retiring after teaching language arts for 12 years at Nixyaawii Community School on the Umatilla Indian Reservation. So it should come as no surprise that Green, who started in the charter school’s second year, has made deep impacts on students and teachers. A perfect example is that students have selected Green to be their commencement speaker six years. Fred Hill, a language teacher, said Green is a “rare bird” who “always believes her students have potential” and “allows her students to believe in themselves” and Green won’t debate that. “I don’t feel like I have to be their friend,” she said, “but I try to understand where they are coming from. It’s a two-way street though. I have a problem if the respect isn’t returned. I haven’t had much of a problem with that. There’ve only been a couple times when kids have made me cry, when I’ve been so frustrated that it’s brought me to tears.” Respect is a word Green uses over and over to describe her relationships with students at Nixyaawii where she began after five years teaching full-time at Stanfield, three years full-time at Weston-McEwen and another six years as a substitute at Athena. She remembered when she saw the job posting and showed up to get an application. She met school administrative assistant Robert Van Pelt who asked her, “Are you here for the football coach job?” When Van Pelt joined Principal Annie Tester and art teacher Brian Purnell on the interview panel Green knew the administrative assistant wasn’t going to “fool me with the stoic Indian act.” Tiya-Po Farrow, a 2015 graduate, said Green impacted students with “kindness alone and affected students who didn’t want to listen.” He said she was a role model in the educational community and a “very good people person.” Green, Farrow said, presented a “home-type feeling here” and was easy to talk with. “I could talk with her about anything,” he said. Clinton Case, who graduated in 2006, had similar positive things to say about Green. “I remember how comforting she was,” he said. “I
Mary Green, a Language Art instructor at Nixyaawii Community School for last 12 years, is retiring after the school year ends in June. She’s been a student favorite
remember her kindness and her smile, and just knowing that she cared that you were there. It was that simple smile and her act of caring. And knowing that she had a listening ear that could change someone’s whole day or even change their life.” Green relied on help from former teacher Belinda Hayes in that first year. “She made sure of the things I needed to know. She made sure I watched Smoke Signals and knew who Sherman Alexie was,” Green laughed. “She quietly guided me. I learned about ceremonies, root digging and sweat lodge.” Hill said Green’s willingness to learn the tribal culture earned her the respect of those around her. “Anytime you went into her class the students were engaged in reading,” Hill said, “and sometimes you’d find literature that was Native American oriented. She always wanted that because she believed in the culture and religion of the tribes. She accepted it. She learned a religious song and once she learned it, it opened her eyes and ears to a deeper respect of how we do things.” In fact, Green studied the Umatilla language for four years.
It helped her earn greater respect from Syreeta Thompson Azure, who graduated from Nixyaawii in 2009. “In my four years attending Nixyaawii, she definitely was patient and took the time out for me one-on-one when I had my daughter,” Azure said. “She knew the impact it would make on me if I hadn’t gone through high school to get my diploma.” Azure said Green gave her extra homework and encouraged her to improve her grades as a young mother to the point that she was able to consistently finish the work in class. In addition to teaching literature and grammar, however, Green taught Azure life skills. “She taught you to admit your faults and be a good person,” she said. Aalilyah Dick, who graduated in 2014, said Green was “awesome, amazing” and the best teacher she’s ever had. “She inspired me to be a better person and a better student,” said Dick, who works at Daycare for the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian ReservaMary Green retiring on page 23A
‘It was that simple smile and her act of caring. And knowing that she had a listening ear that could change someone’s whole day or even change their life.’ Clinton Case, Nixyaawii Class of 2006
April 2017
Confederated Umatilla Journal
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CUJ News
“I Am Not Invisible,” a 20-portrait setup of Oregon women military veterans, was on display in the Longhouse during the 98th birthday of the American Legion. According the schedule of events, “The project is intended to shine a spotlight on women veterans whose contributions, experiences, and needs are too often ignored or overlooked socially, politically, and legally.” Featured in the display was Tribal member Desiree Coyote, looking at the display, and her daughter Genai Trixster.
Veterans honor American Legion’s 98th birthday MISSION - In honor of the 98th birthday of the American Legion, the George St. Denis Post #140 hosted a four-hour celebration on March 18. The morning began at the Nix-Ya-Wii Warriors Memorial with a flag ceremony and was followed by guest speaker Gary George and a 21-gun salute and taps. George, who works as the Executive Director of Wildhorse Resort & Casino, was working as the Executive Director of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR) when the memorial was built. He spoke on the history of the memorial and explained that the land on which the memorial is built was dedicated to the veterans in approximately 1939 for their sacrifices to the Tribes and country. He also described how each component of the monument represents different aspects of the Tribal community and culture. After the opening ceremony, everyone gathered inside the Mission Longhouse for a town hall meeting regarding veteran’s access to health benefits. By noon, a group of musicians lead by Sissy Falcon played a jam session for all guests, and then an honor dance was held for the veterans as well as a raffle.
Andrew Wildbill leads the flag procession into the Nix-Ya-Wii Warriors Memorial during the 98th birthday of the American Legion March 18 on the Umatilla Indian Reservation.
The Yakama Warriors provided a 21-gun salute and taps at the American Legion commemoration.
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Confederated Umatilla Journal
Toni Cordell, Post Commander of the American Legion George St. Denis Post 140 accepts a photo collage from Gary George. The collage displayed photos of the 1996 opening ceremony of the memorial.
CUJ photos by Miranda Vega Rector April 2017
CUJ News
CUJ photo/Wil Phinney
Scott Peckham, Big Game Ecologist for the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, opens the trailer gate for elk transferred from the Starkey Experiment Station and Range near La Grande to the Umatilla Indian Reservation in March. The animals hightailed it up Gibbon Ridge as soon as they saw daylight and green grass.
Starkey elk find new home at Isqúulktpe By the CUJ
ISQUUKTPE CREEK – The 150 elk transferred from the Starkey Experiment Station and Range (SERF) near La Grande will find lots of cousins and plenty of room to romp in the greening grass on the hills around Gibbon Ridge. The cow elk are being brought to the Umatilla Indian Reservation in trailers, about 10 to 15 at a time, and released by staff from the Confederated Tribes’ Wildlife Program and the Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife. The elk will likely gather with the 4,000 elk counted in and around the Reservation on March 21 during a helicopter survey, said Scott Peckham, Big Game Ecologist for the Tribes. “Elk, generally, are a herd species, so most likely they will join in with other group out there,” Peckham said. “The probability is high they will tie in with another group and go about normal elk business of finding good forage and evad-
April 2017
ing predators. Those animals were prob- Peckham said. “They appeared fit and in ably captured from within Starkey itself, good body condition. They were losing but when they were released from the their winter coats so some appeared a trailer they tended to quickly gather ranks little rough on the outside.” and travel upslope The management objective for as one group raththe study area is to er than scattering The terrain in the about. I think that maintain 350 elk at Isqúulktpe watershed is the end of winter. process will continue as they will To reduce the cursteeper than Starkey, but rent population of assimilate into the the elk had no problem 500 elk, ODFW, ranks here.” in collaboration The terrain in moving to the top of with the U.S. Forthe Isqúulktpe waGibbon Ridge in a matter tershed is steeper est Service and the Pacific Northwest than Starkey, but of minutes. Research Station, the elk had no proposed the reloproblem moving to the top of Gibbon Ridge in a matter of cation to the Reservation. Peckham said the 25,000-care SERF minutes after being released. The vegetation and cover are very similar so it will does not have enough suitable winter not be a foreign landscape. range and the elk are supplementally “I think they were definitely ready to fed during winter. Most animals are get out of the trailer, although some were contained there and this allows SERF staff a bit confused about what was going on,” to catch and do testing and collaring for
Confederated Umatilla Journal
research. But when spring is far enough along, the animals are turned back out to the main study area. SERF has a unique system to manually restrain, handle, collar, and collect biological samples from elk. All handling procedures have been approved by veterinarians and national animal care agencies. Elk at the SERF are subjected to annual disease testing as part of routine handling. In 27 years of operation, no major disease issues have been observed in the elk population within the SERF. Blood serum samples have been drawn from elk and will be tested for disease as part of the agreement to relocate elk to the Reservation. A fence impedes wandering at the Starkey Experimental Forest and Range (SERF). But the Isqúulktpe watershed is more than 20,000 acres and the elk have unfettered access to the entire Blue Mountains. “With no fence here to impede any wandering itch they may want to scratch,” Peckham said.
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CUJ Editorials The War to End All Wars O
n April 6, 1917, the United States declared War and went to Europe to join Allied forces against the Central Powers of Germany and Austro-Hungarian Empire. The fervor to send American troops ‘Over There’ swept across the United States and Indian Country. American Indians were not citizens of the United States and not liable to be drafted, yet by the War’s end on November 11, 1918 over 10,000 American Indians volunteered to serve. Furthermore, to show their support in winning the War, American Indians bought $25 million worth of war bonds, which equates to $75 for every Indian alive between 1918 to 1919. A hefty sum at that time. The Cayuse, Umatilla, and Walla Walla Tribal members joined to fight not only to protect the United States, but their own homelands. On our rolls, we have the following Great War veterans: Johnson William Barnhart, Phillip “Wild Bill” Bill, Fred. A. Bushman, Gilbert Edward Conner, James G. Crane, Clarence L. Gagnon, Joe Hart, Andrew Jackson, Victor Johnley, Moses McBean, Roy McIntyre, Grover Minthorn, Wilbur Minthorn, Gerald Nanegos, Peter Oliver, Issac B. Patrick, Joseph Paul Perry, Ray Picard, Harle Robey, Imon Stevens, John Thomas, Louis Van Pelt and Daniel White. As a young child, I had the honor to meet atwai Grover Minthorn and to hear his stories of being a soldier with the 77th Infantry Division. The Division landed in France in April 1918 and went to the Western Front. The Division fought in the Battle of
Tamastslikt Cultural Institute.
Chateau-Thierry on July 18, 1918 and continued their service on the front until returning a year later in 1919. The Division sustained over 10,194 casualties; 1,486 killed and 8,708 wounded. U.S. Army 77th Infantry Division In the mid- 1970’s I attended an American Legion birthday at the Longhouse with my Grandfather and his brothers, all World War II veterans. A Paxam dance was held to honor Grover Minthorn’s service during the First World War. He spoke about his experience as a member of the “Lost Battalion.” Nine companies, consisting of more than 550 men, were cut off by German forces in the Argonne forest in October of 1918. The Battalion held their ground for six days, under repeated artillery and infantry attacks by the German Army. Food, water, ammunition, and medical supplies ran low. The actions of the Battalion allowed other American and Allied units to press the MeuseArgonne Offensive and break through the front and relieve the Battalion. The cost was great. Of the 550 men who went into the forest, only 194 walked out unscathed. The rest of the men were either killed, wounded, missing or captured. Corporal Grover Minthorn was proud to have served and proud to carry on the traditions of our Warrior Spirit. Today, you can see some of his uniform items at
Cpl. Grover Minthorn in the upper right corner.
World War I was called the War to End All War; sadly we know that this did not become a truth. We continue to have our men and women serve in the Armed Forces of the United States. We must continue to honor the service of those who have passed and those serving on our behalf. We must continue to work toward ending war, yet always be prepared to defend our rights and freedoms. ~ CFSIII
Eating nutriously for Seven Generations
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irst Foods are at the core of our policy and educational mission at CTUIR. We celebrate First Foods, teach children about their significance and spend a lot of time educating decision makers on the topic. Countless staff people work on projects that build access to First Foods, maintain and increase water quality, and support habitat for healthy salmon and other species. But, if we are sipping a sugary soda or eating Cheezits while we talk about First Foods, are we being true to our message? Are we eating with the next seven generations in mind? Dr. Cate Shanahan, who consults on nutrition for the L.A. Lakers, is making the case for First Foods in her book Deep Nutrition: Why Your Genes Need Traditional Food. She argues that “epigenetics,” the study of cell variations caused by external factors, proves what we eat will affect our health and the health of our offspring. In other words, the bag of Doritos we eat today could affect our future children and grandchildren. Shanahan, a board certified family physician, studied the foods of over 100 traditional cultures from Native Americans to Ancient Egyptians to identify
CUJ Confederated Umatilla Journal
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But, eating well is hard. Convenience food is everywhere and it is much easier to find a candy bar than a carrot in most places that sell food. four common habits that produced strong, healthy, intelligent children and active, vital elders, generation after generation. The four foods that are consistently eaten in traditional cultures are fresh food, fermented and sprouted food, meat on the bone and organ meat. Shanahan also argues that we should avoid foods that alter our cells and create inflammation such as sugar and reheated vegetable oils. But, eating well is hard. Convenience food is
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everywhere and it is much easier to find a candy bar than a carrot in most places that sell food. And focusing on the bad habits just keeps them on our minds. Thinking about what we shouldn’t eat gives more attention to the food that is already promoted in stores, advertised online and encouraged everywhere we go. So, how do we focus on the benefits of traditional foods that are good for us? We continue to talk about them, eat more of them and keep our minds on them. At the Nixyaawii Governance Center, employees are able to refocus their efforts by gathering midweek for “Wellness Wednesday.” This is a time when staff and volunteers prepare nutritional food that is convenient and includes fresh produce and simple proteins like eggs. At events like the Celery Feast, the Root Feast and Salmon Feast we celebrate the early First Foods, knowing that they bring with them a new year of healthy nutrition. We know in our hearts that these are the kinds of foods we should be eating. Now if we can challenge ourselves to change our minds and follow our hearts to good nutrition we can celebrate health all year long.
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April 2017
CUJ Op-Ed/Columns Indian Country should back Neil Gorsuch for High Court By John L. Berrey
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or decades, Indian country has sought out nominees for the federal courts and the U.S. Supreme Court who have deep knowledge of federal Indian law and experience adjudicating real-world cases involving tribal governments and Indian people. In Neil Gorsuch, we have such a jurist. Even those who feel compelled to speak against this nominee readily concede that his academic background (Columbia, Harvard and Oxford), his career (law clerk to two Supreme Court justices, private law firms, U.S. Department of Justice, and now a Judge on the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals), and his even-keeled temperament are world-class. The American Bar Association’s (ABA) Standing Committee on the Federal Judiciary unanimously gave Judge Gorsuch a “well qualified” rating – the highest possible rating from the ABA. 1.Intergenerational Trauma- Understanding Natives’ Inherited Pain_Azo Sans Bold Smooth 18pt font_webpage cover pic Intergenerational Trauma: Understanding Natives’ Inherited Pain Download our free report, Intergenerational Trauma: Understanding Natives’ Inherited Pain, to understand this fascinating concept. Download Today! From a tribal perspective, Judge Gorsuch’s personal profile and background are just as important as his impeccable education and legal career. Geographic diversity is not one of the features of the current makeup of the Supreme Court: of the eight sitting justices, five hail from New York, two from California, and one from Georgia. Neil Gorsuch has served on the Denver-based Tenth Circuit since 2006. As a native Coloradan with proclivities to the outdoors, he is known to be as an avid hunter, fisherman, hiker and adept skier. This, by, itself is important because as a westerner,
Opinion
Judge Gorsuch understands the importance of federal lands, water, energy and natural resources to Indian tribes and all communities in the west. Sitting on the Tenth Circuit, Judge Gorsuch’s geographical scope is large and covers the states of Colorado, Kansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Utah and Wyoming – these states alone include 76 Indian tribes. During the hearings before the Senate Judiciary Committee, Judge Gorsuch was asked whether there was anything in his record suggesting he would not rule just for “big corporations” but would, in fact, support “the little guy.” Judge Gorsuch responded by citing three Indian law decisions he wrote which favored the tribal litigants. One of them, Ute Indian Tribe v. State of Utah (10th Cir. 2015), involved the unlawful prosecution of tribal members in state court for conduct on tribal lands. Judge Gorsuch’s decision stressed the need for federal protection of tribal sovereignty and stated that “…the harm to tribal sovereignty in this case is perhaps as serious as any to come our way in a long time.” Another, Fletcher v. United States (10th Cir. 2013), involved efforts by members of the Osage Nation to secure an accounting of their Indian trust funds. Judge Gorsuch and the court held that the common law trust duties apply as long as consistent with congressional intent as reflected in statute. Rejecting the Interior Department’s interpretation of the Indian Trust Asset Management Act of 1994, Gorsuch invoked the Indian canon of construction to hold that “statutory ambiguities in the field of trust relations must be construed for, not against, Native Americans.” In addition to favorable decisions on jurisdiction, tribal sovereignty and trust administration, Judge Gorsuch also authored Yellowbear v. Lampert (10th Cir. 2014), a case involving access to a prison sweat lodge by an enrolled member of the Northern Arapaho Tribe housed in a Wyoming prison. The District Court ruled in favor of prison management who claimed that providing access to the sweat lodge was too costly and burdensome. On appeal, Judge Gorsuch reversed the lower court and remanded the case instructing that the prison management’s generalized claims of cost and burdens are not enough to deny the prisoner’s access to the sweat lodge.
These are only three of Judge Gorsuch’s decisions. For the past 11 years, Gorsuch has participated in some 2,700 cases, including a number of cases involving tribal governments and tribal members. After exhaustive research into Judge Gorsuch’s background, career and jurisprudence, on March 24, 2017, the National Congress of American Indians and the Native American Rights Fund issued a joint letter of support for the confirmation of Judge Gorsuch. As have dozens of other tribes across the country, the Quapaw Tribe of Oklahoma issued its own letter of support for Judge Gorsuch. Some have expressed concerns over what they view as Judge Gorsuch’s antagonism to federal agencies and his stated opposition to rendering unfettered discretion to those agencies. That is fair, but as the elected chairman of a federally-recognized Indian tribe, I must say that my tribe spends the bulk of its time and resources pushing back against federal agencies that are constantly overreaching. I am talking about the BLM, HUD, EPA, the National Labor Relations Board and others. Most tribes have the same experience. Likewise, some in Indian country, and many in the United States Senate, may reflexively reject Judge Gorsuch because he was nominated by a president for whom they neither campaigned nor voted. It bears remembering that in 2006, the Senate approved Neil Gorsuch’s nomination to the Tenth Circuit by a vote of 99 to 0, including many Democrats who are still in the Senate and who evidently today oppose Gorsuch’s nomination to the high court. Any intellectually honest review of this nominee, his background, his education and his stellar career as an attorney and now a judge on the Denver-based Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals, should lead to overwhelming, if not unanimous, support in the United States Senate. We tribal leaders have long called for a nominee fitting Judge Gorsuch’s profile and mettle, and now we have the opportunity to lend our support to him and to his nomination to the highest court in the land. John L. Berrey is the Chairman of the Quapaw Tribe of Oklahoma (O-Gah-Pah).
CUJ Letters to the Editor Thank you for participation at reburial of Ancient One
To the Editor, I would like to say Quat’see yow yow, thank you very much, merci beaucoup and muchas gracias to everyone who participated in the reburial of Uncle Kenny in “an undisclosed location” (I love saying that). I would especially like to thank all the men who helped me shovel dirt on the precious remains as well as the drummers, singers and leaders who provided songs and prayer. This was one of the best days of my life and I am grateful to all who came and witnessed his rightful return to Mother Earth. Sincerely, David M. Liberty X-722
Cayuse Tech should pay fair share
Last month’s CUJ had a story that spoke of the successes of Cayuse Technologies (CT). That is fine and well, but there are some CT issues that are not so successful, but were not, of course, included in the story. The main issue is CT contributes virtually nothing to the CTUIR operating budget to support tribal departments and programs. Since its inception over ten years ago, CT had not
April 2017
contributed anything until finally putting only $15,000 into the 2016 budget and the same amount into the current 2017 budget. The CUJ story includes that CT now have Fortune 500 companies as clients and received recognition from the Tribal Business Journal, and also from two major universities. With all these successes, and accolades, why doesn’t CT contribute more than just $15,000 a year to help our tribe reach our goals and priorities? In complete contrast, Wildhorse Gaming Resort (WGR) contributes millions to the tribal budget every year. Yes, it is true they are in different industries, and I will be the first to acknowledge it is not realistic that CT could ever match what WGR provides, but I believe everyone will agree a total of $30,000 for the CTUIR is not much for being in business over ten years. Employment: CT is the only entity under the CTUIR umbrella that counts descendants as Indian employees. By this method, CT has 30 Indian employees. However, the real question is how many are CTUIR enrolled; maybe eight or nine? How many CTUIR enrollees are in management? Also, many CT employees commute from outside our community so they take the wealth that is generated here and spend and invest it in their respective communities, but not here. Economists call this extracting
Confederated Umatilla Journal
the wealth that goes one-way. The main reason that CT does not contribute much every year is their Board of Directors (BOD) and the Board of Trustees (BOT), do not strongly advocate for the interests of the owners of CT, meaning, of course, tribal members. In 2015, when we (the BOT) were planning and discussing the 2016 tribal budget, I spoke strongly that it was time that CT started contributing to the annual budget. I thought other BOT members would join in and speak up on behalf of our constituency, but they all just sat there as if they had nothing to do with the situation. It is obvious there was more of the same for the 2017 budget. Each BOD member, except the BOT delegate to the BOD, receives $10,000 per year for attending four quarterly meetings. In a 2015 BOT resolution on CT, there is language that makes it clear that CT does need to step up and contribute more. The Republicans now control Congress and the White House, so now it is just a matter of time before federal budget cuts will hit the CTUIR. This means that CT will have to contribute their fair share now more than ever. Last month’s article was fine, but I believe the readership should have a more balanced perspective on one of our major businesses. bobshippentower@gmail.com. 541-969-3574. Bob Shippentower
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CUJ Almanac Murder trial to begin April 11 for Simpson PORTLAND – A five-day jury trial for Julian Darryl James Simpson is scheduled to begin April 11 in the United State Courthouse in Portland. Simpson faces murder and two other felony charges relating to the shooting death March 19, 2016, of Anthony Jimenez Jr., 27, at a home on Willow Drive on the Umatilla Indian Reservation. The FBI said more than two dozen bullets were fired during the incident that took place in the driveway of the duplex. Simpson is a member of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR). According to a Grand Jury indictment brought April 16, 2016, Simpson is charged with murder in the first degree, possession of a firearem in furtherance of a crime of violence, and felon in possession of a firearm. The indictment alleges Simpson
used a Ruger Model KSR40 (.40 caliber) handgun to kill Jimenez. The indictment charges Simpson as a felon in possession of a firearm based on a previous conviction for a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year. That crime was conspiracy to commit a controlled substance offense in December of 2013 in Idaho. In the same case, the grand jury also indicted Victor Joseph Contreras for assault with the intent to commit murder, assault with a dangerous weapon with the intent to do bodily harm, assault resulting in serious bodily injury, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, and felon in possession of a firearm. Contreras is accused of shooting Beau Welch, a member of the CTUIR, who lived at the home on Willow Drive. Welch suffered leg injuries that required multiple surgeries.
Obituary
Death notice
ERIC LEE MADSON
Vincent Wannassay
Dec. 6, 1974 – March 14, 2017
Nov. 5, 1936 - Feb. 25, 2017
Eric Lee Madson was born Dec. 6, 1974 in Spokane, Wash. to Chester “Arthur” Mads o n J r. a n d A r l e n e (Lavadour) Madson, passed away March 14, 2017 in Seattle, Wash. Eric is proceeded in death by both his parents and oldest brother Kenneth, survived by brother Gary, and sisters Corri (Lavadour) Durant, Vicki Madson, and Teresa Madson, numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, aunts and uncles. Eric also leaves behind his 14 year old Shih Tzu Max, a loyal companion. Eric knew no enemies, was a friend to all he met, loved to cook (especially his peach cobbler), drawing was a great passion, his quick wit and sense of humor is going to be missed. Always looking out for others, Eric would go without to make sure others had what they needed; food, clothing and shelter. A Celebration of Life will be held April 9th in Seattle. His sister Corri requests that any Memorial Contributions are made to any area Homeless Shelter.
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Vincent Wannassay was born November 5, 1936 and died February 25, 2017. Washat Services were held at the Mission Longhouse on March 2 at 7 p.m. A mass was conducted on March 3 at 9 a.m. at St. Andrews Church in Mission, Ore. followed by burial at St. Andrews Cemetery.
Weather Weather information summarizes data taken at the Pendleton Weather Station from March 1 to March 31. Temperature is reported in degrees Fahrenheit and time in Pacific Standard Time. The average daily temperature was 45.8 degrees with a high of 72 degrees on March 14 and a low of 31 degrees on March 6. Total precipitation to date in March was 2.35” with greatest 24hr average 0.53” March 24. Ninteen days out of the month had precipitation level greater than .01 inches with nine days greater than 0.10 inches and with one day greater than 0.50”. The average wind speed was 8.0 mph with a sustained max speed of 32 mph from the West on March 18. A peak speed of 39 mph occurred from the West on March 18. The dominant wind direction was from the West. There were eight clear, 17 partly cloudy and six cloudy days in the month of March. Air Quality Index values remained stable in the low range throughout the month of March.
Committee, Commission vacancies
Tribal Fire Chief Rob Burnside and Pendleton Assistant Chief Sean Penninger assess the fire while Tribal firefighters, below, advance on the fire. CUJ photos/Phinney
The baby chicks did it A lamp warming baby chicks in a plastic tub tipped over and started a house just west of the Mid-Columbia Bus Barns on fire March 14. Jackie Whitesell and children who were at home made it okay, but the chicks didn’t. Her husband, Michael Whitesell, and other children were not at home when the fire started in clothing in a closet, according to Tribal Fire Chief Rob Burnside. Burnside said the Tribal Fire Department was called just before 10 a.m. with Randy Burke and Mike Foster first on the scene. They started an initial attack through the backdoor but a small explosion from hand-loaded material forced them out. Instead they put water on the house from the exterior, Burnside said. Pendleton City Fire Department showed up about a half hour later. In all, 13 people were on the scene. In addition to Burke, Foster and Burnside, two Tribal Fire Department volunteers were at the fire. The Tribal Fire Department brought a water tender and a fire engine, as did the city. Burnside said the house was pretty much lost with heavy smoke and water damage throughout, and heavy fire in one bedroom.
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Confederated Umatilla Journal
April 2017
Career Opportunitites
April 6, 2 p.m. Topic listed on petition: TORT Code/Claims Discussion Lead Petitioner: Bob Shippentower
at the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation 1. Equipment Operator I 2. Police Officer 3. Special Victims Criminal Investigator 4. Network Administrator 5. Archaeologist 6. Teacher 7. Accounts Payable Clerk 8. Public Works Director 9. On-Call Public Transit Bus Driver & Dispatch 10. Language Program Manager 11.Computer Helpdesk Technician I 12. Computer Support Tech.II/Helpdesk Lead 13. Facility Technician II 14. Child Welfare Case WOrker I 15. Child Support Enforcement Attorney 16. Lawn Care/Grounds Keeper 17. Construction & Maintenance Technician 18. Surveillance Operator 19. Public Transit Bus Washer 20. Maintenance Repairer For more information visit: Office of Human Resources Online http://ctuir.org/about-us/ employment-opportunities Ph: 541-276-3570 Fax: 541-276-9060
CTUIR
SPECIAL General Council Meetings
April 27, 2 p.m. Topic: Wildhorse Resort & Casino (WRC) Expansion Gary George, WRC CEO
Community Watch Senior Center at 5 p.m. Upcoming meeting: April 27
Community Forum No meeting in April
Pendleton Pioneer Chapel received three prestigious awards in 2009
Board of Trustees
General Council
Chair Gary Burke
Chair Alan Crawford
Vice Chair Jeremy Wolf
Vice Chair Kyle McGuire
Treasurer Rosenda Shippentower Secretary Kathryn Brigham
Secretary Jiselle Halfmoon Interpreter Thomas Morning Owl
At-large BOT Members: Armand Minthorn General Council contact Info Office: 541-429-7378 Justin Quaempts Email: GeneralCouncil@ctuir.org Aaron Ashley Meeting updates and information on: www.ctuir.org/government/general-council Woodrow Star CTUIR Interim Director: Executive Team : Debra Croswell
Interim Deputy Director Charles F. Sams
General Council Meeting
The Oregon Funeral Directors Association Award of Funeral Service Excellence The Best Of Eastern Oregon Award as voted by the readers of the East Oregonian Pendleton Chamber of Commerce 2009 Business of the Year
Nixyaawii Governance Center, 2 p.m. - April 13 Draft agenda: 1. CTUIR 4th Quarter Financial Report - Rosenda Shippentower, BOT Treasurer
Our experienced family provides caring, compassionate care including:
Burial Services ~ Military Services Cremation ~ Monuments
April 2017
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
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Pinkham selected as new CRTFC director
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PORTLAND - Jaime Pinkham, a member of the Nez Perce Tribe with more than three decades of experience in American Indian governance, policy, and natural resource management, is returning to the Columbia Basin to serve as the executive director of the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission (CRITFC). Leaders of CRITFC’s member tribes — the Umatilla, Warm Springs, Yakama, and Nez Perce — selected Pinkham to become the 10th executive director in the Commission’s 40-year history after assessing a field of candidates. He will take the reins at CRITFC on April 24. “As a treaty fisher and hunter, I am humbled to work with the member tribes and CRITFC,” Pinkham said in an agency news release. “CRITFC plays an important role working at the intersection of each tribe’s individual autonomy and their unified voice. Healthy and harvestable salmon runs are fundamental to the sovereign identities and cultures of the four member tribes.” Pinkham brings substantial Columbia Basin fisheries and natural resources experience coupled with strong tribal governance policy credentials. Pinkham has been serving as the vice president of the Bush Foundation in St. Paul, Minnesota, for the past eight years where he led the Native Nations program that works with tribes across North Dakota, South Dakota, and Minnesota as they redesigned their governing systems. His work led to the creation of the Native Governance Center, a Native-led nonprofit delivering technical support to tribes in government redesign. Prior to that, Pinkham spent two decades in the Pacific Northwest advocating for tribal sovereignty, self-determination, and treaty rights. He worked for the CRITFC as Watershed Department Manager from 2005 to 2008, supporting the Commission in regional coordination and Congressional affairs. After graduating with a forestry degree from Oregon State University he worked for state and
federal agencies before moving home to Nez Perce Country in 1990. During his time there, he held a variety of positions including being elected twice to the Nez Perce Tribal Executive Committee and led its natural resource programs engaging in salmon restoration, water rights negotiations, wolf recovery, and land acquisition. Pinkham has a passion for “wildness,” which started with childhood experiences hunting and fishing in the backcountry with his father and grandfather. That love has landed him on various conservation boards over the years, and he currently serves on the Governing Council of The Wilderness Society, American Rivers Board of Directors, and Alaska Jaime Pinkhim Region Advisory Committee for the Yukon River Intertribal Watershed Council. He also serves on the Board of Trustees at Northland College, a private liberal arts college in Ashland, Wisconsin, with a focus on the environment and sustainability. He is Chairman Emeritus for the American Indian Science and Engineering Society and Past President of the Intertribal Timber Council. He received forestry degrees from Oregon State University and Peninsula College, and is a 1988 graduate of the Washington State Agriculture and Forestry Leadership Foundation’s leadership program. Pinkham succeeds Paul Lumley, who served for eight years in the position before leaving to lead the Native American Youth and Family Association in Portland, Oregon, last October. Rob Lothrop, interim executive director since Lumley’s departure, will continue in that capacity until Pinkham’s arrival.
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April 2017
The headlights of a pickup are reflected in the water from Isqúulktpe Creek, which probably the worst of the area streams to climb out of its banks.
MUDDY RIVER
Flood waters, diverted by a rock at the corner of the main channel of the Umatilla River, close in on the home of David Morris at Thornhollow. Morris, who was clearing debris from a large culvert under the highway, said the river channel would probably change and permanently flow through his pasture now. There was water on both sides of his house flowing onto the highway with perhaps water a foot deep near the sign to the Bar M Ranch at the railroad tracks (photo below).
Chris Wujek rides his kayak in one of the eight trips he took from the mouth of Meacham Creek down the swollen Umatilla to his house near Cayuse. In the photo below, flood waters spread from the Umatilla across pasture land near the house were Wujek lives.
By the time Ed Benthin woke up on March 22 the flood waters had already entered his garage and damaged his custom Corvette. “I thought, crap, it’s a little too late. It was up into the driver compartment.” He drove it to higher ground for it to dry out in the sun. Benthin, who has lived near Thornhollow for 34 years, said it was among the worst floods he’s seen.
April 2017
Confederated Umatilla Journal
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Craig Bill, right, Executive Director of Washington Governor Jay Inslee’s Office of Indian Affairs, toured the Science and Engineers Program greenhouse domes on the Umatilla Indian Reservation in March. Here he learns about some traditional plants from Steve Link, Scientist, a scientist in the Tribal program.
Gary Allan set to take the Happy Canyon stage Sept. 9
Washington Governor’s tribal rep visits CTUIR MISSION – Washington Governor Jay Inslee’s right-hand man on Indian Affairs was impressed and overwhelmed when he visited programs and projects of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR) in March. Craig Bill, Executive Director of the Governor’s Office of Indian Affairs, toured the Water & Environmental Center at Walla Walla Community Center and the CTUIR Science and Engineering Program on the Umatilla Indian Reservation. He also visited Tamastslikt Cultural Institute. Although he answers to Inslee, Bill’s territory includes working with the 29 tribes in Washington and the Umatillas and Warm Springs in Oregon and the Nez Perce in Idaho, which all have ceded lands and “usual and accustomed” areas within the state of Washington. Bill said he visits the CTUIR to see “how I can assist” and “bridge [gaps] with appropriate state agencies to improve pathways,” particularly when it comes to resource management within the Walla Walla basin and the Columbia River. His in-person visits create better relationships than by phone or email, he said. “I get to take back what I see and hear to staff in
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the Governor’s office,” Bill said. It had been a few years since Bill had been to the Umatilla Indian Reservation and he was impressed with the progress here. “It’s hard to rank tribes. Each program advances at a different rate but I can really see that … CTUIR leaders in some regard are leading the pack … I see good careful planning. [Progress] is tied to planning,” Bill said. Bill was appointed Director of the Governor’s Office of Indian Affairs in July 2005 and was reappointed by Gov. Inslee in 2013. He serves as an adviser on tribal issues and liaison between the state and Indian tribes and tribal organizations for the Governor’s office. His office also is responsible for promoting the government-to-government principles outlined with the 1989 Centennial Accord signed between the state and tribes. The CTUIR regularly attends the celebration of the Accord. It was at the most recent Accord that Bill was invited to visit the Umatilla Indian Reservation by Board of Trustees Vice Chairman Jeremy Wolf. Bill is an enrolled member of the Swinomish Tribe and descendent of the Colville Confederated Tribes and Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma.
Confederated Umatilla Journal
PENDLETON, Ore. – Country music superstar Gary Allan will kick off the Pendleton Round-Up and Happy Canyon week when he takes the stage in the Happy Canyon Arena on Sept. 9. Tickets go on sale Monday, May 1. Allan is known for hit No. 1 singles “Man to Man,” “Nothing On But the Radio,” “Watching Airplanes,” and “Tough Little Boys.” He mixes honky-tonk bravado with grainy isolation across his eight studio albums, seven of which reached gold status and three of them were certified platinum. His latest album – “Set You Free” – features the hit single “Every Storm Runs Out of Rain.” While Allan has always had a gritty, gravelly edge to his performances, he pushes himself on “Set You Free,” singing with more command, authority and pliability than he has in years, according to a news release from the Happy Canyon. The album, sequenced with a storyline in which a man breaks the restraints of a failed relationship and conquers the loneliness of its aftermath, is the result of Allan’s own journey as a man and as an artist. Happy Canyon President Corey Neistadt said he’s excited to bring Allan to Pendleton and for fans to have an opportunity to see the star in the Happy Canyon Arena. “Having Gary Allan hit the stage is a fantastic way to kick off Round-Up week,” Neistadt said. “We know he’ll really enjoy the intimate setting of the Happy Canyon Arena that brings stars so close to their fans.” Tickets range in price from $40 to $130. To reserve tickets, call 800-45-RODEO (select option 1 for tickets) or visit www.pendletonroundup.com.
April 2017
Activities planned to promote awareness of sexual assault MISSION – The Family Violence Services (FVS) has a number of events planned to promote prevention during Sexual Assault Awareness Month in April. Sexual awareness, rape, and other forms of abuse are pervasive, according to a news release from the FVS of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation. In Oregon alone, an estimated one million women and girls – more than half the state’s female popu-
April 2017
lation – have experienced some form of sexual or domestic violence. Every Tuesday in April, FVS is asking people to wear the color teal to raise awareness. Other activities include: April 11 – Information table with scavenger hunt, Yellowhawk 8-10 a.m. and Nixyaawii Governance Center (NGC) 1-3 p.m. April 13 – Step-by-Step Together We
Can Make a Difference Walk starting at Yellowhawk 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. April 25 – Information table with scavenger hunt, Yellowhawk 8-10 a.m. and NGC 1-3 p.m. April 26 – Brown bag lunch presentation on “Tips for Preventing Sexual Assault” April 26 – Denim day Family Violence Services has four tips for those who want to make a difference:
Confederated Umatilla Journal
L Be a positive role model. Promote respect, equality, and safety in the community. L Raise your voice. Have age-appropriate conversations with the kids in your life about consent. L Show your support. Listen, believe, and support survivors in their healing. L If you or someone you know would like support, call FVS at 888-809-8027 or 541-429-7414.
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NCS election scheduled for April 21 MISSION – An election is planned April 21 to fill three positions on the Board for the Nixyaawii Community School. Ballots can be cast from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the school on the Umatilla Indian Reservation. Terms for two tribal members and one community member are expiring. However, two tribal members currently serving – Randall Melton and Cor Sams – say they plan to seek re-election. Tribal member Chuck Sams said he will not seek re-election after his four year term ends. Terms run from July 1, 2017 to June 30, 2021. Eligible candidates must meet certain criteria. They must: be 18 years of older;
pass a criminal background check; able and willing to attend board meetings on a consistent basis; And meet one of the following criteria: be a parent of a child or children enrolled at Nixyaawii Community School; be a current employee of Nixyaawii Community School; be a current employee of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, or; be a current resident within the boundaries of the Umatilla Indian Reservation.
Applications are available at the school or on the school website at nixyaawii. k12.or.us Applications are due by 4 p.m. Tuesday, April 13, in the school office. Candidate information will be posted on the school website and Facebook page and disseminated via CTUIR employee email.
New members added to Happy Canyon Board PENDLETON – Three new members have been added to the Happy Canyon (HC) Board of Directors: Casey Evans, Casey Hunt, and Becky Waggoner. Happy Canyon is a night show and pageant held every year at the Pendleton Round Up. Becky Waggoner Their board consists of 12 members and each year they select two young Native American women as their Princess Court. This year the Princesses are Virginia Conner and Gabrielle Lewis. Evans, who will serve as Bar Director, has been involved in the HC night show since 2007. He works for the Oregon Department of Transportation and attended Blue Mountain Community College. He is married to Kylee Evans and together they have two daughters. Hunt will be Court Director, overseeing Conner and Lewis. He has been involved in HC since he was 4 years old when his father was appointed to the board in 1983. In the show Hunt played a swim kid, participated in the forest act, and was a fill-in for the short act on Friday nights. He works as a financial advisor for Edward Jones. He and his
wife, Whitney, have two children. Waggoner is the new Show Director and is a fourth generation HC participant and RoundUp volunteer. At the age of 3 she began volunteering in the night show playing a part where she Casey Hunt came out of a trunk. Waggoner has played several other roles including the nurse during the doctor act, holding that role for the past 17 years. As of last August, Waggoner released a book titled “Happy Canyon: A History of the World’s Most Unique Indian Pageant and Wild West Show.” She is married to Allen Casey Evans Waggoner and they are parents of three children. This year’s Round-Up is scheduled for Sept. 13-16 and the show will be held each night at 7:45 p.m. For more information visit www.HappyCanyon.com.
Pendleton Quilt Show happening May 6-7 PENDLETON - The Pendleton Quilt Show May 6 and 7 will feature quilts made by Alice Fossatti, a local educator and artist who passed away last fall at the age of 102. Fosatti, who taught kindergarten throughout her career, painted, did pottery with Pendleton artist Betty Feves, and extended her talents to the world of art quilts, which were often gifted to family and friends. Unique to Fossatti, her quilts did not employ patterns made popular through commercial outlets. Rather, each quilt was an original work of art, often employing the aspect known as folk art
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Confederated Umatilla Journal
quilts. There is “whimsy and love” apparent in each of the quilts and when viewed as a group they inspire viewers to explore their own creativity, according to a news release. The theme of this year’s show will be “Stitch, Share, Celebrate.” Quilting supply vendors will be on hand in addition to more than 200 quilts on display. Further information can be found at krazyhorsequilters. org. The show will be at the Pendleton Convention Center from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday. Admission is $5.
April 2017
GET THE
LEAD OUT
This x-ray shows lead fragments ingested by the bald eagle known as 66. Two other eagles that ate from lead-shot animals or animal parts have already died this year.
By Wil Phinney of the CUJ
P
ENDLETON – 66 was one of the lucky eagles. He lived for 10 months. Two others poisoned with lead shot in their guts lived only five days and two days after they were brought to Blue Mountain Wildlife Rehabilitation & Education. And two more didn’t make it that long. One was euthanized because it was too sick to help and the other, along with the lead poisoning, had a wing that was frozen solid. In her cramped operating room, surrounded by X-ray equipment and a blood testing machine, Lynn Tompkins at Blue Mountain Rehabilitation blames lead bullets. She says eagles and other birds eat animals – or parts of animals – that have been shot with lead bullets, which fragment upon impact. “Lead is legal but it’s not right to leave a toxic substance on the ground so an endangered (protected)
April 2017
The bald eagle nicknamed 66 because of the lead content found in his body lived for 10 months at Blue Mountain Wildlife Rehabilitation & Education Center south of Pendleton.
species gets a secondary poisoning,” she says. Don’t get her wrong. She’s not anti-gun or antihunting. “I’m not against hunting,” Tompkins says. “I recognize hunters are conservationists and money from hunters helps game and non-game species.” But hunters are the only ones that can stop lead poisoning caused by hunters. “When they cut out a gut pile and leave it for scavengers they think they’re doing a good thing,” Tompkins said. “Well if they’re using lead bullets it’s probably poisoned and they need to bury it or pack it out. And if they don’t want to deal with that, then switch from lead.” All high-powered rifle bullets fragment upon impact, according to Carl Scheeler, Wildlife Program Manager for the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation. “Bullets are supposed to mushroom and deliver the most powerful impact, but the fragments travel
Confederated Umatilla Journal
a significant disease into the meat,” Scheeler said. Said Tompkins, “We’ve seen Golden eagles feeding on a coyote carcass where the bullet didn’t hit bone and still fragmented.” Instead, Scheeler said, there’s no reason hunters shouldn’t be using copper bullets. To match a lead bullet’s weight, a copper bullet has to be bigger and longer, but Scheeler said a longer bullet is more stable in flight. “Generally speaking, a copper bullet is more consistent in weight and consistent in flight,” he said. “Why wouldn’t you want to shoot with a superior projectile?” 66 got its name from the level of lead he was carrying. It was a very small amount of lead but enough to cause early paralysis. Tompkins had to treat the eagle three times a day with an IV chelating agent (it binds with lead and Lead out on 21A
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Discussing information displayed on a fisheries booth at the Open House of the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) are, from left, Bill Burke, an original member of the Hanford HAMMER team; Michelle Burke, tribal analyst for the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE); Ira Matt, tribal affairs specialist for DOE; Eric Quaempts, DNR director; and Matt Johnson, policy analyst for DNR. Burke recently accepted a job providing programmatic analysis for tribal affairs government-to-government consultation with tribes.
Paul Word, Water Resources Technician, explains the ground water model to open house guest Laurence Johnson .
DNR hosts open house MISSION –The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) hosted an open house in March at the Mission Longhouse. Visitors had the opportunity to view informational booths from several of the DNR programs, including a First Foods booth, several water resources booths, and a wildlife booth. Many community members attended the event such as Cay-Uma-Wa Head Start kids, students from Nixyaawii Community School, and Tribal elders. There were also representatives from the USDA-Agricultural Research Service and the Oregon State University Columbia Basin Agricultural Research Center. Laurence Johnson, a camera man from Wisdom of the Elders, Inc. videotaped the event.
Iosefa Taula, midddle, speaks to open house guest Dionne Bronson, right, while Teresa Jones, left, looks onward at a monitor display of local trail pictures of wolves and other wildlife. Taula works as a Wildlife Technician for the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation and both Jones and Bronson work for Yellowhawk Tribal Health Center.
Students go outside their bubble during Spring Break MISSION – Going outside their “Whitman bubble” to experience the surrounding communities is why 13 students from Whitman College spent a week of their Spring break on the Umatilla Indian Reservation. During the week, the students visited many traditional and historical sites, learned about the tribes’ history, and got their hands dirty in the soil at the local gardens and Native Plant Nursery. “I’ve really enjoyed my time here,” said Mariah Ng. “I’m grateful we had this opportunity and that we were invited to be here and engage in the community.” The trip was organized by the college’s Student Engagement Center. In order to obtain a spot, students had to apply, go through a selection process, and pay their way – mostly by fundraising. The program is volunteer-based with no college credits accrued. “To mandate it would take the ‘genuinity’ out of the trip,” said Daphne Gallegos, student and trip lead. “Through programs like these, the goal is to partner with local communities outside of Whitman to form and foster sustainable relationships.” In addition to the Umatilla Reservation trip, other students chose to visit Boise, Idaho, where they learned about the refugee resettlement initiative.
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Daphine Gallegos, left, is the group leader of the 13 Whitman College students who spent the week on the Umatilla Indian Reservation learning about the community and assisting where needed. Tilling the community garden with Gallegos is Isabelle Smoyer, kneeling, and Marriah Ng.
Confederated Umatilla Journal
April 2017
Motanic accepted into residency program
Kelsey Motanic points to where she will do her residency.
SEATTLE - Kelsey Motanic will be doing her residency at the Swedish Medical Center (SMC) in Seattle beginning June 12. While working at the SMC, Motanic also will practice family medicine at the Seattle Indian Health Clinic. Motanic is the first member of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation to become a medical doctor and is one of only 2,600 tribal physicians in the nation. It was during “Match Day” held by the
National Residency Matching Program that she learned about her acceptance into the SMC, which was her first choice. Match Day is when applicants are notified about where they will complete their residency. Motanic attended her Match Day at the University of New Mexico (UNM) on March 17. There were 90 medical graduating students with 400 family members and guests who attended the UNM event, according to her father Don Motanic. Overall, a record-high of 35,969 US and international medical school students and graduates vied for 31,757 positions. The total number of positions filled was 30,478. “She’s so happy to be back in the northwest after two years in DC and four years in New Mexico,” said her father in an email. “So many people to thank, so grateful and proud.” Motanic will graduate on May 12.
Crow’s Shadow plans for weaving workshop in June MISSION – Navajo Master Weaver Anita Hathale will lead a week-long weaving workshop during the last week of June at Crow’s Shadow Institute of the Arts on the Umatilla Indian Reservation. Participants will each receive a handmade loom to use during the week – and to keep to continue weaving. Hathale designs range from traditional to original and contemporary patterns. This range of styles demonstrates her technical craftsmanship and allows room for new creativity, which she encourages her students to pursue, according to the Crow’s Shadow news release. Hathale grew up in a large family on the Navajo reservation in a remote area of the Four Corners, Utah. She tended to her family’s sheep as a child, learning to shear wool, then how to wash, dry, card and spin the wool into yard for weaving. By the age of 12, her mother decided she was ready to weave her first rug. It took her all summer, but she completed a third-phase Chief’s Blanket with thick
April 2017
wool, measuring about 3 by 4 feet. Hathale took her first project to the Teec Nos Pos Trading Post and they were so impressed with her handiwork that they immediately bought her rug. Her mother patiently tutored and corrected her daughter’s weaving techniques for many years and Hathale credits her mother as her greatest inspiration. Hathale has woven steadily since she was a girl and has been teaching weaving since 1999. Navajo Weaving Workshop June 26-30 Monday-Friday from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. each day Class fee: $350 ($50 non-refundable registration fee, remaining balance due at beginning of workshop) Fees include a personal loom to keep, and use of basic weaving supplies; additional hand-made tools will be available to purchase. Scholarships are available to tribal members. Contact Crow’s Shadow for details and to reserve a spot at 541-276-3954.
Confederated Umatilla Journal
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Public notice
Fire in the sky Spectacular fireworks filled the sky over Wildhorse Resort & Casino during its 22nd anniversary celebration in March. Photographer Dallas Dick was able to capture several images, including the impressive red, white and blue burst in the top photo. More than 2,000 shells, plus the Wildhorse logo, were set off with cars and trucks jamming the parking lot and spilling out along the highway, into neighboring parking lots and fields. Cars and trucks even pulled over on the freeway to watch the show. The Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) from Pendleton High School handled concessions. KCUW radio put the show to music. CUJ photos/Dallas Dick
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Confederated Umatilla Journal
April 2017
Mission Market Continued from page 1A
lagoons at the site that could collect runoff contaminants like anti-freeze, brake fluid, heavy metals, and some gasoline and diesel fuel additives.. Tyer has been meeting with a group in a pre-application phase. and no permit application has been made. A March 10 meeting included representatives from the Tribes’ Water Resources, Public Works, and Planning, and Fire departments who addressed requirements and specific concerns and challenges regarding treatment of storm drainage on the site, according to an email from Holly Anderson in the CTUIR Planning Department.. One of the people who attended the meeting said Tribal staff is trying to figure out a “nice way” to tell Tyer the fuel pump proposal isn’t going to happen. But Tyer is convinced he has the right strategy, one that was actually an option among those suggested by the Water Resources Program. It calls for installation of a below- or above-ground, on-site holding tank for the wastewater generated by an oil-water separator (a device
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that separates oil, suspended solids and water) sufficient in size to hold large amounts of contaminants. This method, according to the Water Resources Program, would “necessitate rigorous monitoring” to ensure the holding tank “does not overtop.” The tank’s contents would need to be periodically pumped and transported to an evaporative pond like the clay-lined lagoons at Arrowhead. That’s Tyer’s plan. “Once the water goes through the oil-water separator it will meet all EPA requirements to be released into the ground, but we want to take an extra step and install the additional tank,” Tyer said, “and then pump it out a couple of times a year and drain it into a pond that was built for Arrowhead.” Tyer said before the permit is requested, the pre-application phase committee needs to know the commitment from Mission Market. “Water is a precious resource and we want to make sure the committee understands and knows we’re serious about the resource. We want to do everything we
can to protect it. Our sole purpose is to meet those expectations,” he said. Tyer sees little risk with the doublewalled fuel tank, which is a state-of-theart fiberglass vessel divided into three parts for regular and premium gasoline, and diesel fuel. It will be buried in pea gravel and concrete with the ability to flex with different conditions. It will be electronically monitored 24 hours a day and will be able to detect even the slightest leak in the tank, sump pump or pipelines. “The tank is virtually indestructible,” said Tyer.
Happy Birthday, Joseph “Bear” Jeppe!
Kid’s health gets attention in May MISSION – Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day will be celebrated May 4 by Systems of Care of Yellowhawk Tribal Health Services.
April 2017
Games and activities will be held at the Yellowhawk large conference room from 4-7 p.m. and dinner will be provided.
Confederated Umatilla Journal
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Send Thank You letters to cuj@ctuir.org 20A
Confederated Umatilla Journal
April 2017
Lead Out Continued from page 15A
filters through the kidneys) and fluids, radiograph the bird and do blood work. The first day alone would have cost about $500 at a veterinarian, Tompkins said. After that care for 66 would have cost about $200 a day at a vet. “It took about three weeks before he could perch normally,” Tompkins said. “It was months before he could fly.” Tompkins recently obtained blood sampling equipment that can detect lead in an animal. It had been used in a California condor program. Blue Mountain Wildlife is willing, at no cost, to test blood samples from Tribal youth for lead. Working with the CTUIR Wildlife Program, they will use their X-ray equipment, again at no charge, to scan frozen meat from big game hunters on the Reservation for lead fragments. Tribal members and hunters can contact Scheeler or Tompkins about the testing. Scheeler noted that a North Dakota food pantry tested 100 packages of donated white tail meat and found 59 had lead. All this comes on the heels of Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke’s order March 1 re-
versing an Obama administration policy banning lead ammunition and fish tackle used on national wildlife refuges. President Obama’s order was intended to protect birds from lead poisoning. It would have phased out the use of lead ammo on wildlife refuges by 2022. Zinke said the new order is intended to boost outdoor recreating in all forms. “Outdoor recreating is about both our heritage and our economy,” Zinke said in a statement. “Between hunting, fishing, motorized recreating, camping and more, the industry generates thousands of jobs and billions of dollars in economic activity.” Environmental groups slammed the new directive on lead ammunition, arguing that it causes poisoning in 130 species of birds and other animals. Switching to nontoxic ammunition should be a “no brainer” to save the lives of thousands of birds and other wildlife and to “prevent hunters and their families from being exposed to toxic lead and protect our water,” said Jonathan Evans, Environmental Health Legal Director at the Arizona-based Center of Biological Diversity.
CAMP CRIER
an eccentric mix of music and news - M-F, 8-9 a.m. on KCUW 104.3 fm
April 2017
Confederated Umatilla Journal
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Registration closes April 17 for Language Knowledge Bowl MISSION – The 10th annual Language Knowledge Bowl is set for May 5 at Wildhorse Resort and Casino. Last year, the event drew more than two dozen teams. Registration for the Bowl is open through April 17 and is free to all. You can register by calling Syreeta Azure at 541-429-7858 or email her at SyreetaAzure@ctuir.org. In 2016, eight dialects of indigenous languages were represented, including Umatilla, Nez Perce, Paiute, Wanapam, Warm Springs, Wasco, Winatshapam, and Yakama. Guests are welcome to watch the students compete during the event and lunch will be provided to participants. There are also “high hopes” for karaoke songs to be sung in the different tribal languages, said Syreeta Azure, the organizer of the Language Knowledge Bowl. Prizes will include an Eagle trophy and jackets for the first place team, and a plaque and sweaters for second, third, and fourth place winners. All participants will receive cinch packs; elders who are participating as a coach and/or judge will receive tote bag; and snapback caps and donated books from the Altrusa Literacy group will also be given away. “I encourage all students and community members to create a team and join this event because this is a very unique event to be a part of,” said Azure.
PELC registration set for April 12-13 PENDLETON – The Pendleton School District will hold their annual kindergarten registration at the Pendleton Early Learning Center on Wednesday, April 12 from 4-7 p.m., and Thursday, April 13 from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. A Spanish interpreter will be available from 5-7 p.m. both days. Registration is for children who will be kindergartners in the fall of 2017. Students must be 5 years old on or before Sept. 1, 2017, to enroll. Parents should bring a copy of their child’s birth certificate, social security number and immunization records. Parents can download all of the necessary forms from the district website at www. pendleton.k12.or.us to complete ahead of time to expedite the registration process. Kindergarten registration allows parents to enroll their children and provides the school district with preliminary numbers to determine staff and number of classrooms. If a parent or guardian of an incoming kindergartner cannot attend kindergarten registration, they can contact any elementary school for an informational packet or call the Pendleton Early Learning Center at 541-966-3300. The Pendleton Early Learning Center is located at 455 SW 13th Street.
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Confederated Umatilla Journal
April 2017
Morning Owl recognized for work on place names atlas MISSION – Thomas Morning Owl was recognized for his contributions to the “Čáw Pawá Láakni – They Are Not Forgotten” place names atlas that was 13 years in the making. Morning Owl, a Umatilla master speaker, was feted in a brief gathering at the Education Center of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation in March. Modesta Minthorn, Director of the Education Department, said it was an opportunity to honor Morning Owl for his significant work on the project. Morning Owl and others did much “tedious work” creating a data base of names then deciding on which Sahaptian alphabet to use (Umatilla, Walla Walla or Cayuse) and identifying proper spellings. Presented a plaque and a Pendleton vest, Morning Owl said he hopes young people will appreciate the work put in to the atlas. “The kids think they’ll live forever but then people start passing,” he said. “When they are all gone who are the elders? Us.” Morning Owl said “We can’t turn the clock back and ask questions again. One day the kids will be looking at us this way. It’s up to carry on.” He noted that some Indians say the “white man is stealing everything from us” and they are “averse to preserving anything.” “They don’t want it written down; they don’t want it saved for their kids. If we die without sharing it’s like we’re stealing it.” Said Morning Owl, “There are all kinds of great things our children need to know. We’re the elders now, as scary as that may be.”
Thorne to lead Westward Ho! Parade PENDLETON – Mike Thorne has been selected as the Grand Marshal of the 107th Westward Ho! Parade to take place Sept. 15 to take place during the Pendleton Round-Up. Thorne is a multi-generational Pendletonian who has had the opportunity to pursue a wide variety of business and political endeavors. After graduating from Washington State University he married his wife, Jill, and returned to the family farm North of Pendleton to raise their two children, Katy and Todd. In 1972 Thorne was elected to the Oregon State Senate and served for 18 years. Although serving with distinction in larger matters, he also assisted his local district by championing the Happy Canyon Gaming Act of 1972, after the county District Attorney declared the previous practice unlawful, and gained approval
of a specific liquor license for the Portland Civic Stadium and the Pendleton Round-Up. After the legislature Thorne was hired as the Executive Director of the Port of Portland. While building the Ports reputation and expanding its reach, Thorne entertained countless guests during the Round-Up from the region and internationMike Thorne ally. His Round-Up passion was planted early in his life. As a boy he stepped in the footprints of both his father, Glenn,
and grandfather Roy. After college he volunteered to help the Westward Ho! Parade under director Jack Howard. He also worked arena events for director Jim Rosenberg. During his legislative service he simultaneously provided “horse duty” while supporting his daughter Katy throughout her reigns as both Round-Up Princess and Queen. Thorne was elected to the Pendleton Round-Up Board of Directors in 2006 and served directorships in Publicity, Concessions and Sponsors. From 2008 – 2010 he chaired the Long Range Planning Committee and led the construction of the Centennial West Grandstand, refurbishing the arena track and new livestock pens. He also co-chaired the Centennial Plaza project, which created the Court Street plaza, decorative fencing and bucking horse bronze.
Thorne’s volunteer service continued after his retirement from the official board. He and Jill promote Pendleton at the Rodeo Way during the Wrangler National Finals in Las Vegas each December. Together they procured the 1913 Roy Raley saddle and have it displayed at the Round-Up and Happy Canyon Hall of Fame. Currently Thorne is working on coordinating activities to help Blue Mountain Community College establish an agricultural education facility on the Round-Up grounds and build a home for the BMCC Rodeo Team. Thorne said, “Outside of my family, this is the most prestigious recognition I have ever received. Although I have been fortunate to be a part of many endeavors, to be acknowledged by your home town is the most gratifying acceptance one could receive.”
Mary Green retiring Continued from page 2A
tion (CTUIR). “She was always patient and she never gave up on any of us. She was one that really connected with me.” Since leaving high school, Azure is part of the CTUIR Language Program and has been able to see Green often. “She still has that shine and encouraging smile,” Azure said. “It shows she’s proud to be a teacher at Nixyaawii. Seeing her always makes me smile and I’m proud to have had her as a teacher.” Green suffers most by the students who don’t make it. She takes it personally. “Anytime we have students that don’t make it, who aren’t motivated or school doesn’t work out,” Green said. “There are kids who have different learning styles that we can’t spend enough time with even in a small classroom. Their home life, not that it is our business, is where students fail. They are nice kids with potential and for whatever reason they’re not getting here. It’s frustrating and I feel somehow we’re dropping the ball and something more could have been done.” Green said the connections she’s made with students have been as diverse as each personality – and used that word “respect” again.
April 2017
“I can’t say with every child you can put a foot in a shoe and it will fit perfectly,” she said, “but you can give it unconditional … love isn’t the right word, respect I guess. It comes once they know you. You see it when they correct their peers. ‘Don’t talk that way to Mary.’ I’ve learned as much from them and their culture than they could ever learn from me.” Green said Nixyaawii “definitely” has a place on the Umatilla Indian Reservation. “It’s a home away from home, good or bad,” Green said. “I know beyond a shadow of a doubt there were kids who graduated from Nixyaawii would not have graduated otherwise. Sometimes there is a fine line between helping and enabling but I think some of our students don’t do well in large classroom settings. Here they know each other well.” At the same time, Green said, she tells her students: “I love you. Now go away. Go see what the world is like.” The loss of life has been the toughest for Green to handle. Two students, Priscilla Craig and Kanine McKay, and one Nixyaawii graduate, Martin Bettles, died since Green began teaching and several language speakers have passed . When Craig died, Green had her first experience with a Washat ceremony in the Longhouse. It made a profound impact. The death of Bettles “shook me.”
Confederated Umatilla Journal
“Anytime you lose a young person it just doesn’t feel right,” she said. “There has been a connection with the culture. At the funeral, the drum was the heartbeat and it was a feeling we don’t have in our society. Here they grieve differently … for a year and then they let it go. There is a right way to think about something.” The loss of elders, she said, has been startling. “Here we’re trying to save three languages. I wish we could get it across to the kids that this is their opportunity. Once they reach adulthood they won’t have the time to study the language. It has to be a way of life,” she said. Green said she will miss most of the students and other friends. “It’s not like friends I have tea with or go out to lunch with,” she said. “But I’d say I have as many Facebook friends from here as I do family and friends.” Green said she doesn’t know what the future holds for her and her husband, Larry. “Maybe a mentor, a sub, maybe I’ll come out to feast. This has been a big part of my life. And there’s always basketball. Once you’ve been introduced to rez ball you can’t ever go back.” Whatever it is, she won’t be far from Nixyaawii.
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Confederated Umatilla Journal
April 2017
News & Sports
Section
The monthly newspaper of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation ~ Pendleton, Oregon
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April 2017
Spring sports start The list of Native athletes participating in high school sports this spring includes players and managers from Nixyaawii Community School, WestonMcEwen High School in Athena, Pilot Rock High School, and Pendleton High School. Nixyaawii plays softball at Pilot Rock, which in return plays golf with Nixyaawii on the Wildhorse course. Here’s the list that the CUJ has so far: Nixyaawii Community School Golf – Austin Ancheta, Deven Barkley, Anthony Matamoros, Wilbur Oatman, James Penney, Tyanna Broncheau, Cloe McMichael, Susie Patrick and Alyssa Tonasket. Baseball – Joseph St. Pierre. Softball – Stacy Fitzpatrick, Kylie Mountainchief, Keala Van Horn. Spring sports page 5B
Wilbur Oatman fires at the seventh green in a golf meet in March at Wildhorse Resort Golf Course. Coach Ryan Heinrich has a full squad on his roster, but not a lot of experience.
Pepsi Best Ball April 22-23 at Wildhorse Resort Golf Course
Luke strides out
MISSION – The Pepsi 2-Man Best Ball Tournament will be held April 22-23 at the Wildhorse Golf Course. Tee times will begin at noon on Saturday and Sunday’s Shotgun will start at 9 a.m. For $270, team participants will receive a cart, unlimited range balls, complimentary beverages, and a BBQ after the second day. Green fees for three days include a practice round. The purse will be based off a full field and with additional sponsorship money the total purse will be over $13,000. Gross and net monies will be paid to each flight.
Aaron Luke, a 15-year-old freshman at Pendleton High School, runs the 100 meters, 200 meters and the 4 X 400 relay. In this photo Luke (in green) is running the 100 meters in a PHS meet against 25 other teams on March 23. Luke covered the distance in 12.4 seconds and, according to his father Marcus Luke, has a goal of running in the Olympics to beat world records set by Usain Bolt and Justin Gatlin. “I just tell him he can do anything he wants and I encourage him to be the best he can be,” Marcus said.
Wildhorse pros offering golf lessons, clinics in April MISSION – Lessons and clinics are set to start at Wildhorse Resort Golf Course. Lessons are available for juniors, singles, couples and groups. A series of three lessons includes putting, full swing, chipping and putting. All skill levels are welcome to learn with Wildhorse PGA Professional Mike Hegarty of PGA Assistant Pro Chris Stoops. Wildhorse staff will host a one-hour clinic from 5-6 p.m. to help golfers get back the swing of things. The $10 clinics are planned April 7, 15, 21 and 29. Call 541-276-5588 for more information.
The newly remodeled fitness center was celebrated by Yellowhawk employees March 23 with a ribbon cutting and demonstrations on some of the new equipment. Some of the old equipment, like hand weights, stayed in the brightly painted room. Read more on page 12B.
STATE CHAMPS Nixyaawii Golden Eagles girls win the Class 1A Girls State Basketball title, ripping Country Christian 68-39 in Baker City. More on page 6B and 7B.
Eaglehearts showcase hoop prowess The Eaglehearts – Yemowat, Saneah and Sydrah – turned in impressive basketball seasons this winter on Yakama teams. Yemowat Jay Eagleheart, an enrolled member of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, is a junior at Yakama Nation Tribal School. His team was fourth in state this year at the state tournament in Spokane. The Yakama boys won three of four games, losing their third game to the eventual state champs – Neah Bay. During the tournament, Yemowat received one of the games’ sportsmanship Player of the Game awards. He was selected this year to play at Yakama Nation Tribal School in the 2017 Native Classic in which native student athletes are selected to be showcased in an all-star game at the end of March. Saneah and Sydrah Eagleheart, both enrolled Yakama, are eighth graders. They are two of three eighth graders who made the varsity team at Yakama Nation Tribal School, which was the only team at state with eighth graders on the squad. Saneah started all year while Sydrah came off the bench to make contributions to the team. The team was eliminated in their first game by Almira Coulee Hartline, which went on to play in the tournament title game. The Eaglehearts are the children of the late Ryan Eagleheart (Umatilla) and Noelle Saluskin (Yakama) and the grandchildren of paternal grandparents Floyd (Robin) Alexander, Bobby Eagleheart, Cathy (Don) Sampson-Kruse, and maternal grandparents Delano and Philomena Saluskin.
Mixed Martial Arts returning to Widlhorse May 29 MISSION – Mixed martial arts is returning to Wildhorse May 29. Tickets go on sale April 10 at wildhorseresort.com or in person at the gifts shop at Wildhorse Casino. Tickets are $79 for premium seats, $69 for general seats, and $400 for a table of four with beverage service. Seating in the Rivers Event Center is limited. Mission Mayhem will be the third MMA fight hosted at Wildhorse Resort & Casino in conjunction with ExciteFight. ExciteFight SikJitsu is the home gym of UFC fighter Julianna Pena as well as many others. It is the premier MMA gym in the Inland Northwest and has won MMA Gym of the Year for 2001 and 2012 in the state of Washington. A minimum of 10 fights are planned at Mission Mayhem III. The feature fight is Sara Howell vs Anjela Pink. Watch the Wildhorse website for the latest fightcard updates. The show is open to all agrees. All attendees must have a ticket. A no-host will be available in Cayuse Hall.
Happy 14th Birthday Allyson “Crash” Maddern
Happy Birthday Grandma!
Love, Mom, Dad, Tank & Tazz
Roberta Williams April 16th
Love, Kateri & Kelsey
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
Are you ready for Spring Celebrations? l
Commercial and brain tanned buckskin l Tule Mats l 3 style of blankets - large stock l Lots of beadwork l Money cowrie dress l All old style trade cloth dresses
Large stock of moccasins - all sizes Extra Large Dark Otter 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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Confederated Umatilla Journal
April 2017
Summary of BOT Minutes DATE: February 6, 2017 BOT Present: Rosenda Shippentower, Treasurer; Aaron Ashley, Member; Armand Minthorn, Member; Woodrow Star, Member, and Alan Crawford, General Council Chairman. Gary Burke, BOT Chairman and Jeremy Wolf, Vice Chairman on travel status. Justin Quaempts, Acting Secretary on personal leave. Old Business. a. Three Polled Resolution: Resolution 17-012: PacifiCorp ROW Agreement; Resolution 17-013: MOA and Land Use Agreement and Resolution 17-014: Wanaket Joint Road Use. Motion passed unanimously to ratify three polled resolution 17-012, 17-013 and 17-014. Resolution 17-015: Topic: Housing Facility Site Evaluation. the BOT approved the Bowman Property as the first property of focus for initial market rate housing development; that the evaluation and analysis report shall be presented at an upcoming General Council meeting for review and comment. Motion passed unanimously to resolution 17-015. Resolution 17-016: Topic: Education Facility Site Evaluation. the BOT approved the Education Facility Site Evaluation and directed staff to move forward on the new Tribal Education Facility on the Bowman Property; the Project Team will report back to the BOT within 60 days with further refined estimated project budget, funding plan, conceptual designs, project schedule and phasing possibilities (which shall each require BOT approval in order for the project to move forward), and that the Education Facility Site Evaluation will be presented at upcoming Education and Training Committee, Economic and Community Committee and General Council meeting for review and comment. Motion passed unanimously to adopt resolution 16-016. Other Board Action: Portland Harbor Funding Participation Agreements by Naomi Stacy, Office of Legal Counsel Lead Attorney. Motion passed unanimously to sign the 13 Portland Harbor Agreements pursuant to Resolution 14-031. BOT Travel Reports. None. BOT Leave and Travel Requests. 1) Gary Burke, Polled travel, Feb. 6-8 to Portland for Tribal Water meeting. 2) Rosenda Shippentower, Travel, March 2-5 to Eugene to U of O to attend Environmental Law Conference. DATE: February 13, 2017 BOT Present: Gary Burke, BOT Chairman; Jeremy Wolf, Vice Chairman; Rosenda Shippentower, Treasurer; Kat Brigham, Secretary; Aaron Ashley, Member; Armand Minthorn, Member; Woodrow Star, Member, and Alan Crawford, General Council Chairman. Justin Quaempts, Member on personal leave to return Feb. 15. Quorum present.Resolution 17-017: Topic: Grande Ronde Partnership MOU. The B0T approved the “Memorandum of Understanding Between Union County and Partner Organizations in the Upper Grande Ronde River Watershed Management Partnership” and authorizes the Chair to sign all necessary documents to enter into this agreement. Motion passed unanimously to adopt Resolution 17-017. BOT Travel Reports. 1) Jeremy Wolf, Travel, Feb. 6-10, CRITFC meetings at Washington, DC. 2) Rosenda Shippentower, Travel, Feb. 8-10 to Salem to present testimony. BOT Leave and Travel Requests. 1) Armand Minthorn, Polled travel, Feb. 15-18 to Seattle, WA Burke Museum to help with Kennewick Man reburial. 2) Jeremy Wolf, Travel, Feb. 15-16 to Portland to attend Board Right Of First Refusal by motion at Feb. 6 BOT meeting. DATE: February 27, 2017 BOT Present: Gary Burke, BOT Chairman; Jeremy Wolf, Vice Chairman; Rosenda Shippentower, Treasurer; Kat Brigham, Secretary; Armand Minthorn, Member; and Woodrow Star, Member. Alan Crawford, General Council Chairman, Justin Quaempts, Member; Aaron Ashley, Member all on personal leave. Quorum present. Old Business. a. BOT Official Poll for Action on February 15, 2017 regarding SB 256. Move to ratify motion approving testimony on Oregon SB 256 which creates the Willamette Falls Lock Commission. The CTUIR Fish & Wildlife Commission recommends BOT support amendment that CTUIR and Warm Springs be members of the Commission. Motion carries 5-0 Resolution 17-018: Move resolution to Tribal Session. Motion carries 4 for (Kat Brigham, Armand Minthorn, Rosenda Shippentower, and Jeremy Wolf) – against (Woodrow Star) – 0 abstaining. Move to go into Executive Session to review confidential exhibit. Motion carries 4 for (Rosenda Shippentower, Jeremy Wolf, Armand Minthorn, and Kat Brigham) – 1 against (Woodrow Star) – 0 abstaining.
April 2017
Other Board Action: Commission/Committee Update by Kat Brigham, BOT Secretary. 1) & Wildlife Commission, 1 vacancy with three applications from Raphael Bill, Bud Herrera, and Candi Heay. Jeremy Wolf, Fish & Wildlife Commission (FWC) reported at the BOT work session it was asked if there was a recommendation from FWC. The FWC met and recommendation was a split vote with FWC Chair as tie breaker. ACTION: by secret ballot Bud Herrera was appointed to Fish & Wildlife Commission for 3 year term; and 2) Science & Technology Committee, 1 vacancy with 1 application from Sandra Alexander. Move to appoint Sandra Alexander by acclimation to the Science & Technology Committee for 2 year term. Motion passed unanimously. Expiring Terms: 1) John Barkley, Tribal Water Commission, term expires on February 3; 2) N. Andrew DuMont, Cultural Resource Committee, term expires on February 2; 3) Ross Simmons, TERO Commission, term expires on March 2. MOTION passed unanimously to send letters notifying members of expiration of terms and advertise for Water Commission, Cultural Resource Committee and TERO vacancies. N. Andrew DuMont sent email stating he will not reapply for position, therefore a thank you letter will be sent. Kat Brigham reported that the Water Commission let her know former BOT Secretary David Close was appointed to the Columbia River Advisory Group, therefore she will be serve on that group. She will submit resignation to Education & Training Committee and bring back ETC action. Will continue to advertise for: 1 position for Natural Resources Commission, Alternate Member for 3 year term, meet on 2nd and 4th Tues. @ 9AM; 1 position Tiicham Conservation District – 2 year term, meet 2nd & 4th Tues. @ 1PM and 1 position Umatilla Cultural Coalition (No Stipends) – meet as needed. All applications will be due Monday, March 20 by 4:00PM. A BOT work session will be scheduled Friday, March 24 at 8:30 AM to review applications and will take action on the application appointments on Monday, March 27. BOT Travel Reports. 1) deferred. BOT Leave and Travel Requests. 1) Armand Minthorn, Travel, March 13-17 to Denver, CO to attend NAGPRA Review Committee meeting. DATE: March 6, 2017 BOT Present: Gary Burke, BOT Chairman; Jeremy Wolf, Vice Chairman; Rosenda Shippentower, Treasurer; Kat Brigham, Secretary; Aaron Ashley, Member; Woodrow Star, Member, and Alan Crawford, General Council Chairman. Justin Quaempts, Member and Armand Minthorn, Member both on personal leave. Quorum present. Resolution 17-019: Topic: BIA Non-Base Funding Proposal – Invasive Species Management Plan. The BOT supports the efforts outlined in the 2017 Non-Base Funding and the request for $75,000 to carry out these efforts, and authorizes the submission of the proposal on behalf of the Confederated Tribes; the BOT requests that the Bureau of Indian Affairs fund its 2017 Non-Base Funding Proposal in its entirety. Motion passed unanimously to adopt Resolution 17-019. Resolution 17-020: Topic: Healing Lodge of Seven Nations Establishment of Outpatient Mental Health Clinic. The Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation grants permission to the Healing Lodge of the Seven Nations to establish an outpatient Mental Health Clinic to address the substance abuse and mental health needs of Tribal members and others, and to amend their Indian Health Service’s Annual Funding Agreement for this purpose. Motion passed unanimously to adopt Resolution 17-020. Other Board Action: 2017 Commission/Committee (C/C) Annual Report to BOT Schedule. A motion passed unanimously to approve the amended memo to send to C/C chairs and support staff identifying an annual report C/C schedule. BOT Travel Reports. 1) Jeremy Wolf, March 4 to The Dalles for Townhouse meeting with Sen. Merkley. 2) Kat Brigham, Feb. 20 to Milton-Freewater to attend monthly Walla Walla Basin Watershed Council meeting. BOT Leave and Travel Requests. 1) Jeremy Wolf, Travel, March 14-16 to Portland for US v. OR meeting. 2) Alan Crawford, Travel, April 17-20 to Snoqualmie, WA to attend Pacific NW Spring TERO Conference. 3) Kat Brigham, Travel, March 8-9 to Olympia, WA to meet with Columbia River Policy Advisory Group. Travel, March 20-21 to Olympia, WA to meet with WA State reps. 4) Woodrow Star, Travel, April 9-14 to San Diego, CA to attend annual National Indian Gaming Association Conference.
EMPLOYEES OF THE MONTH!
Supervisor Leticia Cardenas,
Support Connie Leinweber,
Front Line Cody Britton,
Leticia works hard planning, setting up, executing and cleaning up banquets and events. TC makes sure everyone on her team knows when/where to be to create a balanced atmosphere for employees and patrons alike.
Connie has many different tasks assigned to her and works very hard to do them correctly and in a timely manner. Connie helps out wherever and whenever she is needed.
Cody has a unique ability to face anything with a positive and none bias approach; making the guests issues his primary concern. Cody has a way of making anyone smile.
Casino • Hotel • Golf • Cineplex • RV • Museum • Dining • Travel Plaza 800.654.9453 \\ Pendleton, OR \\ I-84, Exit 216 \\ wildhorseresort.com
EASTERN OREGON CENTER FOR
INDEPENDENT LIVING A Global Disability Resource and Advocacy Center EOCIL is a proud supporter of the CTUIR community and other communities and programs that promote and value inclusion, equality and opportunities for people with disabilities and elders. EOCIL is a disability resource and advocacy enter that provides an array of services for people with disabilities or seniors. These services are designed to empower clients to improve the quality of their lives and promote full access to society. EOCIL is operated by people with disabilities and seniors who themselves have been successful in establishing independent lives. These individuals have both the training and the personal experience to know exactly what is needed to live independently.
Services Available: - Informational and Referral - Independent Living Skills Training (budgeting and financial management, cooking, application assistance, etc.) - Peer Counseling - Individual Advocacy - Life Transitions (school to employment, home to home, corrections to community, etc.)
- Support Groups - Youth Mentoring Project - Representative Payee Project - Emergency Financial Assistance - Accessibility Assistance - HIV/AIDS Independent Living Project - And many other services
EOCIL has three locations: 322 SW 3rd St., Suite 6, Pendleton, Ore. webpage: www.eocil.org Email: eocil@eocil.org 541-276-1037 711 Relay Toll free: 1-877-711-1037 1021 SW 5th Avenue, Ontario, Ore. 541-889-3119 Voice 711 Relay Toll free 1-866-248-8369
Confederated Umatilla Journal
The Dalles Office 400 East Scenic Drive Building 2, Third Floor, Suite 2 The Dalles, Oregon 541-370-2810 Toll free: 1-866-248-8369
Providing services in Harney, Malheur, Baker, Union, Grant, Wallowa, Umatilla, Morrow, Wheeler and Gilliam, Wasco, Sherman and Hood River counties.
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Wildhorse Foundation passes $10 million mark in 2016 PENDLETON – The Wildhorse Foundation, a community benefit fund established by the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR) to support organizations in northeastern Oregon and southeastern Washington, has passed the $10 million mark. This threshold was reached as the result of the fourth quarter grant cycle. Since its inception in 2001, the Foundation has distributed almost $10.3 million to more than 1,750 local and regional non-profits. “This is a huge milestone for the Wildhorse Foundation,” said Umatilla County Commissioner George Murdock, who serves as Chairman of the Foundation Board. “The Confederated Tribes have a rich tradition of sharing and giving back to the area, and this is really a monumental benchmark. A study of history actually reveals that Native Americans have a culture of giving and sharing dating back hundreds, if not thousands of years and our Board is proud to be able to contribute to that legacy.” Murdock went on to point out “the groups the Wildhorse Foundation supports are groups that serve our communities and help improve the quality of life for all of us in Eastern Oregon and Washington. Those organizations along with organizations like the Wildhorse Foundation are what make our area such a special place to live and work.” The Foundation makes distributions on a quarterly basis and receives more requests than it can fund. “Usually, the requests are about three to four times our capacity so it becomes very difficult to make choices,” Murdock said. “However, the Board has established a clear focus which guides our work and we try very hard to make investments which have the greatest impact on our communities.” Nearly $3.6 million of the funding has gone to educational initiatives, followed by public safety and public health. However, the Wildhorse Foundation Board will consider awarding grants to applications that cover the areas of arts and cultural activities, historic preservation, environmental protection, salmon restoration and gambling addiction services as well. The 28 awards for the fourth quarter of 2016 total $205,369, bringing the bringing the total for 2016 alone to $886,488.47. Two organizations received $12,000 and nine others received $10,000 each. Camp Wallowa received $12,000 to renovate A-frame cabins at Enterprise at its “Creating Memories for Disabled Children” program. Echo School District also received $12,000 for a community meeting and fitness center project.
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Organizations receiving at least $10,000 were: CTUIR Department of Information Technology, Mission, for a Historic Record Development Project. Willow Creek Park District, Heppner, for a pool park. Morrow County Museum, Heppner, a new building for the display and storage of agricultural equipment that contains wooden parts and shop area for the repair and refurbishing of antique equipment. Nez Perce Wallowa Homeland, Wallowa,
Confederated Umatilla Journal
interpretive plan implementation at Nez Perce Wallowa Homeland. Umatilla County Fair, Hermiston, ADA/safety access corridor paving. Union High School District #5, Union, new hardwood gym floor. University of Oregon, ($10,250) Northwest Indian Language Institute, Eugene, “Carrying Our Languages Forward: Youth Leadership.” Elgin Health Care District, ($10,400), Elgin, Phase 2 – Good Health, Strong Community campaign. Friends of the Fair and Rodeo, Hermiston, development of the facilities for the fair and rodeo at the Eastern Oregon Trade and Event Center site. Other organizations funded in the fourth quarter for 2016 are: American Indian Science and Engineering, Richland, Washington, $2,275 to the Native American STEM Education Enhancement. Athena-Weston School District, Athena, $7,500 for student safet6y through improved communications systems. City of Pendleton, Chief of Police, $3,678 for Police Department Defensive Tactics Training program. Columbia River Community Health Services, Boardman, $3.500 to purchase medical equipment. Divide Camp, Joseph, $3,955 for an improvement project at the camp. Domestic Violence Services, Pendleton, $6,000 for safety and health improvements for Awakening House Shelter and Advocacy Center. Eastern Oregon Legacy Lands Fund, Joseph, $3,000 for Discovery Room enhancement. Eastern Oregon Mediation Center, La Grande, $3,000, for Restorative Justice for firsttime juvenile offenders. Edith Bishel Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired, Kennewick, Washington, $3,400, for children and families. Greater Eastern Oregon Development Corporation, Pendleton, $3,500 to upgrade computer equipment and software. Guardian Care Center, Pendleton, $2,950 to upgrade technology/recording system. Irrigon Elementary School, Irrigon, $5,000 for music enrichment opportunity. Kiwanis Club of Milton-Freewater, $4,000 for Friday Food Bags. Libraries of Eastern Oregon, Baker City, $1,750 for The Big Eclipse 2017. Main Street Cowboys, Pendleton, $5,000 for Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) access improvements. Martin Scout Ranch, Kennewick, $7,000 to replace roof on Rosenberg Homestead Ranch Maryhill Museum of Art, Goldendale, Washington, $1,000 for Museum Week: Shadow Play Milton-Freewater Senior Center, $5,000 for resurfacing and repair of asphalt parking lot. Oregon Agriculture in the Classroom Foundation, Corvallis, $1,000 for Eastern Oregon Agriculture Field Days. Pendleton Fire Department, Pendleton, $8,400 for IV (intravenous) pump assistance. Pilot Rock High School, $7,000 for renovation of junior high computer lab. Riverside High School, Boardman, $7,500 for community track repair and resurfacing. Sam Boardman Elementary, Boardman, $8,000 for phase 1 playground renovation. St. Mary’s Outreach, Pendleton, $6,000 to buy groceries for food bank. Sunridge Middle School, Pendleton, $7,488, for a set of Google Chromebooks for a sixth grade English Language Arts classroom. Wallowa Lake Camp, Wallowa, $4,000 for Horse Camps for Niimiipuu Children and youth.
The Wildhorse Foundation Board will celebrate the $10 million accomplishment as well as the recipient groups helping others at their annual luncheon May 9. The quarterly deadlines for requests are Jan. 1, April 1, July 1 and Oct. 1. For more information about Wildhorse Foundation guidelines or to receive an application, visit www.TheWildhorseFoundation.com.
April 2017
CUJ Sports Weston shoot out Madgi Moses and Chris Minthorn battle for position in one of the game played March 17 and 18 in Weston. The tournament was organized by Dionne Bronson and Casey Picard and included mostly local teams from Mission and Pendleton.
State champs The Cayuse Young Chiefs won the Oregon Middle School Basketball Championship against Gladstone by 26 points. The tournament was held in the Bend/Redmond/Sisters area of Oregon where the boys took the Sixth Grade Silver Division. There were 28 teams in that division. On the team were nine players from the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation and one member of the Three Affiliated Tribes of North Dakota. The squad was coached by Jeremy Barkley. Contributed photo
Fun Run looking for 2017 logo
CUJ photos/Dallas Dick
Irvin Stewart reaches for the basketball on his way toward the basket in one of the little kids games in Weston.
MISSION – A logo contest is being held by the Yellowhawk Fun Run and deadline is April 17. All artists are able to participate in the contest and can submit multiple entries. Each entry must be in a high resolution jpeg file and include the description “35th annual” as well as
the year “2017”. For more information visit www.yellowhawk.org/event-calendar or contact Shoshoni Walker at 541-429-4933 or at ShoshoniWalker@yellowhawk.org. Inquiries can also be directed to Jennifer Peterson at 541-969-1976 or JenniferPeterson@yellowhawk.org.
Spring sports Pendleton High School Softball - Kiaya Spencer, Sequoia Suppah, Korie Spencer, Chelsey Farrow. Baseball - Jonathan Begay. Track - Aaron Luke. Weston-McEwen High School Softball - Emma Burke, Tyree Burke,
Kaeleh Hall. Baseball - Brenden Deering, Shaw Broncheau. Pilot Rock High School Baseball - Track Denny, Tanner Bates manager Softball - Tehya Ostrom
Congratulations Nawinathla!!!
Sofi George dribbles down the court in one of many contests played in the upper and lower gyms in the Weston Middle School.
We are proud of you!! Coach Janet & Coach Desiree
Congratulations to Bryson Picard on 20 years with Pioneer Construction! Bryson Picard, hired April 1, 1997 when he was 19, is celebrating his 20th year working for Pioneer Construction. Bryson, a member of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, is the son of Al Picard (deceased), and Robin and James Turk; grandson of William H. Burke and Delores Stevens Folkner (deceased) and Clarence Picard (deceased) and Angela Picard (deceased). Bryson attended school in Pendleton until his sixth year when the family moved to Irrigon. He attended school in Irrigon and graduated from Riverside High School in Boardman in 1996. He moved to Seattle for a short time after graduation before returning to Pendleton where he started work at Pioneer. Bryson has two boys, Brock and Brayden, that he is raising as a single father with help from his significant other, Amada Tinhof.
www.pioneerasphaltinc.com
April 2017
CBB#41934
Pioneer Construction 73569 McKay Lane ~ Pendleton, OR Bryson Picard with his boys: Brayden on the left and Brock on the right. Bryson will celebrate a Happy Birthday on April 15.
541-276-7885
Concrete is an investment and we are here in the community to provide that service.
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2017 STATE CHAMPIONS! Nixyaawii girls go unbeaten; run away with title Golden Eagles win 27 straight and win second state title BAKER CITY – It was kind of exciting for the first quarter. But with a halftime lead of 42-19, the only thing left was going up and down the floor for another 16 minutes before the nets were cut down and the trophies presented to the Oregon Class 1A State Champions. The girls from Nixyaawii Community School actually trailed by a point to Country Christian with about three minutes to play in the first quarter but it was all over but the shouting at half. There really wasn’t much need for shouting either, but the stalwart fans from “Mish-What Mission” kept the cheering up until the last fans filtered out of the gym. Mary Stewart, everybody’s consensus player of the tournament, didn’t score until in the first seven minutes of the first quarter then went on a tear, finishing with 28 points in the first half to put the game on ice. The Nixyaawii squad relaxed in the second half scoring one point less than Stewart did in the first half. Stewart finished with 34 points on 13 of 23 shooting, including 3 of 7 three pointers. She had 7 steals, 6 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 blocked shots. Pitching in for the lop-sided 68-39 title game was fellow first-tournament all-star Milan Schimmel who had 14 points on 5 of 13 shooting, 7 rebounds and 3 steals. Kaitlynn Melton, the girl inside, scored 10 points to go with 8 rebounds. It was win number 27 without a loss and Nixyaawii’s second state title. The Golden Eagles won the championship in similar uninspiring fashion in 2011. After the loss, Country Christian Coach Russel Halverson said his Cougars were beat by a better team. “Everybody thinks it’s about Schimmel and Mary (Stewart) but that (Kaitlynn) Melton girl is a motor. She is quick,” Halverson said. “And Sunshine (Fuentes) had some blocks inside that we weren’t expecting. And the pace of 32 (Ella Mae Looney)…” Said Halverson, “We didn’t get beat in any one facet of the game today, we got beat in several. It won’t be hard for me to turn the page on this one because we just got beat by a better team.” Schimmel, who joined the Golden Eagles four games into the season, said her junior year has been a great experience. “It was a lot of fun to play with these girls. It was emotional and I’m proud to be part of this,” she said. “I’ve spent a lot of time running with these girls.” Schimmel said the Golden Eagles came into the championship game knowing Country Christian was a good squad. (Nixyaawii had defeated the Cougars by only three points in the first game of the season.) “We knew we had to be prepared mentally. Jeremy (Maddern) said we needed to be tough mentally for anyState Champions Page 12B
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Mary Stewart drives against a pair of Arlington players in Nixyaawii’s semifinals win 51-27 on March 3 in Baker City in the Class 1A Girls Basketball State Championship. Stewart had a poor shooting night but pulled down 10 rebounds, had eight steals and five assists.
Milan Schimmel, always a steady hand for the Golden Eagles, played the second most minutes behind Mary Stewart. In three games she averaged 13 points, nine rebounds and 3.7 steals. Her best game was against Powder Valley when she had 17 points, 11 rebounds, five steals and three blocked shots. Watching from the Nixyaawii bench are coaches, from left, assistants Alan Crawford and Aaron Noisey and Head Coach Jeremy Maddern.When the season began in December, even before Schimmel arrived, Maddern predicted a state title.
Confederated Umatilla Journal
April 2017
The Nixyaawii Golden Eagles, 2017 Class 1A State Champions, front row next to bracket are Milan Schimmel and Kaitlynn Melton at left and Susie Patrick on the right. Standing from left are Tyanna Broncheau, Assistant Coach Aaron Noisey, Mary Stewart, Sunshine Fuentes, Alyssa Tonasket, Ella Mae Looney, Stacy Fitzpatrick, Kylie Mountainchief, Tristalynn Melton, Ermia Butler, Lark Moses, Assistant Coach Alan Crawford and Head Coach Jeremy Maddern.
CUJ photos by Wil Phinney
First all-tournament teammates Mary Stewart and Milan Schimmel posed for photos after the game.
Drummers at the state tournament included, from left, Lucas Arellanes, Gabe Picarad, Wilbur Oatman, Kelsey Burns, Charles Wood III, and Elijah Bevis.
Country Christian had no answer for Mary Stewart when she drove the right baseline in the first half. Here Jasmin Griffith tries in vain to stop the Nixyaawii guard who scored 28 points in the first two quarters to lead the Golden Eagles to a 42-19 halftime lead.
April 2017
Kaitlynn Melton played big inside for the Golden Eagles. She had some trouble with fouls, but still used her time on the floor to average almost 11 points, 7 rebounds and 2 steals a game. Her best game came against Arlington when she scored 17, had 7 rebounds and 3 steals.
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Muriel Hoisington played for InterTeam Elite, a squad coached by Cece Moses. Many teams consisted of players from different hometowns that joined forces to play in the tournament. For example, Mary Stewart from Mission, played with the Cuties, a team with players mostly from Richland, Washington.
BAAD NEWS
Taylor Quaempts isn’t about to let anything or anyone get between her and the bucket during the BAAD tournament played on the Umatilla Indian Reservation.
MISSION - Once again, countless volunteers put their hearts to the hardwood for another successful another Basketball Against Alcohol and Drugs tournament. More than 75 teams filled brackets for players from ages 9 to 18 with another dozen teams in the younger 6-8 year old competition. Teams came from Oregon, Washington and Idaho to play. They had team names like Wip Wip and Party Cows, Cuties and The Enemy. The word was that the best barn-burner was a 12-14 boys game between Show Time and Yakama. Seems a player violated the free throw lane with only seconds left and wiped off the tying bucket. But that’s basketball. Just ask the Oregon Ducks or the Gonzaga Bulldogs. Here are the results: 6-8 co-ed – 1, All Valley Elite. 2, Party Cows. 3, Rez Ballers. Ms. Hustle-Ruby Truella Mr. Hustle-Xavier Castillega 9-11 girls – 1, Underdog Elite. 2, Magical Moves. 3, Tune Squad. MVP - Naveah Patterson, Underdog Elite, Yakima, Wash. Ms. Hustle - Lynnea Moran, Tune Squad, Kennewick, Wash.
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Lily Langford goes around a defender in a co-ed game. More than 50 teams from Oregon, Washington and Idaho came to play in the annual tournament.
With 6.2 seconds left on the clock, Easton Redelk from Show Time shoots a free throw that would have tied the game but for a lane violation.
All Stars: Jordan Espinoza, Underdog Elite, Wapato, Wash.; Mariah Balli, Underdog Elite, Sunnyside, Wash.; Aaliyah Marchand, Magical Moves, Omak Wash.; Sasha Esquiro, Magical Moves, Warm Springs, Ore.; Rylan Davis, Tune Squad, Warm Springs, Ore . 9-11 boys – 1, Idaho Phenoms. 2, Wip Wip. 3, River Monsters. Boys MVP - Jamil Miller, Idaho Phenoms, Spokane, Wash. Mr. Hustle - Chase Marchand, Wip Wip, Omak, Wash. All Stars: Ahlias Yearout, Idaho Phenoms, Lapwai, Idaho; Kase Whynott, Idaho Phenoms, Craigmont, Idaho; Mason Brown, Wip Wip, Lapwai, Idaho; Champ Powaukee, Wip Wip, Lapwai, Idaho; Skytus Smith, River Monsters, Warm Springs, Ore. 12-14 girls – 1, NW Heat. 2,Team Flight. 3, Native Storm. MVP: Ashlynn Wallace, NW Heat, Lapwai, Idaho Ms. Hustle: Illy Moran, Team Flight, Kennewick, Wash. All Stars: Laura Smith, Team Flight, Richland, Wash., Armani Davis, Team Flight, Richland, Wash., Aislin Fiander, NW Heat, Richland, Wash., Jayda Noble, NW Heat, Medical Lake, Wash., Chaia Powaukee, Native Storm, Lapwai, Idaho. 12-14 boys – 1, Mission Bulls. 2, Cayuse Young Chiefs. 3,
Confederated Umatilla Journal
Legacy. MVP - Christian Mendoza, Mission Bulls, Richland, Wash. Mr. Hustle - Tyason Burns, Cayuse Young Chiefs All Stars: Moses Moses, Mission Bulls, Pendleton, Ore.; Dakota Sam, Mission Bulls, Pendleton, Ore.; Dapri Miller, Cayuse Young Chiefs, Warm Springs, Ore.; Delshae Gower, Cayuse Young Chiefs, Puyallip, Wash.; Mylo Jones, Legacy, Yakima, Wash. 15-18 girls – 1, Cuties. 2, Bandits. 3, Inter Tribal Elite. MVP: Kamri VonOelhoffen, Cuties, Richland, Wash. Ms. Hustle: JaCinta Buckley, InterTribal Elite, Spokane, Wash. All Stars: Mary Stewart, Cuties, Mission, Ore.; Nicole Gall, Cuties, Richland, Wash.; Trista Takes The Enemy, Bandits, Wapato, Wash.; Ashley Anderson, Bandits, Portland, Ore.; JaCinta Buckley, InterTribal Elite, Spokane, Wash. 15-18 boys – 1, Lapwai. 2, Rez Royal. 3, Wapato Wolves. MVP: Xavier Rambo, Lapwai, Hermiston, Ore. Mr. Hustle: Bryon Strom, Thunder, White Swan, Wash. All Stars: Emmit Taylor, Lapwai, Lapwai, Idaho; Quentin Raynor, Lapwai, Vancouver, Wash.; Peyton Sobotta, Rez Royal, Clarkston, Wash.; Mick Shimmel, Rez Royal, Mission, Ore.; Everett How, Wapato Wolves, Wapato, Wash.
April 2017
Sistine Moses drives to the baseline past a defender in a game for Rising Stars in the 9-10 girls bracket.
CUJ Photos by Dallas Dick
Teegan Hererra battles for the ball during a 6-8-year-old co-ed game on the final days of the tournament. He played for Cor Sams’ Rez Ballerz team from Mission.
Simon Picard drives to the basket in one of many games played over six days of Spring vacation in the annual Basketball Against Alcohol and Drugs tournament.
Youth engage in prevention classes Prevention classes were held throughout the BAAD tournament. There were a variety of topics covered such as tobacco prevention, anti-bullying, and healthy decision making. These classes are considered the heart of the tournament by showing youth a healthy alternative to drugs and alcohol. Yellowhawk Tribal Health Center was the host and coordinator of the sessions. In the above photo, players ages 6-8 partake in an icebreaker during a session taught by Josepohine Buck. Looking at the camera, in blue, is Haydyn Crossdog. His team mates Delton Switzler and Anhea Peters have their eyes on the instructor. In the right photo, students ages 9-11 particiapte in a group discussion by raising their hands to answer questions.
April 2017
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Community Wellness
Patient room located at Cayuse Technologies where employees can go for primary and preventative care.
Shawn Joseph, Rhonda Nerenberg, Tammy McGill, and Dr. Russ Harrison stand in front of the patient room and nurse’s office located inside of Cayuse Technologies.
Wellness program sees 83% improvement New clinic at Cayuse Technologies reduces insurance costs and unwanted health risks too By Miranda Vega Rector of the CUJ
MISSION - He just couldn’t quench his thirst. He tried water, soda, and juice but something didn’t feel right. That’s when Shawn Joseph went to see Nurse Rhonda Nerenberg at his workplace’s on-site Wellness Center. After a quick pricking of his finger, his blood sugar measurements came back in the 800’s – much higher than the non-fasting average rate of 180 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dl), according to the Mayo Clinic website. “They said I could have been in a diabetic coma,” said Joseph, a member of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation. The very next day he had further labs ordered at Yellowhawk Tribal Health Center that tested his A1C hemoglobin levels at around 12 percent. Normal range is between 4-5.6 percent. Within a week he was on a health program that focused on diet change and light exercise. “If it wasn’t for having the nurse here I probably would never had gone in to get checked,” said Joseph. Joseph has worked at Cayuse Technologies (CT) for eight years and he is one of 70 percent of employees who is participating in their on-site Wellness Program which was implemented at the beginning of 2016 in order to cut health insurance rates. “It was put in place to help employees get healthier because the insurance costs were too high,” said Nerenberg. “Most of our employees didn’t have a primary provider and many would use the ER when they had a problem.” In addition to the Wellness Program, having a clinic onsite also offers employees easy access to health care. Employees can make same day appointments with Nerenberg through text or email. For example, if an employee has a sore throat, they can schedule to see her
during their lunch break. Nerenberg can then look them over and swab their mouth for further testing. This way the employee doesn’t have to leave work and go to an outside entity thus exhausting their leave. Nerenberg also assists with prescription refills and ordering labs, among other needs. Although she is stationed at CT, her employer is Dr. Russ Harrison of Harrison Family Medicine in Pendleton. For health issues that cannot be addressed by Nerenberg, Dr. Harrison is at the CT one Tuesday a month and Physician’s Assistant Erika Acunna is present every Friday. “The company thought that if they could figure out how to help employees get preventative care to address health conditions early, they theorized they could save money,” said Nerenberg. And they have. As of early March, 91 percent of wellness goals that were set by employees through the program were met. Because of this, there’s been an 83 percent improvement in overall cholesterol, 13 employees have quit smoking, they’ve seen a 14 percent decrease in A1C Hemoglobin labs, and employees have shed a total of 800 pounds. “We’re using less insurance dollars because it’s not being used at a hospital or at an ER, instead it’s being used on primary care,” said Nerenberg. “Based on the numbers from last year, I think Cayuse can’t afford to no longer do it [the Wellness Center]. It’s been very beneficial at saving the company money.” The program also helps the employees save money. By meeting three objectives, they earn credit toward their portion of the health insurance premium of $75 a month. The objectives are accessing and identifying problems, addressing health issues by setting up goals, and promoting healthy activities and improving quality of life. For employee Tammy McGill, the money incentive
was her main reason for taking advantage of the program. “I wasn’t into it,” said McGill. “We’ve had several different wellness programs before so I was thinking ‘OK, another program to go through.’ I went in with an attitude. “Other programs would just check your levels and if you passed you got the money discounted. The difference with this one was accountability,” she said. After McGill met with the nurse, they determined the goal would be to lower her insulin intake through better management of her diabetes. Nerenberg lent three videos to McGill to get a better perspective on ways to help her condition. It took two months for McGill to find the motivation to watch them. “I think Rhonda was frustrated with me. She kept asking ‘did you watch the videos yet?’” said McGill. Once she watched them, she began a low carb diet and put into effect what she learned from the videos. Although McGill already walked during work breaks, receiving a fitbit was an accountability tool that continued to motivate her. After two months she was able to get off 80 units of insulin and her A1C levels dropped by .5 mg/dl. As a “bonus,” according to McGill, she lost 16 pounds. “I feel better, I’m not as tired,” said McGill. “I can do more with my kids. I’m not going home and falling asleep in my chair, which was the biggest one for me. I want to be there to see my 9 year old graduate from college.” For Joseph, his four children were also a motivator. “If I didn’t make the changes that I made, I’d be looking death in the face by 55 or 60. I have kids… that would be too young,” said Joseph, who is 45 years old. “It’s kind of nice to sit down with people and say ‘this is the road you are on … let’s slow down,’” said Nerenberg.
WW OB/GYN to help out at YTHC MISSION – Dr. Joe Wujek of Walla Walla will be the locum OB/GYN for Yellowhawk Tribal Health Center (YTHC) for three weeks from April 19 to May 3 while Family Nurse Practitioner Karen Cook is on leave. Wujek, whose main practice is at the Walla Walla Women’s Clinic, will be working during the Wednesday Women’s Health Clinics. During the clin-
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ics, YTHC patients can receive prenatal care, postnatal care, or help with family planning. According to an email sent out by Cook, Wujek said he “chose OB/GYN as a career because of the ability to follow patients throughout their adult lives, from childhood to menopause and beyond.” To make an appointment with Dr. Wujek, call YTHC at 541-966-9830.
Confederated Umatilla Journal
Month April 2017
Community Wellness
Participants of Kick Butts Day stand by the #NotAReplacement sign they put up on the fence at the July Grounds.The “tag” is a social networking effort to stand up against big tobacco companies.
‘Kick Butts Day’ aims to boot tobacco off Reservation portance of Younger Adults” produced by R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company, the second largest MISSION – In an effort to sever tobacco company in the U.S. The specific copy the ties between big tobacco and along with many others can be found at https:// high school students, Kick Butts Day www.industrydocumentslibrary.ucsf.edu/tobacco/. took place March 15 on the Umatilla From that quote, the Kick Butts organization Indian Reservation. started the social networking effort #NotaReplaceThe effort was initiated by the Alment. Students and adults can show their support cohol and Drug Prevention Program by posting photos of themselves holding a Kick of Yellowhawk Tribal Health Center Butts sign with a handwritten note about who in collaboration with the Northwest they are. Some signs say “Not a replacement. I Portland Area Indian Health Board am a non-smoker” or “Not a replacement. I am a (NPAIHB) and Nixyaawii Commuperson powerful beyond measure.” nity School (NCS). After the tobacco class, an awareness walk was A youth training on “Tobacco held. Participants then gathered next to the July 101” during the “Native Stands” LeAnne Alexander of Yellowhawk Tribal Health Center leads the “Kick Butts Walk” and in Grounds and Mission Road and used the fence to class at NCS was presented by two pursuit is Rena Smith, Ryan Sealey, Priscilla Sealey, Antoinette Aguirre, and in the far back make a #NotaReplacement sign out of paper cups. representatives of NPAIHB, Ryan is Deb Shipppentower. Wenona Scott, program manager at YTHC, Sealey and Antoinette Aguirre. They said she would like to see an annual celebration of companies thriving. taught the freshman, sophomores Kick Butts Day in Mission and she hopes to bring “Younger adults are the only source of replacement it back for 2018. and juniors about the effects of tobacco and how their age group is the target market to keep the tobacco smokers,” read a copy of a document titled “The Im“I want to get the community involved,” said Scott. By the CUJ
April 2017
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At left, Shoshoni Walker, Health Promotion Specialist at Yellowhawk Tribal Health Center, shows Yellowhawk CEO Tim Gilbert the functions of a stairmaster machine while Jennifer Peterson, another health promotion specialist, shows Natasha Herrera, what to do on another new exercise machine in the remodeled fitness center. Below, Gilbert and Karen Cook, family nurse practitioner, cut the grand re-opening ribbon at a brief ceemony March 24 for the remodeled fitness center. Jennifer Peterson, a health promotion specialist, holds one end of the ribbon, while other Yellowhawk employees gather in the background.
Yellowhawk re-opens remodeled fitness center MISSION – A bright inviting atmosphere and new state-of-the-art equipment now greets exercise enthusiasts when they open the key lock door to the remodeled Nixyaawii Fitness Center on the Umatilla Indian Reservation. Yellowhawk Tribal Health Center CEO Tim Gilbert and Karen Cook, family nurse practitioner, cut a grand reopening ribbon held by Shoshoni Walker and Jennifer Peterson, both Health Promotion Specialists, on March 24, while several employees
from Yellowhawk looked on and a couple of young women lifted weights. “This remodel is wonderful because it is creating a welcoming fitness atmosphere that community members will be excited to use,” said Walker. “The hope is to promote physical activities and healthy behaviors through a culture of wellness.” With a fresh coat of white paint, the fitness room looks bigger. And even though the room’s dimensions are the same, a new configuration makes it
seem to hold more equipment as well. New equipment includes a leg extension/leg curl machine, leg press, elliptical, SciFit products, Precor FTS Glide Trainer, StairMaster Stepmill, and two treadmills. Also added are two new benches, a rack for weighted balls, six small TVs and two larger TVs. The new equipment is in addition to what was already in the fitness center – free weights, dumbbells, a 45-pound bar, a Smith machine, a squat rack, stationary bike, recumbent buke, kettle
bells, plus weight/medicine balls. Also added during the remodel are a message board, an updated sign at the entrance with rules and donor names, new window blinds and a new sealant on the floor. The opportunity to remodel the Nixyaawii Fitness Center was provided by the Diabetes Program, Yellowhawk administration, Center for Disease Control Good Health and Wellness in Indian Country Program, and Community Health.
State champions Continued from page 6B
thing they threw at us.” Schimmel said. Stewart, another junior, remembered that early game against the Cougars. “We knew we had to push ourselves,” she said. “That was our goal because we knew we’d see them again.” Fuentes, a senior finishing her high school hoop career with a state title, had to sit out much of the season with a dislocated knee. When it continued to hamper her movement on offense, she decided to put more emphasis on defense. “I felt I had to step up my defense because I didn’t have to rotate my knee,” she said. She was initially out two weeks. She came back too soon and had to sit four weeks. She came back on Schimmel’s first game against Cove and her knee locked up again. “It sucked, not being able to play with all the people I grew up with,” Fuentes said. Looney, another junior, was a defensive specialist whose main duty was forcing dribblers to go left and try for steals. She was under the weather but it didn’t stop her from enjoying the big show in Baker City. “It was awesome to bring home another board,” she said.
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Confederated Umatilla Journal
April 2017
Thank You Letters WITH THE AMERICAN LEGION 98TH BIRTHDAY Celebration completed, I want to take this opportunity to show appreciation to all the volunteers that made this event possible. Gary George, key note speaker at the NixYa-Wii Warriors Memorial delivered a comprehensive presentation about the “Making of the Memorial.” We thank Robin Alexander, Linda Hettinga, Sadie Mildenberger and Pam Castoldi, panel members for taking a Saturday morning to address the veterans and community on “Accessing Your Healthcare” benefits. We appreciate Elizabeth Estabrooks for bringing the “I Am Not Invisible” exhibit and the ongoing support from the Oregon Department of Veterans Affairs, and Randy Melton for displaying the “I Am Not Invisible” exhibit at Tamastslikt Cultural Institute. We appreciate Debra Shippentower, Roberta Kipp, Michael Ray Johnson, Joann Malumaleumu, Jay Stanley and Celeste Watchman for the donations; Kelsey Burns, Debbie Penny, William Showaway; Leland Shippentower for whipping together a drum group and Sissy Johnson for the Good Vibes Tribute. We am thankful for the support of the vendors Helena Wolfe, CAPECO, Susie Calhoun, Vocational Rehabilitation, Rosa Macias, Veteran Mobile Unit, Glenn Scott and Jennifer Olsen, Umatilla County Veteran Service Officers Countless applause for Linda Jones for the fantastic meal, Andrew Wildbill for keeping us in line and Richard Sams for being the emcee, and the Yakama Warriors conducting yet another flawless rifle salute. Toni Cordell Commander American Legion George St. Denis Post 140 DEAR DR. RON POND AND THE MITCHELL POND SCHOLARSHIP COMMITTEE, I have been delaying writing this letter as the life of a student/athlete is a busy one. My mom has also wanted me to make sure I get a nice shirt, hat or sweatshirt, with the correct size for Ron. The store has finally got some new merchandise. The scholarship that I received last semester was not only put to good use and toward my education, it was a real honor to be one of the first recipients of such a prestigious award. I knew Mitch, not only through my mom, but also playing in the BAAD tournament for several years. He would always love to watch us Nimiipuu boys play in our games. He also loved announcing our games. My mom talked to him a lot and would often ask how his parents were doing. Many times she would spend hours with Janie Pond while she was laid up in bed. My mom sure enjoyed those visits. I hope to make your committee proud of selecting me. I made the President’s/ Dean’s list the first semester. My GPA was above 3.5. College work is hard work, but I really enjoy it here at the United Tribes and I have made many friends. This is a good school for moving on to a career or even a four-year school. Two things that have happened while I have been here - one is the #NoDapl started about two weeks before I got to college, so I have been out to the protests a few times. That is something that not every new freshman student has right in their backyard. As my mother says, it is the largest standoff in modern Indian history and here it is just minutes away. Secondly, I have started to learn to bead, which is sure fun and exciting. I sent my grandfather my first medicine bag as he is suffering with pneumonia. I certainly would have a harder time financially without the help of the Mitch Pond Memorial Scholarship. I can’t thank you enough for thinking of me. My whole goal is to live up to Mitch Pond’s work ethic, love for sports, and good sportsmanship as a recipient of his scholarship. He was a good friend and someone who we always looked forward to seeing each year. Mitch will always be missed, especially when the BAAD tournament rolls around each year. You have created something that will live on through his memory. My success now and in the future will be largely in part, to be a recipient of this fine scholarship. I am so proud to be a part of it and I hope to continue to make you proud. Hima’acus Katsii yew yew. Yox’ Kalo’. Sincerely, Tre Miles-Williams
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ON BEHALF ON THE NIXYAAWII BOYS BASKETBALL TEAM, we would like to express what a privilege it was to be a part of the 2017 BAAD Tournament. We would like to start with a big thank you to Kelly George and the BAAD Committee who granted us the opportunity to run the concession stand throughout the nine day tournament as a fundraiser for our team. We were given endless support, advice, and donations of meals, baked goods, and time by the following people: Bibzee Lopez, Vickie Johnson, Candace Allen, Karen Cook, Alisa Portley-White, Jean Farmer, Kelsey Swearingen, Jennifer Peterson, Pam Fisher, Rebecca Ainsworth, Natasha Herrera, Janyce Quaempts, Carleta Abrahamson, Linda Sampson, Sandy Sampson, Keysha Ashley, Robby Bill, Shoshone Walker, Dionne Bronson, Melissa Bob, Matt Johnson, June Johnson, Bill Johnson, Stephanie Barkley, Fred Hill, Safeway , Aaron Barkley, Tommy Moore, Cole Soaring Eagle, Wenona Scott, Ian Sampson, Kelsey Burns, Kristi Gartland, Nancy Kirksey. Due to the contributions of these people, the concession stand ran smoothly and we were able to exceed our original goal. Thank you to all of you who helped in making this a success. Also, a big thank you to everyone who purchased items and thanked us for the low prices, the healthy options, and the variety of foods. Lastly, another big thank you to all of the community members who support us all season long and have continued that support through our fundraising efforts. Áwna X̣ʷaamáma! Shane Rivera and the Nixyaawii Boys Basketball Team
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DID YOU KNOW? Every food the Indian people needed was provided by the earth. Ceremonies were held in the spring to honor the new foods. One of those, the Root Feast, is still celebrated today on the Umatilla Reservation. Although salmon is not as plentiful as it was before the dams were built on the Columbia, many of the Indian people of the Umatilla Indian Reservation still eat traditional foods like roots, berries, deer, elk and salmon as part of their every day diet. Gathered from ctuir.org/history-culture/first-foods
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FEAST conversation in Mission digs for ideas about how best to use $4,000 MISSION – A commualso six local people were invited as nity conversation about the panelists to engage in conversation, food systems in Umatilla share resources, and provide inforCounty, called FEAST, was mation to guests. One of the speakheld March 17 at the Misers was Tribal member Thomas sion Longhouse and several Morning Owl of the Confederated local community agencies Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Resattended. ervation who spoke on First Foods. FEAST is an Oregon Food In the afternoon, participants Bank program funded by a partook in “action groups” in $4,000 grant received jointly which they identified ways to betby four Umatilla County ter the local food systems. They organizations - Yellowhawk then had the opportunity to come Tribal Health Center, Oregon up with an action plan. The folState University (OSU) Extenlowing were the topics of the plans sion Service, Umatilla County created: Food Education, Outreach Public Health Department, and Promotion, Improving Food and the Umatilla-Morrow Access for Vulnerable Populations, Head Start. The grant is Food Aggregation, and ComKristi Gartland, Employee Wellness Coordinator for the Umatilla Tribes, meant to be distributed to jots down food system opportunities that are available to the community. munity Gardens. Ideas included different qualifying projects local cooking classes, food pantry throughout the county. recipes, limiting waste at farmers Attendants shared that some of the The purpose of the conmarkets, planting school vegetable versation was to identify areas of need challenges they face are lack of local gardens, and having an industrial kitchen in community food systems. Attendees grocery stores, limited options to healthy for rent. shared information about current re- foods, and not knowing community garHowever, no decisions were made on sources that are available to them as well den accessibility and rules. Ideas shared who would receive grant money because as challenges they face and opportunities on ways to improve the food system in- in order to receive it, a plan of action cluded holding farmers markets, having needs to be submitted and attainable for improvement. “We’re all interested in increasing food trucks, building a food pantry, and by volunteers or workers. According to health and wellness in our communities,” creating a 4-H program. Tracy Gagnon of the Oregon Food Bank, The following day was the main six- the hope is to divide the money into sevsaid Angie Treadwell of the OSU Extension Service. “We wanted to get everyone hour FEAST event, which was held at the eral small projects throughout the county, together to talk about food initiatives that Pendleton Early Learning Center. Approxi- as long as there are people dedicated to we all can be supporting each other on.” mately 30 people were in attendance and making the projects happen.
Pick and plant free tree on Earth Day PENDLETON – On Earth Day, 500 seedling trees will be distributed to community members free of charge during the Community Science Fair at Roy Raley Park from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on April 21. The morning will begin with a March for Science at 11 a.m. between the park and Dave’s Chevron. During the fair, music, food vendors, family activities, and a brew garden will be available. There also will be science booths ranging from EOC3 Climate Change to the Fisheries Habitat Program of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation. The fair will end at 4 p.m. Trees to be given away will include sugar pine, ponderosa pine, water birch, and ninebark. The event will help Pendleton Parks and Recreation (PPR) reach the goal of the “Pendleton Plant 1,000 Trees Initiative,” which was started on Arbor Day in 2009. So far, 983 trees have been planted in the area. The giveaway is sponsored by the PPR Department, PPR Commission, the Pendleton Tree Commission, and the Umatilla National Forest of the U.S. Forest Service. For further information on the tree initiative visit www.pendletonparksandrec.com or to learn more about the Community Science Fair see https:// sites.google.com/site/bluemountainmarchers/.
nicht-yow-way elders news happy easter! • Siletz Tribal Honor day on April 3 - 5, at the Chinook Winds Casino • April 7 - Elders senior advisory meeting at 9:00am / Senior center • April 10 - free tax assistance last day to request assistance • April 19-20, Native care conference in Florence, OR Please contact YTHC / Ben Bearchum
elder’s day events! • Muckleshoot Elders Day (April 13) no invitation • Yakama Elders Day – May 18 • Nez Perce Elders Day – June 2 • Grand Ronde Elders Day – July 10 • Coeur d’Alene Elders Day – October 6 • Basket Weavers Conference – October 6-7, Emerald Queen Casino Please Contact Theda Scott at DCFS 541-429-7300 for more information
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Wild & Scenic Film Festival at Whitman in WW on April 14 WALLA WALLA – The third annual Wild & Scenic Film Festival on April 14 will kick off the 2017 Learning on the Land Series sponsored by the Blue Mountain Land Trust. The event will take place from 7-9:30 p.m. in Maxey Auditorium at Whitman College. The festival is a collection of films from the South Yuba River Citizens League in Nevada City, California, according to a news release. On April 14 the Wild & Scenic Festival presents 14 films that “speak to the environmental concerns and celebrations of our planet,” the news release states. “Be inspired here by films about conservation, adventure, agriculture and more.” The international tour visits more than 200 communities around the globe. For a listing of films and information about tickets, visit the festival page on the Blue Mountain Land Trust website at bmlt.org. Wild & Scenic Film Festival is sponsored by Banner Bank and Columbia REA.
Yellowhawk celebrates its employees Yellowhawk Tribal Health Center celebrated their employees during the Service Excellence Awards (SEA) March 22 at Wildhorse Resort & Casino. Shawna Gavin, Chair of the Health Commission for the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, expressed her apprection for the staff at the clinic. She said, “I’m very proud of our team at Yellowhawk. It’s because of their dedication and commitment that we are successfully creating a culture of wellness.” The awards are recognition of Yellowhawk’s vision: “Our Tribal Community achieves optimal health through a culture of wellness.” Employees honored include, front row from left, Paula Powaukee, Spirit of Yellowhawk award; Peggy Bronson, Vickey Star, Team Spirit Award; Debra Shippentower, CTUIR Tribal Health Commission Service Excellence Award; Rena Cochran, CMA; Shana Alexander, RN. Back row Felipe Felipe, RN; Aaron Noisey, Leadership Award; Teresa Jones, RN; Steve Merrill, Service Excellence Award; Kellen Joseph, Creativity/Innovation Award; Lee Canwell, PA; Kelsey Hasenbank, CMA; Liz Cedars, PA; Kristin Bourret, PA; and Debbie Berry, CMA. The Yellowhawk Medical Department was recognized with the Collaboration Award. Not pictured: Dr. Rex Quaempts, who was recognized for People’s Choice Award. contributed photo
For more information and registration contact Desireé Coyote 541.429.7415. Registration deadline is April 21, 2017. April 2017
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Leah Conner, above, and Betsy Showaway, right, share stories at the Storytelling event held by Yellowhawk Tribal Health Center in May.
Storytellers share history from womens’ perspective MISSION – Women speakers were featured at a storytelling event in March at Yellowhawk Tribal Health Center. Although the event is usually scheduled during the winter months, it was pushed to early spring due to the inclement winter weather, said Wenona Scott, Program Manager of YTHC’s Alcohol and Drug Prevention Program. “It’s a good time because it’s spring,” said guest speaker Leah Conner. “Winter would have been better but it was too cold … it’s [storytelling] one of the ways that we learned things, we never used to have TVs and cellphones.” Other scheduled speakers included Betsy Showaway and Delphine Wood, although Wood was unable to speak because the storytelling portion ran 45 minutes behind schedule. Her intent was to tell the story of how she was the first
female fisher at Celilo Falls. Wood was still in grade school when she began fishing and was required to do everything the same way as a male. “It was an honor in itself,” Wood told the CUJ. “…but men didn’t like the idea of women being down there to do that … because of danger.” The first speaker of the night was Showaway, who said she wanted to share the first memories she could recall when she was around 4 or 5 years old. She told a story about waking up, to her surprise, on top of a horse after she had already fallen asleep at home. Apparently her grandmother put her on a horse while she was asleep because the family was going on a camping and gathering trip. She also talked about her experience gathering hoopop, also known as black moss, and how she was proud of herself for finish-
ing up before her other siblings. Later she found out that the reason she finished so quickly was because she had not cleaned the moss; therefore what filled her basket the most was all the twigs and branches from the hoopop instead of the moss itself, she said with laughter. “I cherish the thought when I had to go gathering for survival,” said Showaway. “We didn’t have fast-food, we had to work for our survival.” Conner spoke next and told stories that her grandmother shared with her. She spoke of her grandmother’s journey canoeing across the Columbia River with her sister to get to Umatilla [the reservation] and how her sister ventured to Canada instead of going with Conner’s grandmother. Although her grandmother never saw her sister again, years passed and two of her nieces visited her
from Saskatchewan. Conner also told a story about her grandparents’ house burning down. A fire that was built to dry their meat started to spread because of the winds in Tutuilla. Ultimately, it spread to the part of the house where they kept their ammo. As the night went on, five others volunteered to tell stories. Roughly 40 adults and children attended the event and food was provided by Simply Catering.
Attn: Ladies
Chippendales to perform here April 29 MISSION – The Chippendale dancers will perform at the Rivers Event Center at Wildhorse Resort & Casino on April 29. Two performances are scheduled at 6:30 and 9:30 p.m. for the “go-to male revue for girls looking to let loose,” according to a news release from Wildhorse. “Known for chiseled bodies, cheeky humor and boy-next-door charm, the Chippendales make for the perfect bachelorette party or girl’s night out,” the new release states. Tickets are on sale for the 75-minute interactive show. Premium seats are $54 ($44 for Club Wild members); general seats are $44 ($34 for Club Wild members). Party tables are $170 ($150 for Club Wild members) and include two seats and beverage service. Seating is limited. Those attending must be 21 years old. A no-host bar will be available in Rivers Event Center. To purchase tickets go to wildhorseresort.com or purchase them at the gift shop at Wildhorse Casino.
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Michael A. Gavin - Heeyoomakin April 5
Happy Birthday Nan Love Thunder, Frank, mom, dad, Grandma Tessie, and family.
Adrienne Berry, Community Gardner of Yellowhawk Tribal Health Center, teaches vegetable techniques during an ice breaker game at the Seeds to Supper class held at the NIxyaawii Governance Center. Kneeling next to her is Esther Su of Pendleton and standing is LeAnne Alexander of Mission.
Free Seed to Supper gardening class continues into May MISSION – A six-class series that focuses on training gardeners commenced March 15 at the Nixyaawii Governance Center. The classes are hosted by Community Gardener Adrienne Berry of Yellowhawk Tribal Health Center in collaboration with the Oregon State University Extension Service and the Oregon Food Bank. Those who attend receive a free “Seed to Supper” book that guides beginners on starting a low-cost vegetable garden. The classes are offered once a year, are free and open to the public, and those who complete five of the six classes re-
ceive a certification. During the series, beginners will learn skills such as planning, planting, caring for, growing, and harvesting their gardens. They will also be taught how to cook with their new vegetables. Berry offers hands-on learning experiences as well as packets of seeds and a healthy snack to all attendants. The next classes will be held on April 12 and 26, and again on May 10 and 24. For further information, contact Berry at AdrienneBerry@Yellowhawk.org or call 541-278-7551.
Open Exhibit art show seeks submittals PENDLETON - Artists from across northeast Oregon and southeast Washington are invited to submit work for this year’s Open Regional Exhibit at the Pendleton Center for the Arts. Date for drop-off of artwork is Saturday, April 29 from noon to 4 p.m. The exhibit opens in the East Oregonian Gallery on Thursday, May 4 with a Judge’s Critique at 5 p.m. and Opening Reception from 5:30-7 p.m. Both events are free and open to the public. The Open Regional Exhibit has been hosted by the Arts Council of Pendleton for more than 40 years and seeks to provide a forum for beginning, emerging and established artists to share their best work. Adults 18 and over may enter up to two pieces and a special teen category is available for artists 13-17 years old. Accepted works include painting, printmaking, book arts, sculpture, mixed
April 2017
media and fiber arts. Photography is the only medium not accepted. Banner Bank of Pendleton is a longtime sponsor of the Open Regional event and contributes $1,000 in cash prizes that are awarded to artists in both the adult and teen categories. Visitors to the gallery also have the opportunity to vote for their favorite work and the winner will be awarded the Jacqueline Brown People’s Choice Award. This year’s judge is Nicole Pietrantoni, assistant professor of art at Whitman College in Walla Walla. The exhibit will be on view through June 23. Admission to the gallery is always free thanks to support from the Wildhorse Foundation. Entry forms are available at the Pendleton Center for the Arts or can be printed from the website, pendletonarts.org. More information is available online or by calling 541-278-9201
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Native students receive scholastic awards Looking for a new you?
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MISSION – Local schools have released attendance awards, honor rolls, and student of the month recognition for native students attending Nixyaawii Community School, Sunridge Middle School, and high schools in Pendleton and Pilot Rock. Nixyaawii Community School (NCS) on the Umatilla Indian Reservation announced third quarter attendance awards and its honor roll. Two students – Carissa Yallup and Ryan Yallup – have had perfect attendance since the school year began last fall. Top freshmen attendance 95-99 percent - Tyanna Broncheau, Cloe McMichael, Tristalynn Melton, Kylie Mountainchief, Susie Patrick, D’Andre Rodriguez, Mick Schimmell. 90-94 percent – Richie Minthorn and Lark Moses. Top sophomore attendance 95-99 percent – Austin Ancheta, Lucus Arellanes, Deven Barkley, Jayden Bryant, James
Penney, Alyssa Tonasket, Keala Van Horn. 90-94 percent – Ermia Butler, Kyle Close and Shaydin Jones Hoisington Top junior attendance 95-99 percent – Wilbur Oatman, Milan Schimmel and Joseph St. Pierre 90-94 percent – Tyler Close, Noah Enright, Caleb Herrera, Mary Stewart, Kaitlynn Melton Top senior attendance 95-99 percent – Stacy Fitzpatrick 90-94 percent – Skylar Bill, Lexi Bronson, Chandler Case, Jessy Church, Sunshine Fuentes, Anthony Matamors, L’Rissa Sohappy NCS’s third-quarter honor roll with straight A’s (4.0 GPA) – Tyanna Broncheau, Kaitlynn Melton, Milan Schimmel, and L’Rissa Sohappy; 3.5-3.99 GPA – Austin Ancheta, Deven Barkley, Kyle Close, Clayton Hack, Kaytlynn McLenn, Cloe McMichael, Lark Moses, Kylie Mountainchief and Mick Schimmel. (Eight others earned GPAs above 3.0 or a B average.) NCS also announced second quarter honor roll students - Trystalyn Melton, Kylie Mountainchief, Susie Patrick, D’Andre Rodriguez, Ryan Arthur-Yallup, Austin Ancheta, Lucas Arellanes, Jones, James Penney II, Alyssa Tonasket, Carrisa Arthur-Yallup, Herrera, Wilbur
Oatman, Milan Schimmel, Austin Tate, Kaitlyn Wiley, Skylar Bill, and Devin Barkley. NCS’stwo most improved students were Caleb Herrera and Shaydin Hoisington Jones.
At Sunridge Middle School, the first semester honor students included one sixth grader – Keirsen Spencer, who earned a Sunridge All-Around Champ award for perfect attendance, grades and behavior. In addition to Spencer, two other Sunridge sixth graders recognized for perfect attendance were Alyric RedCrane Bronson and Malaya Stanger. Sunridge students earning “gold” honor roll for straight A’s included Spencer, Roody Eichholz, Charlie Franklin, Kyra Jackson, Stanley Alexander-Spino, and Wakody Pond. Students with GPAs of 3.86 were Rebecca Bearchum, Sistine Moses, Alexis Maddern, Summer Wildbill and Clara Sams; GPAs of 3.71 were Gonzalo Arthur (Warm Springs), Jayce Cecil, Layla Niemeier, Tianna Arthur, Muriel Jones Hoisington, and Natalie Sieders; GPAs of 3.67 were Kiara Crawford-Templin, Cortney Hererra, and Tucker Zander; GPAs of 3.57 were Dylan Alexander, Brayden Picard, Saint Schimmel, Kya Creger, Daniel Lamont; GPAs of 3.43 were Landon Sheoships, Mekhi Spencer, Malaya Stanger, Isabelle LeCornu, Greyson Sams, Isaac Bearchum and Celia Farrow; GPA of 3.33 was Kalan Spencer; GPAs of 3.29 were Havannah Charpentier, Grace Moses Watchman, Julinah Matamoros, Jacob Carlisle, Randy Davis and Billy Turner II; GPA of 3.17 was Ivory Herrera; GPAs of 3.14 were Aaron Barkley, Richard Huesties, Lyle Soaring Eagle, and Pedro Rivera; GPAs of 3.00 were Sophie Bronson, Diamond Greene, Billy Jean Higheagle, Dalvin Jim, Lindsey Pasena-Littlesky, Brynn Cody, and Allyson Maddern.
Pendleton elementary schools – Myles Minthorn received a Math Award on March 23 in Mrs. Galter’s class at McKay Elementary School.
Traditional pow-wow planned for Spring Celebration May 26, 27 MISSION – The Spring Celebration at the Nixyaawii Longhouse will take place Friday and Saturday, May 26 and 27, on the Umatilla Indian Reservation. Grand entry is scheduled at 7 p.m. Friday, but Saturday’s events include a stew and roll dinner at 3 p.m. The traditional pow-wow dance competitors will not be paid out in cash. Rather, gifts will be presented to winners on Friday night with Pendleton items for category placers on Saturday. A sponsored drum contest Saturday night will pay out cash of $500 for first place, $300 for second place, and $200 for third place. Categories will include golden age, tiny tots, jingle and shawl, fancy and grass; junior, teen and women’s traditional; plus men’s Round Bustle Special. The Nixyaawii Celebration Committee is in charge of the event. For more information, contact Babette Cowapoo at 541-969-3303 or Rachel Matamoros at 541-429-7485.
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Above, Solomona Malumaleumu, Quincy Sams, and Luka Worden smile at the camera while at the Feves Memorial Gallery .
Students of the Cay-Uma-Wa Head Start play in the soil of the Community Garden in Mission.
Head Start takes spring trips in March Staff and students of the Cay-Uma-Wa Head Start took three field trips in the month of March. The first trip was to the Mission Longhouse for the Open House of the Department of Natural Resources of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation.
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Ela Morrison is signing into the art gallery. Next to her is Luka Worden, Charlie Morrison, and Shahala Hughes. In the far background with the ponytail is Solomona Malumaleumu, left, and Chance Squiemphen is holding his mother’s hand.
For their second trip they visited the Feves Memorial Gallery that is located at Blue Mountain Community College. The last trip was to the Community Garden and green house in Mission where they learned about growing plants.
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Gibbon gobble
Wild turkeys grazed in a a field on a chilly spring day in late March near Gibbon east of Mission in the foothills of the Blue Mountains.
Maroon 5 coming to Pendleton PENDLETON - The Pendleton Whisky Music Fest will welcome iconic pop group Maroon 5 on July 15. Organizer Doug Corey tells KUMA News it’s a concert for the ages. “This is a huge show,” he said. “We’re bringing in three-time Grammy-awardwinning Maroon 5. This is something that just doesn’t happen in Pendleton.” But Corey says it will happen this summer, and it’s a big step for the concert, which is just in its infancy. “Just to be able to bring this group to Pendleton, Oregon – it’s quite a deal for us, especially in the second year of this music fest,” he said. “We’re really looking forward to it and I think everybody will enjoy it.” Maroon 5, with front man Adam Levine, is finishing up a two-year world tour this month. Corey says they’ve played more than 120 concerts in 30 countries with 2.5 million fans in attendance. Tickets are on sale at pendletonwhiskymusicfest.com and the Pendleton Round-Up and Happy Canyon office on Southwest Court Avenue. In addition to Pendleton Whisky, sponsors for 2017 include Hodgen Distributing, Old West Federal Credit Union, Gordon’s Electric, Bud Light, CHI St. Anthony, Travel Pendleton, Coca-Cola, Sysco, Wheatland Insurance, Pioneer Construction, Hill’s Premium Meats, the Oregon Lottery, Western States Caterpillar, Legacy Ford, Sysco, Rowand Machinery, Wheatland Insurance, and Oxford Suites.
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Pamáwaluukt Empowering Tribal Youth The Pamáwaluukt Empower Program of the Office of Human Resources continues to assist tribal members of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation with their employment applications for opportunities in governance and administration. This includes coordinating resources with the summer youth and college internship programs and “launching” training for existing tribal member employees. Launched in January, the Discover training module is designed for six months and involves two weeks each month with various tribal departments. The Board of Trustees, the tribal governing body, allocated funds to support the program. Discover participant Briana Spencer, IT Specialist in the Office of Information Technology, was selected by a panel consisting of HR staff and members of the Pamáwaluukt Empower Committee, to spend time in HR, Finance, Planning and Transit where she job-shadowed supervisors, learned programmatic functions and challenges. HR and Education are preparing tribal youth to enter the workforce based on their aspirations, to seek the appropriate education and/or training, and realize the considerable employment opportunities with CTUIR in governance, administration, gaming, informational technology and health careers. “Planting the seeds of opportunity” is where we start, John Barkley, Pamáwaluukt Staffing & Recruitment Specialist, said in a news release. “Our
resources must nurture these seedlings so they mature and eventually assume leadership roles with the tribes, in departments and programs that provide essential services to our membership and community and that protect our treaty resources and rights.” Employment applications are critical in that they must include all relevant materials required – cover letter, resume, application package, supplemental form, tribal identification, education history, reference letters and, if applicable, official college transcripts. Staff from Pamáwaluukt, which means “each person raising themselves up” in the Walla Walla language, also assist CTUIR tribal members with mock interviews in preparation for the actual interview. If an employment application package is “incomplete,” any applicant disqualifies themselves from further consideration for that opportunity. Any Tribal members applying for a job opportunity with CTUIR should schedule an appointment with the Pamáwaluukt Empower Program before they submit their application to ensure all required materials are included and that their cover letter and resume are refined to the job qualifications and duties they are applying for. Contact the Office of Human Resources at 541-429-7180 for an appointment. Regular office hours are 7:30-4 p.m., Monday through Friday. HR is located on the first floor of the Nixyáawii Governance Center.
Michael Ray Johnson to teach workshop at Crow’s Shadow MISSION – Umatilla Master Weaver Michael Ray Johnson will lead a free cornhusk twining workshop at Crow’s Shadow Institute of the Arts on the Umatilla Indian Reservation April 14-18. The workshop is organized by the Longhouse Education and Cultural Center of the Northwest Heritage Program at The Evergreen State College in Olympia, Washington, in partnership with Crow’s Shadow. Classes are Friday, April 14, from 6-9 p.m.; Saturday, April 15, from 10 a.m. to
5 p.m.; Sunday, April 16, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Monday, April 17, from 6-9 p.m.; and Tuesday, April 18, from 6-9 p.m. Materials will be supplied, and lunch will provided on Saturday and Sunday. To register for the workshop or for more information contact Linley B. Logan, director of the Northwest Heritage Program at the Longhouse Education and Cultural Center at Longanl@evergreen. edu. The Longhouse website is evergreen. edu/longhouse or visit Evergreen Longhouse on Facebook.
PRESBYTERIAN PRESCHOOL Fall Registration 201 SW Dorion Ave. Pendleton May 1, 2017 at 6:30 pm $50.0 non-refundable registration fee 3 year olds T-TH 4&5 year olds M-W-F 541-276-7681 April 2017
EARTH DAY friday, april 21
Festivities start at 10 a.m. sharp and end at 2 p.m. TERF (Tribal Environment Recovery Facility) will provide bright yellow garbage bags, gloves, safety vests and bottled water plus a table set up for everyone to sign in.
Activities for the day: l Coloring contest for students at Nixyaawii Community School and coloring pages at Head Start kids that depict how to best recycle in the household. l Raffle ticket will be given for each participant in the Earth Day clean up and at the end of the day TERF and DECD (Department of Economic and Community Development) staff will draw for prizes. l TERF/DECD will provide lunch for all participants at noon. The Pepsi wagon will be parked catty-corner from Mission Market on what used to be called the Kipp House property. l Iron Mountain Shredding will be on-site to collect and dispose of any person information you may have, guard against identity theft, etc. Here are a few examples of what you may want to discard: bank statements, utility bills, tax records, old investment statements, credit cards and credit card statements. More information will be on site.
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Crow’s prints go on exhibit at Governor’s office SALEM – Portland artist Wendy Red Star was chosen to exhibit “Works” in Governor Kate Brown’s Office at the Oregon State Capitol in Salem through May 11. The works on exhibit include a series of prints she created during a residency at Crow’s Shadow Institute of the Arts on the Umatilla Indian Reservation. “It is an honor to have Wendy’s work displayed at the Governor’s office in Salem,” Karl Davis, Executive Director at Crow’s Shadow, said in an email. “Her prints are complex, layered, and dynamic; they represent the artist’s personal histories and experiences. All of the prints that Wendy has made at Crow’s Shadow are on exhibit, from both of her residencies in 2010 and 2015.” Red Star pulled the prints with Crow’s Shadow Master Printer Frank Janzen. “It was wonderful to work with Wendy,” Janzen said in an email, “especially the first time. She had never created a print before and it was a pleasure to see how quickly she picked up the process. She was also very adept and professional in making decisions quickly in order to realize her visions.”Red Star works across disciplines to explore the intersections of Native American ideologies and colonialist structures, both historically and in
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This is one of the prints that is on exhibit through May 11 at the Oregon Governor’s office in Salem. The print was pulled at Crow’s Shadow Institute of the Arts on the Umatilla Indian Reservation.
contemporary society, according to her website. Raised on the Apsaalooke (Crow) Reservation in Montana, Red Star’s work is informed both by her cultural heritage and her engagement with many forms for creative expression, including photography, sculpture, video, fiber arts,
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and performance. The Art in the Governor’s Office Program honors selected artists in Oregon with exhibitions in the reception area of the Governor’s Office in the State Capitol. Artists are nominated by a statewide committee of arts professionals who consider artists representing the breadth and diversity of artistic practice across Oregon, and are then selected by the Arts Commission with the participation of Portland artist Wendy Red Star the Governor’s Office. Only professional, living Oregon artists are considered and an exhibit in the Governor’s office is considered a “once in a lifetime” honor. Tribal member James Lavadour’s work has been shown in the Governor’s office through the program.
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‘Sliver of a Full Moon’ play highlight of summit May 3-4 MISSION –‘Sliver of a Full Moon’, a play that focuses on survivors of domestic violence, will be presented at the Tribal, State & Federal Summit May 3-4 at Wildhorse Resort & Casino on the Umatilla Indian Reservation. The summit is free to attend and is presented by the Family Violence Services (FVS) of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR). Topics to be covered include the impacts of domestic violence on children, cyberbullying, and “Silence: The Voice of Complicity and Strangulation.” A pre-conference will be held May 2 with guest speaker Jennifer Martin, an Assistant U.S. Attorney for Oregon. She will cover a variety of subjects, including advocacy and law enforcement collaboration. She also will speak on implicit bias in her “Domestic Violence from a Homicide Prevention Perspective” presentation. “I’m really excited about this,” said Desiree Coyote, FVS Coordinator for the CTUIR. On March 3 at 6 p.m. a production called “Sliver of a Full Moon” will be performed as a special addition to the summit. When Coyote was looking for local participants, two CTUIR members, Rosenda Shippentower and Leigh Pinkham-Johnston, stepped up. Shippentower, who serves as Treasurer for the CTUIR Board of Trustees, said she experienced domestic violence during her second marriage. She also worked closely with victims and witnessed the trauma they experienced when she worked as a Domestic Violence Coordinator. Because of that experience, she wanted to assist in the play. “We should help out where we can,” said Shippentower. “I’d like people to see that it’s [assault] not something that’s over and that there is more to be done.” Pinkham-Johnston, office manager for the CTUIR Department of Economic and Community Development, hopes the play will help her with stage fright, but
she also thinks the message is relevant to the community. “There are many ways people are abused,” said Pinkham-Johnston. “It’s something that needs to be brought to everyone’s attention.” The play was written by Mary Kathryn Nagle, an enrolled member of the Cherokee Nation who is the Executive Director of the Yale Indigenous Performing Arts Program. The initial purpose of the show was to explain to people, including federal lawmakers, why tribal governments need their jurisdiction restored on Indian lands. When Nagle decided to write the play she began to interview women survivors who testified before Congress in the effort to reauthorize VAWA - the Violence Against Women Act. Provisions in the act would authorize tribes to prosecute non-Natives who assault Native women on tribal lands. Shortly after VAWA was reauthorized, Nagle interviewed assault survivor Lisa Brunner and asked how she felt about it, according to an article released by The Radcliffe publication of Harvard. “…She felt great but was still a little sad because the law was just a ‘sliver of the full moon’ of justice that we need to protect our Native women,” said Nagle. “I thought it was such a powerful way of explaining it that I immediately started using it as a title.” The play features assault survivors who interviewed with Nagle as well as the two CTUIR members who have volunteered. Although the 2013 reauthorization of VAWA permitted tribes to exercise jurisdiction over non-Indians in limited circumstances, , Nagle said the play has become a vehicle to educate people about many tribal jurisdiction issues. Registration for the summit should be complete by April 24 so that all attendees receive conference materials. Contact Coyote at 541-429-7415 or DesireeCoyote@ctuir. org.
Earth Day activities include cleanup April 21 MISSION – From a coloring contest for high school students to collecting garbage in bright yellow bags, Earth Day April 21 will have activities and festivities for volunteers of any age, according to Bonnie Burke at the Tribal Environmental Recovery Center (TERF). The fun will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. with activities wrapped around the main event – cleanup of the Mission area. TERF will provide bright yellow garbage bags, gloves, safety vests and bottled water for volunteers who are asked to sign in at a table located at the property that used to be the site of the “Kipp House” which is catty-corner from Mission Market. That’s where free lunch will be served to volunteers next to the Pepsi trailer. A raffle ticket will be given to each
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participant in the Earth Day cleanup and at the end of the day staff from TERF and the Department of Economic and Community Development will draw tickets for prizes. Also planned are a coloring contest for students at Nixyaawii Community School. Also Cay-Uma-Wa Head Start will color pages that depict how to best recycle in the household. Burke said Iron Mountain Shredding will be on site to collect and dispose of personal information, which could guard against identity theft. Some examples of what you may want to discard are bank statements, utility bills, tax records, old investment statements, credit cards and credit card statements. For more information, call TERF at 541276-4040 or email terfmngr@gmail.com.
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TCI to open Celilo exhibit
Derek & Milas daughter arrived at 4:30 a.m. Daniela Anela Lynn Gavin 7lb, 6oz, 20.5 inches long
Tutuilla Presbyterian Church will host Evangelistic Services April 29th and 30th
MISSION - A new exhibit – “Celilo: Progress Versus Protest” – will be on display through July 14 at Tamástslikt Cultural Institute on the Umatilla Indian Reservation. The exhibit tells the story of the demise of Celilo Falls as a result of the construction of The Dalles Dam. Opening day, April 7, is free to the public. “Your power will turn the darkness to dawn, roll on Columbia, roll on.” These Woody Guthrie lyrics celebrated the Columbia River’s potential to provide modern benefits to the public. In the name of progress, flood control and irrigation, navigation and commerce, and affordable hydroelectric power would result from constructing new dams on the Columbia. The lesser-known story about this period of river development is the opposition that existed beyond Columbia River Tribes. Biologists, sport and commercial fisherman, Congressmen and citizens were also opposed to the construction. Celilo Falls, a fishing area on the Columbia River east of the Cascades, was a vital fishing location for various tribes, especially the four tribes who reserved treaty rights to fish there – the Umatillas, Yakamas, Nez Perce, and Warm Springs. A cultural and spiritual center, Celilo was a place where Tribal men and women came to fish, trade, and interact, drawing indigenous people from around the Northwest and beyond. When the dam went up in 1957 and the falls fell silent,
the tribes lost a piece of their heritage that only recently has begun to be understood in the context of the larger devastation of the Columbia River. Tamástslikt professionals have curated an exhibit of images, artifacts and text that unpacks this chapter for visitors to remember the loss of Celilo Falls 60 years ago. For more information, go to www. tamastslikt.org. Tamástslikt Cultural Institute is owned and operated by the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation. A Blue Star museum, Tamástslikt is one of the many museums across the nation that offers free admission to families of active duty servicemen and women year-round. In addition to the museum and interpretive center, Tamástslikt operates a museum store, café, and offers meeting room rentals. Tamástslikt is open six days a week, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. MondaySaturday; closed Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day. Kinship Café is open from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the same days the museum is open. Tamástslikt is located at 47106 Wildhorse Boulevard at the far end of the main driveway of the Wildhorse Resort & Casino, 10 minutes east of Pendleton, Oregon. Tamástslikt can be reached via Exit 216 off Interstate I-84 or by following the “Mission-La Grande” sign south off Highway 11 onto Highway 331. For more information, contact Tamástslikt Cultural Institute at 541.429.7700 or visit www.tamastslikt.org.
Birthdays:
5 p.m. Dinner Lowery Hall 7 p.m. Worship and Song
Noon, Lunch will be Served
This will conclude Evangelistic Services.
Please come and join in on good Music, Worship, and Songs!! 26B
MISSION – The Public Safety Department of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation has been recognized as a Weather-Ready Nation Ambassador by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). That means the CTUIR is a partner in a nationwide effort to improve the nation’s readiness, responsiveness, and overall resilience against extreme weather, water, and climate events, according to the National Weather Service (NWS) website. Three representatives of the NWS, which falls under the umbrella of NOAA, presented the recognition to Ray Denny, CTUIR Public Safety Department Director in front of the Board of Trustees on March 13. The Tribes are the “eyes and ears in the community” for the NWS headquartered at the Eastern Oregon Regional Airport in Pendleton, said Dennis Hull, the Warning Coordination Meteorologist. “Ray spreads the word and lets us know so we can be prepared for a response.” Also on hand for the presentation were Mike Vescio, Meteorologist in Charge at the NWS in Pendleton, and Marilyn Lohman, hydrologist for the NWS in Pendleton. According to the website, ambassadors commit to working with NOAA and other partners to strengthen national resilience against extreme weather. The Ambassador initiative is the connecting hubof a vast network of federal, state, and local agencies; emergency manager and city planners; researchers, the media; the insurance industry; non-profit organizations; the private sector; and many others who are working together to address the impacts of extreme weather on daily life.
April
Saturday Noon Lunch and Auction
Sunday Worship Service: 11 a.m.
NOAA recognizes Public Safety
You are invited to Watch the Happy Canyon pageant! At Tamastslikt starting at 5:30 p.m. May 7 The pageant portion (first half of the show) will be presented to any and all tribal members or non-tribal members who wish to attend.
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2nd: Jace Morris 3rd: Jakoby VanPelt 5th: KC Picard 6th: Quanah Picard & Karen Askins 8th: Chenoah Begay & Abner Quaempts 10th: Jayden VanPelt 11th: Bambi Rodriguez 12th: Louie Quaempts & Lisa Marsh 15th: Jordyn Brigham 16th: Michelle Shippentower 18th: Iosefa Brigham 21st: Peighton Campbell 24th: Robin Marsh-McKay & Isaac Kash Kash 26th: Dennis Quaempts, Jr. & Marcellus Scott 28th: Kathryn Morrison & Raymond Harrison
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Experiential exhibit to transform Feves Gallery April 6-May 4
Laura Kordatzky talks to wellwishers at a retirement party at the Nixyaawii Governance Center in March.
Kordatzky retires after 40 years with Tribes MISSION - Laura Kordatzky has retired after nearly 40 years of employment with the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR). She retired in March as the Development Officer in the Tribes’ Finance Department. “When I first started working for the Tribe, it was a race to the bank to make sure your check wasn’t the one that bounced,” said Kordatzky while she laughed and reminisced about the earlier years when there were only 11 employees and an unpaid Board of Trustees (BOT). “There was creative accounting to make sure we could make payroll.” Kordatzky first worked as an accounting clerk in 1977 for about six months. From that experience she realized she didn’t want to go into book keeping as a career. She earned a bachelor’s degree from Oregon State University and returned to the Tribes
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in 1979 to work as the EDA Assistant Planner. “One of the first items that Laura was instrumental in was establishing retro budgeting for the Tribe,” said Paul Rabb, Finance Director. “It was a huge endeavor for this Tribe and that staff.” Now that Kordatzky is retired, she plans on spending most of her time with her grandkids. Her husband, Dave Kordatzky, plans to retire soon. He has worked 20 years for the Tribal Court in adult probation. They plan on taking a trip to his home state of Wisconsin this summer. A retirement party for Kordatzky was held in early March at the Nixyaawii Governance Center where many said their farewells. She was presented with a Pendleton blanket by BOT Vice Chairman Jeremy Wolf. “Every day is a Saturday,” she said when asked what she looks forward to on her retirement.
PENDLETON - Two artists’ work has transformed the Betty Feves Memorial Art Gallery into an environment where visitors can walk among sculptural pieces suspended from the ceiling and rising up from the floor. The installation will be on display through May 4 at the gallery on the campus of Blue Mountain Community College. “Heritage Habitats” is a collection of large scale mixed media sculptural and experiential installation works collaboratively created by Michigan artists Ginger Owen and Vicki VanAmeyden. The installation will create a series of physical spaces inside the Gallery for contemplation of ancestry. Framed around nostalgia and memory, the pieces engage viewers’ unique
memories and experiences while emphasizing the commonalities that bind individuals: memory, history, culture and ancestry. This exhibit is supported by funds received from the Umatilla County Cultural Coalition (UCCC), which receives funding from the Oregon Cultural Trust to support arts, heritage and humanities activities in Umatilla County.
Please send announcements for March and April 2017 babies. Send the photos (wallet size), plus date of birth, weight, length, parents and grandparents to katbrigham@ctuir.org. We want to welcome our new tribal members.
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~ The Brigham Family ~
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Confederated Umatilla Journal
April 2017
Published on Apr 10, 2017
The Confederated Umatilla Journal Monthly Print Edition for April 2017
