Confederated Umatilla Journal 06-2020

Cloe McMichael received the Ford Family Foundation Scholarship.

Shane Rivera resigns as Nixyaawii Community School basketball coach.

Vensiah Broncheau, Nez Perce and black, helped lead protesters from Roy Raley Park to Main Street June 1.They were protesting racial injustice and police brutality in the wake of the George Floyd killing.

More on Page 5A.

More on Page 1B.

More on Page 17A.

Confederated Umatilla Journal

2 Sections, 36 pages Publish date June 4, 2020

The monthly newspaper of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation ~ Pendleton, Oregon June 2020

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Volume 28, Issue 6

Wildhorse re-opens 600 employees return as safety protocols implemented

By Wil Phinney of the CUJ

MISSION – Guests were happy, employees were relieved and tribal leaders were satisfied when Wildhorse Resort & Casino re-opened May 28 on the Umatilla Indian Reservation.

After being closed for more than two months because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Wildhorse met the standards set out by the Incident Command Team’s (ICT) Re-opening Plan as authorized by the Board of Trustees for the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR).

More than 800 employees came back to work Wildhorsewide, for intense training on health and safety protocols, before around 500 staff began working in three staggered shifts when the hotel, casino, and Cineplex opened their doors a week later. Arrowhead Travel Plaza has never closed for business and Mission Market opened June 2.

And guests were just happy to get out of their houses after being cooped up under the CTUIR “Stay home, stay safe” Order that had been in place since mid-March.

Tribal member William Showaway was wearing a mask but you could tell he had on his usual smile.

“I’m getting used to the mask,” he said. “It feels really good to be out of the house. It’s my first time out of the house and it’s good to see old friends.”

Showaway said he’s missed everything.

“It’s my first time getting out. My daughter was going to Safeway. It feels good to be out of lockdown,” he said.

The decision to re-open coincided with two rounds of COVID-19 testing of 100 individuals by Yellowhawk Tribal Health Center in May. Both tests revealed no positive cases

Blackjack dealer Dominique Darwin waits for a player to make his bet on Friday, May 29, the first full day of operations for Wildhorse Resort & Casino since it closed in March for the COVID-19 pandemic.The Wildhorse facilities, including the hotel, restaurants and cineplex, re-opened under strict guidelines that call for, among other things, employees and guests to wear masks.

Wildhorse re-opens on page 19A

CUJ photo/Phinney

Photos of high school graduates on Page 15A

Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation 46411 Timine Way Pendleton, OR 97801

Presorted Standard U.S. Postage PAID Pendleton, OR Permit #100

CUJ News NGC staff could return to work by mid-June

Jeff Casey, BIA Fire Management Officer, briefs members of the summer firefighting crew, which includes, from left, John Preston, Chelsea Farrow, Mitchell Kurtz, Syd Thompson, Deontae Johnson, Keith Farrow, and Hunter Baum.

BIA prepares for active fire season or during fighting a fire to put on hand sanitizer and wear a mask and stay six feet apart.”

When the crew comes in each morning, Deonte In the age of coronavirus, summer fire season for Johnson takes everyone’s temperature and logs it in the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) must go on.

Jeff Casey, fire management officer, reminds his a daily record.

Other best practices include avoiding sharing, crew that all non-COVID-19 threats are still out there. touching someone else’s equipment, “We are still responsible for all and implementing a cleaning period wildland fire management activieach day to disinfect surfaces in work ties on the CTUIR. Our job is still to areas and dorms. respond and suppress unplanned Whenever possible, employees will ignitions on or within one mile off the drive individually or allow as much reservation boundary,” he said. “Our space between each other as possible. task is still to do this in the safest, most The BIA fire crew includes 12 memeffective, and cost-efficient manner bers, including nine tribal members while protecting life, property, and of the Confederated Tribes of the resources,” Casey said.

Umatilla Indian Reservation.

The National Interagency Fire They have four engines, three of Center is predicting July and August which will be in use. to be above average for extreme fire “We’ve got 25 people that are potential. qualified to fight fire on the reserva“We didn’t have an active fire seation right now. I have 16 people that son last year. With the above average precipitation, fuel has been growing, Jeff Casey, BIA Fire Management are on the first crew. We have four so there is a potential for an active fire Officer, talked to his fire crew engines, three of which we will staff about the potential for a busy to fight fire if we need to.” season this year.”

BIA responds to trust and allotThe crew is following best man- summer. ment land on the Umatilla Indian agement practices from the U.S Department of Interior for Wildland Fire Crews and Reservation.

Casey said they work with other fire units that Engines.

“We are social distancing as a module or a crew have jurisdiction on or near the reservation, including as opposed to individual social distancing. It is not the Umatilla Tribal Fire Department and the Oregon realistic for us to expect that during an initial attack Department of Forestry.

By Casey Brown of the CUJ

Confederated Umatilla Journal

46411 Timine Way Pendleton, OR 97801 Phone 541-429-7005

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Fax 541-429-7005 Email cuj@ctuir.org www.ctuir.org

MISSION – Although a specific date has not been determined, employees at Nixyaawii Governance Center (NGC) should expect to be back at work in the building by mid-June, according to Ted Wright, Executive Director for the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR).

An NGC Re-opening Plan was submitted May 28 to the CTUIR COVID-19 Incident Command Team (ICT), but was expected to take “several days of review,” according to a written statement from Wright to the CUJ. Upon approval by the ICT, the Tribes’ Management Team, which is made up of mostly department directors, will meet to “work out every aspect of re-opening so that all assignments are well understood, vulnerable employee and client safety is ensured to the maximum extent possible, and work can continue with a variety of important safeguards in place,” Wright said.

“This will, however, not be business as usual.”

- Ted Wright, Wright said the processes CTUIR Executive Director for accessing services will be different than before the coronavirus pandemic so social distancing can be maintained. For example, meeting with staff will be by appointment only. Tribal members and others will be asked to conduct business by distance as much as possible, but staff will be available for in-person services if other means are not available.

People who must do business at NGC will be scanned for elevated temperatures, provided masks, gloves and other personal protective equipment (PPE) as needed, Wright said. Training will be provided on the use of PPE, which must be worn while in the building.

Clients and visitors will also be accompanied to a conference room for their meeting, but only after they have been screened and are wearing PPE, Wright emphasized.

At the end of their meeting, the client or visitor will be escorted by staff to exit at the door they entered.

Wright said employees, too, will be required to wear masks in all spaces except their offices. If they have a meeting in the building, masks will be required.

“All these measures are to continue maintaining the successful fight against the spread of COVID-19 on the Reservation,” Wright said in his statement to the CUJ.

‘This will, however, not be business as usual.’

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Confederated Umatilla Journal

June 2020

CUJ News

Yow!

Second round of Yellowhawk tests reveals only negative results for COVID-19

By Wil Phinney of the CUJ MISSION – For the second time in May, results were negative for more than 100 people tested for the active COVID-19 virus on the Umatilla Indian Reservation.

A third round of testing for the novel coronavirus, a worldwide pandemic that has killed more than 103,000 people in the United States, is planned June 16 for 50 employees from Yellowhawk Tribal Health Center and June 17 for 50 others who interact with the public at different facilities owned or operated by the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR).

That includes employees from the Nixyaawii Governance Center, Arrowhead Travel Plaza, Mission Market, Kayak Public Transit, Wildhorse Resort & Casino, plus the Tribes’ police and fire departments.

Angie Dearing, Clinical Director at Yellowhawk, said epidemiologists that were consulted for this study said a statistically relevant study, assuming a reservation population of 3,500, needs to test at least 71 people. On May 26 and 27, a total of 114 people were tested in the second round.

Dearing said she’s a “lit- Alaina Mildenberger tle bit” surprised that all the tests for the active virus have been negative, considering the number of cases around the area, nationally and worldwide.

With an estimated 5 percent of the population symptomatic, Dearing said it was conceivable to expect one in 20 of the tests to come back positive.

“We could have expected six or seven at this point,” Dearing said.

Dearing said Yellowhawk decided to do its COVID-19

‘I don’t know if it’s how far or how long it was up there. It was intense.

I wasn’t expecting it this time.”

Chelsey Dick, an employee in the CTUIR Department of Natural Resources, grimaces as a swab is put in her nose during a COVID-19 test on May. Like more than 100 other employees from Yellowhawk Tribal Health Center, Tribal government and several other CTUIR entities, Dick’s test came back negative. The tests were administered by Yellowhawk nurses, lab technicians and a doctor.

Surveillance Study to determine the prevalence of COVID-19 on the Umatilla Indian Reservation to help decide when and how the clinic should re-open.

“We saw it all around us, but we just weren’t seeing patients coming through with symptoms,” she said. “We were monitoring ERs and hospitals and it was worrisome in a way. We thought how do we make a decision to re-open if we don’t know what is out there?”

More than a dozen staff from Yellowhawk, including six nurses, three lab technicians and a doctor, are conducting the tests. Yellowhawk employee volunteers

are tested on Tuesdays in the clinic. Other volunteers are tested on Wednesdays at the Kayak Public Transit bus barns.

In addition to the Yellowhawk clinical staff at the stations that provide a nasal swab test for the COVID-19 virus and a blood test for COVID-19 antibodies, Yellowhawk has repurposed other employees to direct traffic and assist with the participant check-in process.

The testing process, according to people who have been tested, is streamlined, efficient and organized.

Negative results on page 16A

Cayuse introduces apprenticeship program By the CUJ

MISSION – Cayuse is introducing an apprenticeship program designed to attract tribal members to a career in one of Cayuse Holdings’ family of companies, which are owned by the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation.

Coordinating the apprenticeship program is Debra Croswell, recently named director of Cayuse Shared Services, which provides administrative support functions to Cayuse Holdings subsidiaries.

Croswell said the new program is unique in that it will encourage a common pledge between the company and the apprentice.

“It’s a little unique because we are wanting to partner with somebody and help them through school with the idea that in the end they commit to Cayuse and Cayuse commits to them,” Croswell said.

Following the company’s “Grow the company, grow the people” vision, the

June 2020

apprenticeship program seeks to help tribal members who are attending college achieve a degree and ultimately a career with Cayuse.

As envisioned, the chosen apprentice – the program will start with a single person this year – will work part time in a Shared Services department while attending college. The part-time entrylevel job, based on career goals, could be in any one of six Shared Services departments, including compliance, facilities, finance, human resources, information technology support, or recruiting/talent acquisition, with the possibility, too, of placement in a marketing job (outside Shared Services).

“Ideally we want to expose them to all the different kinds of departments that Cayuse has and we’re hoping that whoever is selected will explore each for a short period of time, but if they are solely focused on IT support we’re not going to force them to work in Finance,” Croswell said. “But we’ll give them the opportunity

at least to learn about other functions, even if it’s just in the simplest way.”

The apprentice would be eligible to receive cash reimbursement in the form of a scholarship – up to $3,000 a year for a full-time student and up to $1,500 for a part-time student – that may be used for higher education/vocational expenses, including tuition, books and fees.

In exchange for Cayuse’s commitment of resources, the apprentice would agree to become a full-time employee at Cayuse if a position is available and offered.

If the apprentice chooses not to accept the position they may have to repay the financial assistance.

The best case scenario will be an apprentice attending Blue Mountain Community College in Pendleton or Eastern Oregon University in La Grande, or perhaps studying online through through Oregon State University or the University of Oregon. It’s important that the apprentice lives near Cayuse Technologies facilities on the Umatilla Indian Reservation

Confederated Umatilla Journal

“so they can actually work at the facility and be part of the department’s team.”

Croswell said a tribal member who successfully completes the apprenticeship will have a job waiting, but they should not expect to step into a management position.

“If you commit to us, we’ll help with your school and you’ll learn this business,” she said. “When you’re all done, when you finish school, we’ll have a job ready for you. We’re making no commitment to handing you a management job. You’ll need to work hard and work your way through the organization like anybody else would.”

Information about the apprenticeship is available at cayuseholdings.com/apprenticeship.

A review panel will screen people who express interest and invite some to apply, with interviews expected later this summer. The apprenticeship likely will start when college classes begin in the fall, Croswell said.

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Patrick, family cited for violating COVID-19 social gathering order

By Wil Phinney of the CUJ

Happy Father’s Day June 21

MISSION – Toby Patrick and perhaps as many as 16 others who attended his Easter feast in April have been issued citations for violating a COVID-19 social gathering order issued by the Board of Trustees (BOT) for the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR).

Conviction for failure to comply carries a potential sentence of a year in jail or a fine of up to $5,000. The citations state that Patrick and the others violated BOT Resolution 20-028.

The citations, like a traffic ticket, give Patrick and the others the options of pleading no contest and paying a fine; pleading no contest, sending an explanation to let the court decide; or pleading not guilty and requesting a trial.

Patrick was issued the citation at about 5 p.m. Tuesday, June 2, by Tribal Police Det. Tony Barnett, who investigated the case 40 days earlier on April 22. Up to that point, Patrick had not heard a word about the incident.

In addition to Toby, his wife, Julia, and his daughter, Susie, also received citations. Patrick said Barnett told him every person over the age of 18 who attended the root feast was being cited.

Patrick put that number at 17. He said most of those people are enrolled members of the CTUIR, but many are enrolled members from Yakama who live on this reservation.

“He just showed up and gave me the citation,” Patrick said. “He told all my family.

I never expected it to make it to this point. I think this is a huge abuse of power.”

In an interview June 1, before the citations were issued, Patrick acknowledged that the feast, which drew more than two dozen family members, violated

the 10-or-less social gathering directive issued by the BOT as recommended by the COVID-19 Incident Command Team.

But Patrick maintained the position he took when he hosted his feast and when the initial investigation took place four days later, that the feast was about honoring the foods that his elders promised would protect him and his family.

He said he recognizes the reasoning behind the CTUIR “Stay home, stay safe” policy, but he also stands firm on his own beliefs.

“I understand the Board is in charge.

I understand what their job is, to keep us safe, but it’s not like I’m some kind of criminal,” Patrick said.

After the front page story in the May CUJ, Patrick said he had to explain himself to plenty of people.

It didn’t get ugly, he said, but people questioned why he would host a gathering during the pandemic.

He told them, “’You don’t understand who I am, who we are as a people.’ A lot do know who I am and how I was raised and they give me respect.”

Some of his family members have encouraged him to make this into a political fight, but Patrick was hesitant to do so.

Recall, he said, would only create “more resentment and ugliness” because recall “goes after people, not titles.”

But he’s shaking his head about this citation.

“It’s goofy,” he said. “My whole family is being drug through the mud like we brought the virus here. This makes it ugly. Holy smokes. I don’t want to point fingers, but this is getting ugly.”

The CUJ was not able to confirm the number of people cited. Tribal Prosecutor Kyle Daley did not respond to requests for comment from the CUJ.

BOT approves amendment to compact with State of Oregon MISSION - The Board of Trustees (BOT) on May 18 approved an amendment to its gaming compact with the state that allows the Tribes to waive its obligation to fund the Wildhorse Foundation, according to a CTUIR press release.

The move came as a result of Wildhorse Resort & Casino’s closure due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Revenues are expected to be significantly lower in 2020 because the resort and casino was closed from mid-March until late May. Under the current Compact, which was approved in 2008 by the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR), the State of Oregon and the Secretary of Interior, a percentage of the casino’s net gaming revenue was allocated to the Wildhorse Foundation for distribution to local government and charitable entities within four Oregon counties (Umatilla, Union, Morrow and Wallowa), the CTUIR ceded territory in Washington, which includes Tri-Cities and Walla Walla, and to Native American organizations.

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Confederated Umatilla Journal

To date, the Wildhorse Foundation has issued grants totaling more than $13 million to regional organizations.

Under the Compact amendment, the Wildhorse Foundation contributions will be paid into the Tribal Contingency Fund if funds are available for such payments.

The Tribes rely on Wildhorse revenues to support Tribal government programs and services to the residents of the Umatilla Indian Reservation.

A temporary waiver of the Tribes’ obligation to contribute to the community benefit fund for the year of 2020 would allow the Tribes to use those funds to offset the reduction of revenue and support Tribal government programs and services.

The Tribal Gaming Commission adopted a Resolution recommending Board of Trustees approval of Compact Amendment II. The amendment will be sent to Salem for approval by Governor Kate Brown and then to the Secretary of Interior for approval as required by federal law.

June 2020

McMichael wins Ford Family scholarship 2020 salutatorian wants to return to teach history at Nixyaawii Community School

C

loe McMichael is comfortable being a bit of a contradiction.

Or should we say she’s not bothered if people thinks she’s a little different.

When this light-skinned Indian heads off to Corvallis and Oregon State University in the fall, she will be one of the few students who won’t be accumulating debt.

Cloe is one of this year’s 125 Oregon scholars – the first from Nixyaawii Community School – to receive the Ford Family Foundation Scholarship, which will pay for 90 percent of unmet needs, up to $40,000 a year, over the course of completing her four year bachelor’s She is degree, and the possibility of a twoa direct year extension toward a master’s. descendent The first person in her family to attend college, Cloe has been of both teased at school for her light skin Kamatzpalu, color, yet she has stronger conneca Cayuse tions than many young people to her Native American culture and war leader traditions. She practices Washat who was a on Sundays, digs and cleans roots, signatory and cooks for feasts at longhouses up and down the Columbia River to the from Lyle to Priest Rapids.

Walla Walla “People have made fun of me …

Treaty, and the white girl going to an Indian school,” she said during a maskAlexander to-mask interview May 21.

McKay, However, she said she believes who helped in all things Native American and wants to pass those beliefs on to the found the next generations of Tribal members present by earning a degree in education so she can return to NCS to teach day city of history.

Astoria.

And while Tribal history is obviously important, Cloe’s passion is actually U.S. history.

Even her own history is mixed.

She is a direct descendent of both Kamatzpalu, a Cayuse war leader who was a signatory to the Walla Walla Treaty, and Alexander McKay, who helped found the present day city of Astoria.

“My love for history stems from watching documentaries in my grandpa’s man-cave and having him tell me all the history that he has been through and just realizing that we are living in history right now and there needs to be people who are going to teach the next generation of children what happened to people in the past and present,” Cloe said.

She recalls her eighth grade East Coast trip when the historic places students visited, like George Washington’s home, weren’t that impressive.

“It was a cool experience, but I didn’t love history. I wasn’t processing when people did things.”

That changed when Cloe reached high school and U.S. history was revolutionized for her by NCS teacher Zack Brandsen.

In her year-long government class project, Cloe focused on Columbia River dams and how those concrete barriers interrupted the living conditions, relationships and traditional activities of Tribal people that lived along the Big River, particularly at places like Celilo Falls and Priest Rapids.

CUJ story & photos by Wil Phinney June 2020

Cloe McMichael has stayed busy during the COVID-19 stay-at-home directives tending to her horses, like Rosie here. Cloe will be attending Oregon State University in the fall where she intends to pursue a degree in Education with hopes of returning to teach at Nixyaawii Community School.

“But he (Brandsen) made me realize I love U.S. history. He made it engaging … He pushed me to do my best, but also showed me where I could go and how successful I could be if I put in the work.”

She particularly likes the Revolutionary War and how the United States was founded by people like Alexander Hamilton. She knows all the lyrics and would love to see the Broadway play of the same name as the Constitution signer.

This year’s Salutatorian with a 3.95 GPA (she received a B in Algebra II as a sophomore) said she enjoys school because she loves to learn.

“I know it’s weird, but going into a classroom and learning something new or how to do something new is the coolest feeling, just knowing that you are smarter every day I left the school building is what made it so enjoyable for me,” she said.

Cloe hasn’t had time yet to be nervous about leaving for the other valley, the one on this side of the Columbia.

“I’ve never been away from home for more than a week and a half,” she said. “But moving away from home … time to grow up a little and become an adult.”

At home, Cloe will be leaving her parents, Trish and Jered McMichael, her 13-year-old brother, Ryan McMichael, who she has been helping with distance learning, and two sisters, Faryn Sanchez, 26, and Melissa McMichael, 21. She will also be leaving in Mission

Cloe’s involvement The Ford Family Foundation, which is based in Roseburg, Oregon, each year selects 125 Ford Scholars.

The award covers 90 percent of unmet college costs and is calculated on the cost of attendance tuition, fees, room and board, personal costs, etc.), minus other grants and scholarships.

Cloe McMichael also has learned of a $3,000 scholarship from the Umatilla Electric Cooperative.

Among other things, Scholars are chosen for academic achievement, leadership, character and volunteer service.

Cloe is the 2020 NCS Salutatorian with a GPA of 3.95.

She has been involved at Nixyaawii Community School in Communicare, National Honor Society, Leadership, SALT - Student Athlete Leadership Team, National Society of High School Scholars, volleyball and golf.

She also is active in traditional and cultural lifeways, including weaving, and takes part in longhouse events at home and at other tribal communities.

Until COVID-19 closed the restaurant, she also worked at Quizno’s in Pendleton.

Cloe McMichael on page 18A

Confederated Umatilla Journal

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CUJ Op-Eds & Columns

A shocking sight The skies lit up on May 28 following the WestonMcEwen High School graduation, which was held at the MiltonFreewater Drive-In. The storm that blew in didn’t drop too much rain in this area, but it did bring the light show and plenty of wind. This outburst of energy was captured

by Athena photographer Robert McLean.

Health, safety remain top concern as we re-open

By Kat Brigham

O

n behalf of the Board of Trustees (BOT), I say congratulations to the tribal community on successfully staying safe and healthy over the past three months. Yellowhawk conducted their second round of testing for our community and all tests were negative.

This BOT is very concerned about your health and safety and we are providing all the resources necessary to protect our community.

On May 11 the BOT adopted guidelines for the Incident Command Team (ICT) to implement that will allow our tribal entities reopening based upon five tiers. Since then Yellowhawk, Cayuse Holdings and Wildhorse have prepared reopening plans and are now at Tier 3, which allows most staff to return to work. But at the same time all of us are very

CUJ Confederated Umatilla Journal

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concerned about staff and guests feeling comfortable and safe returning to our facilities. Therefore all our entities are monitoring to see what additional improvements can be made to make people feel safe and healthy.

You will see a number of mitigation plans set in place to include sneeze guards, social distancing measures and temperature taking devices.

We have charged the ICT and all of our entities to secure funding that will help us through COVID-19 and in our recovery.

We have secured federal CARES Kat Brigham funds to assist our community in protecting, monitoring and hopefully preventing coronavirus on the Umatilla Indian Reservation.

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

Acting Publisher:

Jane Hill CUJ staff: Wil Phinney, Editor Casey Brown, Reporter/Photographer Dallas Dick, Freelance Photographer

Confederated Umatilla Journal

Please understand that these federal funds come with a number of guidelines and restrictions.

The BOT members are asking questions that need to clarify how we deploy these funds and once we have a clear picture of all the federal guidelines the CTUIR intends to use the funds appropriately ensuring we don’t put the CTUIR in a payback situation to the federal government.

The BOT appreciates your input. We are constantly working to reopen all our entities in a safe way. We all look forward to seeing you in person again, when it is safe. Your BOT is committed to providing all the resources necessary to help us through this pandemic and in the recovery of our community.

Kat Brigham is Chair of the Board of Trustees for the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation.

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16 awards in 2018, including first places for best feature story, feature photo, environmental coverage.

Next CUJ: July 2 Ad deadline: June 16 News deadline: June 23

June 2020

CUJ Op-Eds & Columns Birthday hugs and kisses, long-awaited sweat brings spirit alive once again

COVID fly-over Oregon Air National Guard F-15 Eagle jets saluted Oregonians on the forefront of the COVID-19 pandemic by flying over hospitals across the state May 22 and again on Memorial Day, May 25. The jets, flying about 2,000 feet above ground level and traveling at about 400 mph, flew over St. Anthony Hospital in Pendleton at 9:19 a.m. May 22. It took them four minutes to get to Pendleton from Hermiston and another six minutes to fly over Grande Ronde Hospital in La Grande. They were scheduled to sweep back over Warm Springs Health and Wellness Center at 10:07 a.m.

By General Council Chair Lindsey Watchman

Oykalo iinim himiyuume, iin wees lilooyca – I am thankful/happy.

Around mid-May, I turned 48 years old. Like many of you (as well as our children), birthday celebrations have been a bit more challenging these past few months. Held virtually, and even car parades … who would have thunk?

Yet, each of us have been doing our part in complying with the safety guidelines that have been asked of us by the Incident Command team.

I applaud each and every tribal member for their frequent ‘sacrifices’ of personal wants … in order to protect our Elders and households.

And although several usual weekly activities have been disrupted (including traditional and religious events such as sweat, SAS, Tutuilla and Longhouse services) … our People have remained resilient.

After two months, I finally got to sweat the day of my birthday. I definitely needed it. Mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually. The next morning, without distance restrictions, I traveled down Lindsey X. Watchman to Cascade Locks to see two of my children – and to feel those muchawaited hugs and kisses. We stayed at a half-full hotel that practices social distancing, hoarded the swimming pool to ourselves … and even spent a few hours on the scaffolds dip-netting (only caught a few shad, weetu nacox – no salmon). But most importantly, my spirit became alive once again.

So, to be brief this month, I’ll close with this same wish and prayer for your happiness as well. May the Creator of hope fill you with all joy – and peace in believing – that you may ‘abound in hope’ by the power of the Holy Spirit (Romans 15:13).

I wish you each well, yox kalo.

Photo by Audie Huber

CUJ Letters to the Editor Outside participation needed Some CTUIR pandemic to help young tribal inmates directives are punitive

Dorran thanks voters for support in primary election

To the editor, Friend and relatives: In memoriam, a tribute to my son, Tyson Leroy Wilcher, who had just turned 37! He was especially proud of his grandma, Sharon, who still lives in St. Johns on the north side of Portland. He never failed to mention her and credit her for his very existence. His caring and gratitude for family and community was infectious. He carried on the beautifully strong voice of his mother, who preceded him crossing over to the other side. They shared an overriding message of uplifting of spirits of all those they met in celebration of life.

Unspeakable as can be, it just cannot be ignored.

Tyson died in state custody.

He was declared dead on June 7, 2019. He was autopsied and nearly cremated before the family was able to intervene. With systemic change, questions will continue to go unanswered concerning how our people died.

I’ve been told we’re a sovereign nation and we can do whatever we want. Why don’t we turn the revolving door the other way and help our people out? Before the snows fly, in July, it could be a national celebration to have halfway houses, jobs and educational opportunities, seminars, and workshops. Even just a face from the free world gives one hope that life still exists.

Prisons have come a long way in the programs and people they allow inside. But for anything to continue requires outside participation.

It only takes a few to get the ball rolling, then all things are possible. And it still stands, to help a fallen brother is the greatest honor.

I remain, Gordon Wilson, Portland

I would like to take this opportunity to express a heartfelt thank you to all involved in the Dan Dorran for Umatilla County Commissioner Campaign.

I was humbled by the support for our campaign and message shown at the ballot box by the voters of Umatilla County. I would encourage all eligible voters, whether they support our campaign or not, to participate in the election process during the general election which closes Nov. 3, 2020.

Without the financial, communication and organizing support from over 200 individuals and businesses we would not have been able to get our message out to the citizens of Umatilla County in a challenging campaign atmosphere. In the last 8 months I have had conversations through phone, email, private messages, and face to face (before March) with hundreds of folks with diverse discussions. This has been important to me and I look forward to continuing throughout the next five months.

We made a determined commitment to our supporters and communities that in every way possible, any expenditure or request for services would be local.

Commitment made; Commitment kept!

A huge thank you to the over 300 folks and businesses that requested and proudly displayed our yard and field signs during the primary throughout Umatilla County.

We look forward to getting them back out in the fall.

Being my first time running for an elected office, the experience makes you realize that people want to be heard and want to have a voice in the process that effect their lives each day in Umatilla County. Our views may not always align, but I commit to listening and discussing and making sure your voice is heard.

Dan Dorran, dandorran@ddorran.com.

June 2020

Chuck Sams, pandemic Incident Commander, claimed that Resolution 20-028, which defines numerous directives that are enforceable by the Umatilla Tribal Police are not intended to punish anyone, but were enacted out of health concerns for our community.

I mostly agree with this position. However, there are provisions of the resolution that clearly have an intent of being punitive. For example, a tribal violator could be sentenced up to a year in jail, and fined up to $5,000.

Jail time could not be interpreted to be anything but an act of punishment.

To the best of my knowledge, the CTUIR is the only government that criminalizes non-compliance with its pandemic guidelines. Thus, a tribal citizen with no previous criminal record could become a criminal for, say, hosting a backyard barbecue.

Also, Kyle Daley, tribal prosecutor, has a documented record of recommending to the tribal court severe sentences for tribal defendants. For example, not too long ago, the CUJ reported that Daley recommended that a male tribal member receive 90 days in jail for a minor incident involving another tribal male. In this situation, there was no jail sentence, but Daley strongly recommended it.

Tribal members cannot get a year in jail because the BOT [Board of Trustees] is concerned about the health of our community. Tribal members can get a year in jail for not complying with the directives of Resolution 20-028.

The directives of Resolution 20-028 were to expire on April 28, 2020. Whether they were extended, or not, is not relevant to my main point that some provisions of Resolution 20-028 are clearly punitive, and are not about community health and well-being.

Bob Shippentower

Confederated Umatilla Journal

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CUJ Almanac Obituary Nadine Martha Van Mechelen Sept. 29, 1929 – May 13, 2020 Born in Crescent City, California, Nadine was raised on the Klamath River and in Crescent City.

Nadine comes from a long line of Yurok traditional medicine and ceremonial leaders/fire keepers from the Village of Rekwoi and the House of La’yeq located where the Klamath River meets the Pacific Ocean in the heart of Redwood Trees.

Nadine is a Yurok Tribal Member.

She was a well-known Native doll maker whose dolls can be found throughout the world.

She loved traveling to Native art markets throughout the Nation and meeting other Native artist and visiting with people she met.

She lived with her husband, John, for 52 years

Are you a business owner in Baker, Union or Wallowa counties?

Have you been impacted by COVID-19 closures or business slowdowns?

If so, please contact lisadawson@neoedd.org or 541-426-3598.

The Northeast Oregon Economic Development District is applying for state and federal funding to grant to businesses in our service area impacted by COVID-19. If you contact us, we will send you information on funding programs when they are available. We also offer the Oregon Native Enterprise business training program and are seeking business owners or entrepreneurs who might be interested in participating in this business development program.

Visit our website at neoedd.org

in Pendleton, Oregon, on the Umatilla Indian Reservation. She raised her children and developed lifelong friendships here. Nadine and John appreciated and were thankful that the Confederated Tribes of Umatilla embraced and accepted their family. Nadine owned and operated Wind Song Gallery where she featured Native artists in downtown Pendleton.

She enjoyed traveling with her husband to New Zealand and throughout the United States and home to Klamath to visit with her family.

She loved searching through Native art magazines for ideas for her doll making and looking at Home and Garden magazines for recipes, garden and house decorating ideas. She also enjoyed sitting on her porch looking at her flowers, listening to birds and watching the deer passing through her yard.

Nadine had many close friends who she loved and who loved her including Jimmy and Ervin Markham, Marie Dick, Virginia and Art Kruger, Nancy Niord, Karen Been, Sherri Moffet, Rosetta and Bruce Comstock, Margie Gunshow, and Margret Sams.

Nadine and her family offer a special appreciation to Yellowhawk Tribal Health Center doctors and nurses and St. Mary Medical Center doctors and nurses for their wonderful and compassionate care. Thank you to Lavina Bowers, Susan Masten, Ciera Klopmeyer and Jimmy Markham for taking care of Nadine.

Nadine is preceded in death by her parents Geneva and Emery Mattz, brothers Jack, Emery, and Tony; sisters Betty and Janet; son David Franklin; daughter Diana Van Mechelen; and grandchildren Jeremy and Charlie Franklin.

She is survived by husband John Van Mechelen; sons Vincent Matlock, John Franklin and Paul Van Mechelen; Sister/friend Lavina Bowers; brothers Marvin and Raymond Mattz; grandchildren Ashley Matlock, Stephanie Weldon, John Franklin Jr., McKenzie and Shelby Franklin, Ciera and Grant Klopmeyer, Paul Jr., Amanda, Kyle, and Mason Van Mechelen; great grandchildren Kacen Zeckman, River, Truth and Wisdom Van Mechelen, Nakia Matlock, Donald and Cecilia Moore, Dorea, Deane, and Kyson Brown, Sam and Jeremy Jones, and many nieces, nephews, and cousins who loved her.

Burns Mortuary of Pendleton is in charge of arrangements. Sign the online guestbook at http:// www.burnsmortuary.com

July ad deadline June 16

Mt. Emily Pack likely to blame for livestock deaths MISSION – Wolves from the Mount Emily Pack are likely to blame for five livestock deaths that occurred on the Umatilla Indian Reservation (UIR) over a two-week span between April 30 and May 13, according to a news release from the Confederated Tribes.

At least one of those cases was confirmed as a wolf kill.

A livestock producer found a dead 3-month-old calf on his 5,500 acre CTUIR rangeland grazing allotment near Telephone Ridge on May 13 while checking his cattle. CTUIR and Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife (ODFW) responded to investigate the death of the 175-pound calf.

The livestock producer had reported seeing one wolf near his cows two days before.

The investigation revealed multiple canine bite marks and tooth scrape marks that are “clear evidence of a predator attack,” according to an ODFW report.

“The location, size of bite scrapes, and severity of the injuries are similar to those observed in other calves attacked by wolves.”

All five domestic livestock carcasses were found on UIR range units with evidence of predation as the cause of death, according to the CTUIR news release.

For instance, on May 12, another dead calf was found in the Telephone Ridge area. It had been heavily scavenged and predation was clear. However, due to lack of hide and muscle tissue an official cause of death could not be confirmed.

Wolf tracks were found near three of the carcasses, and GPS and radio telemetry data provided evidence of a radiocollared wolf in the area. While three of the four carcasses were scavenged too heavily to confirm the cause of death, wolf tracks and scat were observed at or near one calf that was confirmed by staff to have fallen to wolf predation.

Based on the radio telemetry data, the depredation was attributed to the Mount Emily wolf pack.

CTUIR Wildlife and Range staff, along with staff from the ODFW and livestock permittees have been coordinating to address livestock depredations on Reserva-

A trail cam photo of wolves from the Mt. Emily Pack was taken this winter.

tion range units. Tribal and ODFW staff continue to closely monitor the situation and implement non-lethal deterrents.

The CTUIR Department of Natural Resources has hired a range rider to supplement the efforts of the permittees and Tribal Wildlife and Range Program staff are implementing regular patrols in coordination with the permittee. All depredation sites have been cleared of all cattle remains to reduce potential attractants to wolves and other predators.

According to its news release, the CTUIR supports the natural re-establishment of self-sustaining, breeding populations of wolves in the lands within the areas of interest and influence of the CTUIR including its ceded lands, the Umatilla Indian Reservation, and its traditional use areas. The CTUIR supports the implementation of plans to assure that reestablished populations of wolves are managed in balance with other wildlife species, human health and safety needs, and the overall economic health of the region.

In support of these goals, the CTUIR’s Department of Natural Resources and the Fish and Wildlife Commission have developed a plan to guide their responses to conflicts or issues that may arise with reestablished wolf populations on the reservation. Non-lethal control measures are attempted first, however landowners and livestock operators or their agents may kill a wolf caught in the act of pursuing or attacking livestock or guard dogs within the grazing unit. The plan contains additional provisions for lethal take to address repeated depredations, when and where evidence is conclusive, and subject to review and approval of the CTUIR Fish and Wildlife Commission.

Pendleton Pioneer Chapel received three prestigious awards in 2009

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

Our experienced family provides caring, compassionate care including:

Burial Services ~ Military Services Cremation ~ Monuments

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Confederated Umatilla Journal

June 2020

Jobs COLUMBIA RIVER INTER-TRIBAL FISH COMMISSION EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES Job Title: Administrative Specialist Department: Law Enforcement Classification: Full-time, regular, non-exempt Salary Range: $42,745 to $47,180 Location: Hood River, OR Closing Date: March 13, 2020 Job Summary: The Administrative Specialist is responsible for maintaining department purchasing records. Keeps immediate supervisor informed of administrative related matters as they affect the agency.

Assists the Chief and the Captain as necessary in the fulfillment of their various administrative duties.

-Essential Job Functions: Responsible for maintenance of department records and logs, reports, court notices and computerized records, and preparing monthly reports by regular review, making corrections, and updating information.

-Responsible for department petty cash, invoices, purchase order requests, billings, etc., by maintaining proper documentation and working with financial services personnel to ensure payments for services and supply orders are current.

-Assists staff with training arrangements (registration, POR payments, scheduling).

-Assists staff with travel arrangements and vouching travel by following CRITFC travel procedures and policies.

-Works as a communications dispatcher when necessary by maintaining the necessary skills to perform that function.

-Assists the Chief in an executive administrative capacity by preparing documents, handling department correspondence, serving as a recording secretary when needed, and maintains confidentiality in accordance with departmental and organizations policy and procedure.

-Works as liaison with the four tribes, the Commission, LEC members, and other agencies related to the administration of the enforcement department by keeping informed of departmental activities, cases, reports, and contacts.

-Have a working knowledge of the CRITFC Personnel Policy Manual, the CRITPD Policy Manual, and maintain a general knowledge of tribal/inter-tribal laws, resolutions and regulations pertaining to fishing and related activities on the Columbia River by keeping informed of applicable changes, revisions, and updates.

-Performs other duties assigned.

CTUIR

APPLICATION PROCEDURE:

Under the authority of Section 7 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act, CRITFC shall give preference in employment matters to qualified enrolled members of the four CRITFC member tribes, then to qualified enrolled members of other federally recognized tribes. If CRITFC is unable to fill openings with such qualified tribal members, other qualified applicants will be considered.

Note: Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Send a complete application materials include a cover letter, CV/resume, completed job application with signature, electronic or typed in signature is accepted (available on our website at www.critfc.org “employment opportunities” on the bottom left corner or by calling 503.238.0667, a copy of relevant certifications and a list of at least three professional references.

Submit to: Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission Attn: Human Resources 700 NE Multnomah Street, Suite 1200 Portland, Oregon 97232 Email: hr@critfc.org Fax: 503.235.4228 To view more career opportunities or to learn more about Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission, please visit https://www.critfc.org/ critfc-employment-opportunities/.

Weather Weather information summarizes data taken at the Pendleton Weather Station from May 1-31.

The average daily temperature was 72.7 degrees with a high of 89 degrees on May 30 and a low of 34 degrees on May 4.

Total precipitation to date in May was 2.70 with greatest 24-hr average 1.10” on May 20.

There were eight days out of the month with precipitation level greater than one tenth of an inch of rain. This May’s precipitation was 1.35 inches above normal.

The average wind speed was 9.7 mph with a sustained max speed of 45 mph from the West on May 30. A peak speed of 56 mph occurred from the West on May 30. The dominant wind direction was from the West.

There were six Thunder storms, 11 days out of 31 in which some/or a lot of rain fel. Air Quality Index values remained in the Healthy levels during May despite volatile weather patterns and high heats.

Committee, Commission openings

June 2020

Board of Trustees

General Council

Chair Kathryn Brigham

Chair Lindsey X. Watchman

Vice Chair Jeremy Wolf

Vice Chair Michael Ray Johnson

Treasurer Sandra Sampson Secretary Sally Kosey

Secretary Shawna Gavin Interpreter Thomas Morning Owl

At-large BOT Members: Jill-Marie Gavin General Council contact Info Office: 541-429-7378 Armand Minthorn Email: GeneralCouncil@ctuir.org Boots Pond Meeting updates and information on: www.ctuir.org/government/general-council Corinne Sams Executive Director :

Ted Wright, Ph.D.

General Council Meeting

Nixyaawii Governance Center

To Be Announced 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 541-240-8700

Finance Office 541-429-7150

TERF 541-276-4040

Finance – Credit Program 541-429-7155

Confederated Umatilla Journal 541-429-7399

Confederated Umatilla Journal

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46314 Timine Way

Pendleton, Oregon 97801

541-966-9830

www.yellowhawk.org

YELLOWHAWK IS HIRING For more information visit yellowhawk.org/ careers or contact Lorasa Joseph - HR Staff Recruiter 541-240-8713 or lorasajoseph@ yellowhawk.org 10A

Confederated Umatilla Journal

June 2020

June 2020

Confederated Umatilla Journal

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BOT approves recruitment of Deputy Executive Director By the CUJ

MISSION – The Board of Trustees (BOT) for the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR) on May 13 told Executive Director Ted Wright to begin recruitment for an individual to work under his supervision as a Deputy Executive Director (DED).

The exact duties of the DED were not fully flushed out during the BOT work session, but it’s safe to say the new position will help Wright manage some of the more than 400 tribal government employees who currently work in 17 different departments.

The job will first be advertised to members of the CTUIR. If a CTUIR member does not apply, it will be opened to other Native Americans and then to non-Indians. Veterans will receive preferential status as well.

The BOT, which supervises the Executive Director, discussed at length whether or not it should also supervise the DED. Wright told the Board that the duties between the ED and DED will be parsed out after an organizational assessment is completed.

“Until that work is done we won’t know how to split the work up, but that person could work side by side with me and the Executive Management Team to figure it out,” Wright said. “There may be restructuring here and there and right

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Confederated Umatilla Journal

now we can’t just say who will be under me and who will be under the Deputy ED. But it will be a huge advantage to have that person on board while we work that out.”

BOT Vice Chair Jeremy Wolf said it will be advantageous to have two top managers so that when one is working directly with the Board the other can deal with government operations.

At one point in the meeting, BOT members appeared to be split. Half wanted to discuss the pros-and-cons of leaving both the ED and DED under supervision of the Board, and half wanted to leave the deputy under the supervision of the Executive Director.

That’s when Armand Minthorn made his first statement of the day.

“What Ted presented in part is to help the Executive Director’s office. What the last Board’s done, that’s all done,” Minthorn said. “What we’re dealing with now is how to continue to move forward.

Yes, we can learn from the past what has happened before, mistakes, etc., etc., that can help guide us, guide anybody really. What’s important is that this is to me cut-and-dry. Move forward with this position so we can go forward to continue to focus on our priorities and issues and accomplishments with the Deputy under the Executive Director.”

The hiring process is expected to take at least six to eight weeks and likely much longer.

June 2020

CUJ News Demo provides opportunity for new vision at July Grounds From the CTUIR Capital Improvements Committee

MISSION - The month of May brought a significant milestone to the July Grounds – the demolition of the former Yellowhawk Tribal Health Center, as well as the demolition of the Cay-Uma-Wa Education Center, the former Prevention Building, and a modular that served as an office building for the Yellowhawk Finance Department.

“These buildings have been part of our Community for more than 40 years. It’ll be exciting to see how the community will envision the future of the July Grounds,” said J.D Tovey, Planning Director for the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation.

CTUIR went through a lengthy process when determining to remove the structures, according to Tovey.

In 2015, when the decision was made to relocate Yellowhawk to the current location west of the Governance Center, Tribal Planning, Public Works, and the Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD) assessed the existing July Grounds buildings and engaged with various programs and groups about what the CTUIR community would like to see in that location.

The facility assessment revealed that the former Yellowhawk building was in “dire need” of a roof replacement, expensive repairs to a “deteriorated” asphalt parking lot, potential hazardous materials removal, and a new heating and cooling system. That was is in addition to extensive interior improvements and renovations for any interested tenants.

“The decision to demolish the former Yellowhawk was not easy,” Tovey said.

However, he noted, it proved to be the right one.

During demolition workers discovered some serious structural issues that would have greatly increased the cost of renovation.

“Future usage and functionality of the old Yellowhawk building was going to be just too cost prohibitive for renovations and long term operations and maintenance and not a good use of Tribal dollars,” Tovey said.

There is opportunity, however, to create a new vision for the July Grounds moving forward. With the buildings gone, the site is open and the land can be restored.

Tovey said Tribal Planning is hoping to begin a “robust community engagement and outreach process” this summer. The architectural firm that designed the Old Gym renovations and the new Nixyaawii Education Facility is under contract to help facilitate and draft conceptual site plans of the July Grounds with input from community and stakeholders, especially Tribal veterans.

Given the COVID-19 pandemic, there will be careful consideration for how to encourage participation from the community. It is anticipated that in addition to a series of public forums and open meetings this summer, which will adhere to strict safety protocols, there will also be the use of online surveys and other technology tools to ensure that Tribal members have an opportunity to provide their ideas.

For more information, contact the Tribal Planning Office at 1-541-276-3099.

The Capital Improvements Committee includes J.D. Tovey, CTUIR Planning Director; Frank Anderson, CTUIR Public Works Director; Bill Tovey, CTUIR Department of Economic and Community Development Director; and Scott Rogers at Wenaha Group.

June 2020

A pair of backhoes work on some of the remaining walls at the former Yellowhawk Tribal Health Center as demoliton work continued at the July Grounds in April.

The false roof is torn off on the southeast corner of the former health clinic at the July Grounds on the Umatilla Indian Reservation in April.

Debris is piled at what was once the Cay-Uma-Wa Education Center.

It didn’t take long for several buildings to come down at the July Grounds in April.

The east side of the old Yellowhawk building, where the conference room was located, it razed in a cloud of dust.

At the end of the day, when Cay-Uma-Wa was no more, the entire July Grounds took on a vacant aspect that invites ideas this summer from members of the community about what uses they want for the July Grounds.

Confederated Umatilla Journal

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Garbage cans wash down Storie Lane off South Market Road.

Heavy rains create May 20 flood scare By the CUJ

MISSION – The community mostly dodged another bullet May 20 when the skies darkened before dumping more than an inch of rain in less than 24 hours on the foothills of the Blue Mountains.

It didn’t end up anything like the February floods that caused millions of dollars’ worth of damage throughout Eastern Oregon, but for a while there was cause for concern. Weather alerts were alarming enough that employees at the Nixyaawii Governance Center (NGC) were sent home in the early afternoon.

Like flash floods, torrents of muddy water rushed down no-name ditches and seldom-used roads, threatening a few homes, inundating fields, and tearing through vegetation.

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Carol Farrow stands in front of the home where she lives with her siblings on Thompson Road.

Volunteers filled sandbags from piles near the NGC that were left over from the February floods. BOLSTER crews from the Department of Children and Family Services joined staff from the Public Works Department to place sandbags around a few houses on Shortmile Road and Thompson Road, as well as to spots along McKay Creek where streamside habitat was being washed away.

On Thompson Road, Carol Farrow was standing in the front of the house where she lives with her brothers and sisters. It was the former home of her parents, Elzie and Emma Farrow.

Leaning on a shovel, she watched as her brother and nephew, plus several men from Tribal crews, created a sandbag levee to divert water away from the house and places sandbags beside a ditch where water was pouring through the driveway.

Confederated Umatilla Journal

CUJ photos/Phinney

“It was running pretty hard this morning, but maybe just a quarter depth in the ditch. And then just bam, it just went,” Farrow said.

“My sister and I have been trying to keep the culverts unclogged for probably about the last three and a half hours,” Farrow said.

“Luckily I had Kat Brigham’s (Chair of the Board of Trustees for the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation) number,” Farrow said. “I called her and told her we were having a flood over here. She was able to call and help us out finding people to get sandbags this year.”

Frank Anderson, CTUIR Public Works director, said spot checks revealed no major road problems in the area.

Kevin Hudson, CTUIR Farm Enterprises manager, said the rain did nothing but help the wheat crop.

June 2020

2020 High School Graduates Pendleton High School

Darius Rueber

Jonathan Begay

Kason Broncheau

Stockton Hoffman

Aaron Luke

Chauncey Sams

Katherine Broncheau

Nakia Thomas

Ashley Walton

Echo High

Samantha Allen

Yayoilyssa Newman

Paris Leighton

Seth Scott

Brock Picard

Chelsea Jack

Nyeli James

Jaelynn Rodriguez

Nixyaawii Community School WestonMcEwen High School Sidney Davis

Chelsea Farrow

Cloe McMichael

Ryan Yallup

Susie Patrick

Kaeleh Hall

Ryan Jones

Lilly Picard

D’Andre Rodriguez

Quanah Picard

Richie Minthorn

Sterling Thomas

Kelen McGill

Althea Huesties

Auralia Heay

Brooke Thompson

Pilot Rock High

Jaron Teeman

Other high school grads Christina Kaltsukis

Tristalynn Melton

Kylie Mountainchief

Tyanna VanPelt

Mick Schimmel

Joe Simon

Isiah Pacheco

Hanna Zohn

June 2020

Lark Moses

Marley Johnson St. Mary’s Academy Portland

Confederated Umatilla Journal

Chaska John West Valley High Yakima, Wash.

Sydney John Zillah, Wash.

Laila Bisbee Clarkston, Wash.

Star Diavolikis Granger, Wash.

Anona Francis Madras, Ore.

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Negative results from COVID-19 testing Continued from page 3A

But those same people don’t use such positive words to describe the invasive testing itself. They use terms like scary, intense and frightening.

Fortunately, it’s over quick, they said.

Having a swab inserted three inches up your nose is a surprise the first time.

But it was a shock the second go because instead of the flexible sticks the in midMay test, Yellowhawk had to use swab sticks that had the flexibility of a “lollipop” stick.

“That first time we had premium swabs that were flexible, they could snake around the corners easier,” Dearing said.

“But there’s a shortage of supplies and … this time we were issued swabs more like lollipop sticks that pushed through the tissue.”

The six-inch sticks had to penetrate three inches into the nasal cavity “back to that lower nasal wall, the lower sinus turbinates … way back in the nose.”

Alaina Mildenberger, Office Manager in the CTUIR Public Works Department, volunteered for the test because her partner works for UPS and works with packages handled by many others. She also wanted to know if she had the antibodies that would battle coronavirus. (An antibody is a protein produced by the body’s immune system when it detects harmful substances, called antigens.)

Mildenberger said the testing proce-

Blood is drawn after a simple finger prick during an antibody test to determine whether or not the Photos courtesy of Yellowhawk Tribal Health Center study volunteer has had COVID-19.

dure was “quick in and out” the second time, but that new swab, man.

“It seems like it had to go up a long ways, up and twist it a while,” Mildenberger said. “I don’t know if it’s how far, or how long it was up there. It was intense. I wasn’t expecting it this time.”

Sandra Sampson, Treasurer for the CTUIR Board of Trustees, said she’s all about testing to establish a baseline for making health-related decisions.

Sampson said the test wasn’t just “scary in the back of my throat.”

“The scary part for me was what that it would be positive and I’d be in quarantine for 14 days,” she said.

Sampson said testing needs to continue even after Yellowhawk completes its three-phase study.

“We haven’t done a lot of testing and the more we open up the more people will be thinking it’s okay. I think we still have to be a little paranoid. I have grandchildren and little children around.

We gotta be careful. It’s hard for kids to understand, even teen-agers. We have to limit access to other people.”

Dave Tovey, Executive Director of the Nixyaawii Community Financial Services, called his May 27 nasal swab a “brain tickler.”

“The first one wasn’t too bad. You feel a deep throat tickle and almost gag. This time it was ‘YOW!’ I was sneezing all morning,” Tovey said.

He was impressed with the process.

With roads blocked off, Tovey drove between Nixyaawii Community School and Yellowhawk where he was stopped and asked his name and date of birth.

He was given a number – B52 for Tovey.

A call ahead alerted Dearing to gather B52’s specimen bag and labels, which she hand-walked to a nursing team.

Tovey turned the corner, but was stopped and his name checked again, and given the opportunity to have any questions he had about the study answered before he entered one of the testing stations. He was greeted by Yellowhawk staff in full PPE (personal protective equipment). He was asked to turn off his vehicle engine and swing his legs out where a nurse proceeded to “jam a swab up there.”

“Yow.” Tovey said the six-inch swab was eight inches long.

“I know it goes all the way up there.

It felt like it went deeper. When I was leaving and talking to the guard the one thing people say is it’s like that moment when you take in a bunch of water and you’re losing your breath. You’re not necessarily drowning, but you feel like you’re getting ready to. Today it was very much like that. A little frightening. But I knew what it was and in two weeks I get to do it again.”

Dearing explains the nasal swab in slightly more clinical terms than Tovey did.

Linda Sampson waits for the swab to penetrate her nasal cavity during COVID-19 testing in May. After two rounds of tests for more than 100 individuals, there have been no positive results for the coronavirus on the Umatilla Indian Reservation.

She said it takes three to five seconds.

The volunteer slightly tilts his or her head back and the swab is inserted perpendicular to the plane of the face. It’s held there for about three seconds, twirled and pulled out.

The six-inch swab is trimmed to three inches so the sample will fit into a salinefilled vial, which is capped, labeled and placed in a specimen bag. The viral testing is done by Interpath Lab in Pendleton.

The antibody test employs a small lancet device for a finger-prick blood sample. Only a drop of blood is needed.

“People are in and out. The longest I’ve seen is about 10 minutes and even that’s a push,” Dearing said. “It’s a streamlined process with a safety mechanism that protects patient rights.”

Heather Anderson, Public Relations Manager at Yellowhawk, said, “We did the testing to inform our own decision and are sharing the information with the ICT Team to help them with their decisions on opening other tribal entities.”

ICT is using test results as guidance, along with other data and information from national, state and local levels, in its re-opening plans for Tribal government and entities.

Wildhorse Resort & Casino actually re-opened May 28 before results of May 26 and 27 testing were released.

Dearing said she has no empirical evidence that the Tribes’ “Stay home, save lives” effort can be credited with the test results for the Umatilla Indian Reservation, but she said the CTUIR’s “quick, definitive decisions” must be working.

“The stay home orders were quick and clear,” Dearing said, “and the community has done a good job following those orders. I do think that’s played a huge role in limiting the exposure. I can’t prove anything, but that’s what we’re all talking about.”

But we were here first...

On June 2, 1924, Congress passed the Indian Citizenship Act, which conferred citizenship on all Native Americans born within the territorial limits of the United States.

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Confederated Umatilla Journal

June 2020

CTUIR General Council officers who participated in the peaceful protest included, from left, Chair Lindsey X. Watchman, Interpreter Thomas Morning Owl, Vice Chair Michael Ray Johnson, and Secretary Shawna Gavin.

Watchman’s wife Jay Stanley, a Navajo, designed the “Black Lives Matter” signs they are holding. Morning Owl, who is a tribal elder, said, “Black Lives Matter, but it isn’t just about black lives. All lives matter. That’s the message.”

Jill-Marie Gavin, CTUIR tribal member and Board of Trustees member, led a chant as a group of about 200 protesters marched from Roy Raley Park to Main Street June 4. Gavin said it is important to make space for black voices in Indigenous communities.

CUJ photos/Casey Brown

‘I came here today because I felt the need to pray. We care about Pendleton, and we care about people’s right to protest.’

Camie Britt, Pendleton resident

June 2020

Making noise with civil disobedience Natives from the Umatilla Indian Reservation were among the leaders of a peaceful protest June 4 in Pendleton.

It was like many protests throughout the nation and the world in response to the killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis police on May 25. In addition to the gathering that started at Roy Raley Park with a march to Main Street and back, an earlier gathering organized by Willa Wallace was held at Brownfield Park in downtown Pendleton. The Pendleton protests were loud, but they were peaceful and non-confrontational. However, that didn’t stop a few men from brandishing rifles in front of businesses in downtown Pendleton, including one man in fatigues with a weapon.

Tribal leader Jill-Marie Gavin, who has family members who are black, carried a sign in the march. She said of the gun-toting men, “You’re protecting you’re property, I’m protecting my family.”

Alyssa Farrow and Jason Axtell, members of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, were among tribal youth at the protest. Tribal members from Yakama, Wanapum, Warm Springs and other nations also participated.

Confederated Umatilla Journal

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EASTERN OREGON CENTER FOR

Continued from page 3A

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. EOCIL is a global disability resource and advocacy center that provides an array of services for people with disabilities.

EOCIL is operated by people with disabilities.

W

H E ARE IRING

Housing Specialist Job Summary: Through intense support services, medical and behavioral health services, and rental assistance, the housing specialist works with individuals (approximately 8 per caseload) and their support team members to provide intensive housing stability coordination.

ACRN Registered NurseMedical Case Manager Job Summary: The MCM participates in a multidisciplinary team that works in partnership with medical providers to assess the medical needs of individuals living with HIV and mental health disabilities and alcohol and drug addictions. The MCM conducts a Nurse Assessment to determine the client's medical needs. MCM works with individuals to develop nursing plans, performs nursing interventions (treatment adherence, nutritional health, oral health, and liver health), advocates on behalf of the client, and participates in the care coordination team to improve client health outcomes.

Behavioral Health Specialist Job Summary: Evaluate mental and behavioral health needs and develop Individualized SeNices and Support Plan (ISSP) for the delivery of seNices supporting mental and behavioral health for individuals living with HIV and mental health disabilities and alcohol and drug addictions. SeNices include, but are not limited to, biopsychical assessments; psychotherapy; individual, family and group counseling; and referrals.

For more information or to apply, contact Jeff Williams at 541-276-1037, jeff@eocil.org, or 322 SW 3rd St., Pendleton. Full job descriptions are available at www.eocil.org.

18A

Cloe McMichael her paternal grandparents Therese and Terry McMichael, maternal grandmother Melissa Wilson, and maternal great grandparents Francis “Foy” Wilson and Laura McKay. She has spent the COVID-19 stay-athome spring finishing her senior classes and spending as much time with family outdoors in the mountains.

It’s sad, she said, that her senior class doesn’t get to take part in the usual graduation activities, including prom.

She said it was “weird” that Pendleton High School, where her boyfriend, Caden Primus attends, was having a “drivethrough” graduation.

Cloe and her best friend, Chelsea Farrow, have likely violated social distance rules hanging out during the COVID-19 lockdowns, but nobody’s going to tattletale. By the way, Chelsea is heading off for Pacific University in the fall.

Cloe is a member of a mostly liberal community, but has “middle” if not somewhat conservative views.

“I don’t voice my opinion that much,” she said. “They (students) go at me if I don’t think the way they do sometimes.”

For instance, while she certainly isn’t alone in her thinking, Cloe’s view on COVID-19 may not be consistent with the majority of residents on the Umatilla Indian Reservation. She realizes people are dying during from the coronavirus pandemic, but she sees the economic crisis as well.

“They need to let people make decisions for themselves and not have the populations make decisions for Ameri-

Confederated Umatilla Journal

Cloe McMichael with her puppy Tadme, named

by Cloe’s boyfriend Caden Primus.

cans that need jobs to be able to live,” she said.

When she’s had to stay indoors, Cloe has stayed busy. Her mother, Trish, said Cloe went crazy with a label maker and reorganized the pantry and cupboards.

She also placed all the loose photographs in photo albums.

“It’s been a blessing for me,” Trish said.

At home, Cloe also is busy with horses and pays special attention to Rosie, who is getting fat, and a new puppy named Tadme. The chickens scratch and lay eggs like chickens are supposed to do and the turkeys gobble and mostly act indifferent.

Soon Cloe, with the help of that Ford Family Foundation Scholarship, will start to focus on college where she plans to continue to grow, perhaps in a contradictory fashion, because it doesn’t bother her to be a little bit different.

June 2020

Wildhorse re-opens Continued from page 1A

of coronavirus. (See story on Page 3.)

Other CTUIR entities are expected to open soon under COVID-19 restrictions.

Yellowhawk’s reopening plan predicted resumption of patient scheduling at 75 percent in the first week of June with full patient capacity by mid-month, according to its May 5 reopening plan.

Nixyaawii Governance Center is hoping to bring back a limited number of employees under strict COVID-19 hygiene practices and restricted access for visitors and clients in mid-June, according to CTUIR Executive Director Ted Wright.

(See story on Page 2.)

BOT Chair Kat Brigham, who had breakfast at Wildhorse on Saturday, May 30, said she visited the casino to hear from staff and guests.

“It was all positive, except someone talked about one woman who had concerns so I went and found that employee and she said she was comfortable coming back,” Brigham said. “The only concern I heard from our people was about others coming in from out of the area and some people not wearing their masks above their nose until they were told. Otherwise they felt safe.”

Brigham returned Saturday night.

“People were crowded but happy to be here,” she said.

Wildhorse Casino Manager Al Tovey said that the casino became so crowded that at about 10 p.m. two of the three entrances were closed.

More than 500 of the 675 slot machines were in use and all the table games were being played, Tovey said. So for about an hour people were allowed in as others left, and additional staff was called in to keep the casino clean and safe.

BOT member Jill-Marie Gavin insisted on touring the casino before it opened on the afternoon of May 28 with the Gaming Commission and Oregon State Police.

BOT Vice Chair Jeremy Wolf joined the group as well.

“I was skeptical at first,” Gavin said.

“I felt it moved really quickly. Initially I was concerned that it was inconsistent from the message the Board was putting out on social media to stay at home and be safe. A lot of people don’t understand that ICT (Incident Command Team) had the authority when the decision to re-open was approved. The BOT didn’t have authority over that.”

Gavin said the Board was not invited to the early inspection, but “I insisted on going to see with my own eyes to protect Tribal members.”

When she did go, Gavin said, “I was pleasantly surprised. I know Wildhorse does an amazing job and the Tribes have been leaders in Indian Country with the coronavirus outbreak but I needed to have proof; it’s my responsibility as a Board member.”

Gavin said Gary George, Wildhorse CEO, has a “wonderful opening plan” and “ICT has done an amazing job” but “at that point it was just words on paper hours before they were going to open the door. It was my responsibility to see it with my own eyes, so that I would be able to answer to Tribal members and the community that we keeping people safe.”

As part of its safety precautions, Wildhorse purchased the following for safe and health operations:

June 2020

Olga Walker wipes down a slot machine next to a “Priority One” sign that posts a Top 10 list of health and safety measures, plus other reminders as the Wildhorse re-opens.

CUJ photo/Phinney - 5,000 cloth masks for employees; - 20,000 one-time use masks for guests; - 43 cases of gloves in four sizes; - 150 gallons of hand sanitizer scattered throughout the casino, hotel and Cineplex in more than 80 dispensers; - Hand sanitizing stations at each entry to the casino; - Four disinfecting and sanitizing fogging machines; - Four Fotrick thermal cameras that read temperature for casino, Cineplex, hotel and Wildhorse employee entries; - Disinfecting and sanitizing supplies for staff use at all point-of-sale locations with 11,600 clean towels per week; - Plexiglas slot game shields; - - 40 Plexiglas sneeze guard shields at each point-of-sale location; Six-foot physical distancing sticker decals and guest signage.

On a tour of the casino on the first full day of re-opening May 28, casino manager Al Tovey, custodial manager Nick Eastwood, and marketing manager Diane Long pointed out changes in operations.

Employees entering the back door walk past a thermal camera that measures their temperature. A temperature higher than 100 degrees sets off a buzzer.

Eastwood said the 150 gallons of hand sanitizer is 60 percent alcohol. Wildhorse is using only sanitizer recognized by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

The 100 gallons of concentrated disinfectant is mixed six ounces to a gallon.

Eastwood figured while we were walking that 100 gallons would fill 3,000 32-ounce spray bottles.

It’s social distancing in a relatively small breakroom, but Wildhorse has remedied that issue.

Turning the corner into the Rivers Events Center, Bobbie Newland from Human Resources was just finishing up a training session for employees. Nearly 700 employees have gone through safe practices of Wildhorse’s “Priority One health, Safe and Clean” program, which is designed to “ensure the health and

safety of our guests, staff and local communities.”

The “Priority One” program has a top 10 list that includes wearing a mask on the casino floor, hotel and Cineplex lobbies, public area and while moving around; using distancing markers at ATM, kiosks and money-changing cages; safety screenings at property entrances; and closure of the casino floor from 3-7 a.m. Monday through Thursday for sanitation and deep cleaning.

The back of the Rivers Event Center has been set aside as an overflow employee breakroom. Sometimes up to 400 can be working at the facility and additional space is needed for meals, especially with six-foot social distancing requirements.

On the other side of the room are the 105 slot machines that were taken off the casino floor to provide distancing. Pods of slots were created instead of lines of games. Every other slot machine on the casino floor that are still in-line are turned off.

Patrons sitting at a machine can take their masks off and smoke, but they can’t walk around without a mask, which means they can’t walk around and smoke.

Blackjack tables are limited to three players. If more want to play a waiting list is started so people won’t mill around waiting. Blackjack players must wear masks and can’t smoke.

There are only two beverage stations and there is a server; no self-serve. However, beverage servers will still be walking the floor to serve customers as they play.

As we walked, Long pointed out how customers were observing the six-foot social distancing rules while waiting to use the ATM machine.

Tovey said that if people want a slot machine cleaned before they play, they can hit a button and staff will come running.

The goal, said Eastwood, is to clean it before the customer asks.

People come into the front entrance vestibule one at a time where their tem-

Confederated Umatilla Journal

peratures are measured. Many have their own mask, but if they don’t they are handed one. Gloves are offered.

Tovey noted that valet parking is not currently available. The shuttle is closed until Kayak Public Transit resumes. Bingo will begin again, probably in July; poker and banquets are done for the time being.

Jeremy Barkley, Director of Slot Operations, was in the middle of the action slowly turning in circles to observe the activity. A player walked up to him and said he had a ticket stuck in a machine.

Barkley immediately pulled out his radio and summoned assistance.

“It’s good to be back,” said Barkley, who never really left.

Barkley has been one of the essential staff that’s prepared Wildhorse to re-open.

“People have stepped up,” he said.

“We’re doing our best to make people happy.”

The day before, when the casino opened at 5 p.m., an estimated 230 people played games at Wildhorse, learning about the re-opening by word of mouth and social media.

“We still had 100 at 2 a.m.,” Barkley said. “I’m not amazed. This building wasn’t meant to sit empty like it was for the last two months. People are happy to be here, relax. For the last two months their entertainment was going to Walmart.”

Long, head of marketing, said Wildhorse wants people to know Wildhorse is a “clean, healthy, safe environment in which to stay and play.”

The resort is “retooling” its marketing tactics to support a socially responsible re-opening that reduces activity that promotes crowds and lines, she said.

Promotions are being built that do not have a “gathering” affect and need less staff interaction, which means a calendar that includes fewer large promotion that require close guest-to-staff contact and fewer invitation events. Wildhorse will temporarily eliminate reoccurring Club slot tournaments.

Early marketing messaging will be driving attention to the Wildhorse webpage, Long said, which will encourage guests to review the Priority One Top 10 safety list. The website includes a video of CEO Gary George discussing Wildhorse’s effort to ensure safety.

Long said a “responsible increase” in media exposure will likely be seen in July.

On Tuesday, after the busy weekend, Tovey said the re-opening days were “fantastic, better than we ever expected, especially with no advertising other than social media and e-mail to our customers.”

Tovey said a “glitches” that were made apparent in the first days back have been or are being fixed, and he’s looking forward to smooth operations going forward.

CTUIR Incident Commander Chuck Sams provided a written statement for the CUJ. “The ICT is greatly appreciative of the community’s efforts to keep COVID-19 at bay,” Sams said. “As we re-open our entities the ICT will continue to actively monitor the activities of our entities and work closely with Yellowhawk Tribal Health Center to ensure all health and safety precautions are being adhered to in order to keep our entities moving forward. Health and safety are still the primary concerns of the ICT and the BOT.”

19A

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Confederated Umatilla Journal

June 2020

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

Section

B

June 2020

Rivera resigns as NCS hoop coach Rivera won state title, was Coach of the Year in 2019

By Wil Phinney of the CUJ

MISSION – Shane Rivera is resigning as head boys’ basketball coach after compiling a record of 171 wins against 51 losses in eight seasons at Nixyaawii Community School (NCS).

Rivera took NCS to the Oregon Class 1A State Tournament five times, winning the title in the 2018-19 season.

That year Rivera was Oregon Class 1A Coach of the Year, led his team to a 28-2 record, beating Trinity Lutheran in the championship game, 59-42.

Golden Eagles’ squads finished second in 2014-2015, third in 2015-2016, and third this year, 2019-2020.

"I don’t know if I’m saying I’m done forever, but I’m taking a break,” Rivera said. “If I ever have an opportunity down the road, who knows?"

Rivera’s decision was based on family matters.

His daughter, 5-year-old Barrett, requires lots of rest because of a rare neurological condition.

“It’s been difficult for Drew (his wife) to come to games because Barrett needs to get to bed early,” Shane said.

And his son, also named Shane, who finished a strong freshman season as an NCS post, is moving back to live with his mother in Toppenish.

Coach Rivera wants to be able to watch his son play as he continues his high school career.

“That was his original plan, that he’d come here for his freshman year and then go back to Toppenish,” Rivera said. “He’s said he’s for sure going back. If I continued coaching I’d never get to watch him play.”

“I have no interest coaching at any other school.

Nixyaawii is where my heart is at.

It’s hard to say, ‘Yeah, I’m done.’”

RIVERA LOOKS BACK FONDLY on his teams, particularly the first team he took to state in his third year at the helm in March of 2015.

“We’d been building to that point. We were 21-7 in 2013-14. We went down to Damascus Christian and won, but lost at Jordan Valley in the second round of substate,” Rivera remembered.

The next year, Tyapo Farrow transferred from Pendleton High School and joined the quick foursome of Hunter Melton, Fredy Campos, Ira Ashley, Angel Corona, plus big Elija Bevis, who was a force with soft hands under the basket.

“We were an unknown and just happy to be there,” Rivera said. “But we went on a run.”

A crowd favorite at Baker City, Nixyaawii was beating a senior-dominated Country Christian after three quarters, but lost the title at the end.

June 2020

Nixyaawii Community School Coach Shane Rivera talks to players during a time out in a game at the Class 1A State Tournament in Baker City in March. Rivera is resigning after an eight-year stint after he accumulated a 171-51 record that included a state title in the 2019 tournament. Standing behind Rivera are his three assistant coaches - Alan Crawford, Ken Mayfield, and Aaron Ashley.

I could yell out and he’d be mad. He’d sit for a minute and get better. He’d listen,” Rivera said.

Melton was a fan favorite because he had no fear, whether it was driving the lane through players sometimes a foot taller or throwing his body on the floor going after a loose ball.

“For a guy who averaged 10 points, he was first team all-state two years in a row. If we had won the tournament he would have been state player of the year,” Rivera said.

Shane Rivera, the coach's son, had an outstanding freshman season at Nixyaawii, but will be transferring to Toppenish in the fall.

Hunter Melton was perhaps Rivera’s favorite player because of his willingness to leave everything on the floor once the game began.

“Like most competitive kids, Hunter would test you.

Confederated Umatilla Journal

BUT EACH SQUAD was different.

Over the years, six different players made state all-star squads a dozen times. Two players - Melton and Mick Schimmel - each made state first-teams twice. Others named to second team squads included Eljah Beavis, Ira Ashley, Fredy Campos and Tyason Burns.

“Talent doesn’t always equal championships,” Rivera said. “We were the most talented team in ’15-16, the best team in the state and still ended up third. We were 27-2. We lost to Sherman, who we’d beat twice during the season. Our only other loss was to Stanfield, who finished high at the state 2A tournament.”

A team that wasn’t the most talented won the title.

But it had the best leadership in seniors Deven Barkley and Dazon Sigo.

“Deven and Dazon showed a level of maturity and leadership that you really can’t put a number on,” Rivera said. “They showed up and set an example for the daily grind in practice. Not verbally, but physically they set an example. They were unselfish.”

Rivera said, “There’s no magic recipe to win championships, at least that I could figure out.”

HE KNOWS HE WAS sometimes criticized for not showing more emotion on the bench during games.

His quiet demeanor during tense moments had fans questioning his tactics while other coaches at the state NCS Coach Rivera resigns on page 2B

1B

Rivera resigns as NCS Coach Continued from page 1B

tournament marveled at his calmness.

“As a player I was a little more vocal and I worried I’d be a screamer and yeller as a coach. It turned out to be opposite as a coach. The only technical were administrative (scorebook violations), not from screaming at refs.”

Rivera said he was surprised by the need for patience and even more surprised that he was able to demonstrate it.

“When I coached that first group I rarely said anything during games,” the coach said. “I did a lot of yelling and screaming during practice but in games they knew what they needed to do. I didn’t need to yell. If I needed to we’d take a time out and reset things.

“That was the way to go with that group. This last group needed me to be more verbal, to stand up and be more verbal as the game was going on.”

Rivera said each situation requires a different philosophy.

“I don’t think either way is correct or wrong,” he said. “It’s whatever the kids need. It’s not this is our offense or this is our defense, you’re going to learn my way. You have to adapt to whatever you have. And that’s one of things we’ve done. That first group we took to state we ran a 1-3-1 zone and pressed with a pickand-roll offense. That’s it. We didn’t draw up plays for individuals and we rarely played man-to-man. This last group we played man-to-man and we didn’t press along, and we mixed up the offense a lot.”

Over the years, Rivera adapted to the personalities on the floor and “one way or another it was always right.”

That in spite of the fact he didn’t

2B

'As a player I was a little more vocal and I worried I’d be a screamer and yeller as a coach. It turned out to be opposite as a coach.'

Shane Rivera Coach Shane Rivera congratulates Deven Barkley after the state title in 2019.

always have a full squad to work with.

Academic ineligibility and injuries were exasperating.

“It was frustrating. Academic eligibility is a big deal as it should be but we did not have continuity,” Rivera said. “We had to worry about that, but it comes with the territory. You want to work on X’s and O’s, but ineligibility throws a wrench in that. It is what it is and we dealt with it.”

RIVERA SAID HE HAD a lot of people to thank, but he didn’t have a list on a piece of paper so he feared he might leave someone out and apologized if he did.

Of course he acknowledged coaches he worked with over the years, including Aaron Noisey, the head coach he assisted in his first year at Nixyaawii in 2012. He recognized his assistants, which included Alan “Gum” Crawford, Aaron Ashley and Ken Mayfield.

He threw props to Andi Scott, Linda Sampson, and Keisha Ashley, all strong team boosters, plus NCS Principal Ryan Heinrich, NCS athletic director Lynette Minthorn, and Heinrich’s administrative

assistant Carrie Phinney.

He also thanked his family, specifically his wife, Drew, and his mother-in-law, Darcy Johnson, who - among other things - came after school on Mondays to help athletes at study hall before Tuesday’s grade checks.

His biggest appreciation came for Golden Eagles’ fans.

“We had the best fans,” he said, remembering specifically back to the 2013-2014 season when the team traveled to Damascus Christian in the first round of sub-state.

“It wasn’t a huge gym, but our fans filled up more than half. They traveled with us and we appreciated our fans where we went. We had a great Booster Club, especially Linda and Andi. Those guys always had my back.”

RIVERA SAID HE’S BEEN fortunate to coach in a program like Nixyaawii Community School.

“I can’t imagine coaching at a school where you didn’t win,” he said. “I suppose that happens a lot, but we’ve been fortunate. It has a lot to do with this

Confederated Umatilla Journal

community and its love for basketball.

The boys play so much basketball – AAU teams and tournaments with coaches like Jeremy Barkley, Ryan Sams’ squads, the Schimmel family… that’s how all our teams are so successful. Parents develop how we become as good as we are, they start way before high school level. We’re lucky to have that kind of support and passion from the community.”

Rivera said he talks to other coaches who are envious of the NCS community.

“Once the season is over their kids are done. Our kids don’t stop playing basketball once the season is over. They learn things we can’t teach, they keep playing. Indian tournaments in Reno, Lapwai, and Las Vegas expose them to different styles.”

But Rivera said coaching has reached the point where it was “more of a job than a passion.”

“I still enjoy it. I like the competition and being around the kids. It’s definitely rewarding, but it’s a lot of work,” he said.

Rivera said he’s not worried about the NCS program or the upcoming teams.

“There are quite a few people qualified to take over, to keep the program running in the right direction,” he said.

This summer, Shane and Drew, along with Barrett and younger sister Bradley, are moving into a new home they’ve built on 56th Street on the west side of the Umatilla Indian Reservation.

“I’m not looking to go anywhere, I’m not moving anywhere,” Rivera said. “I have no interest in coaching at any other school. I’ve enjoyed Nixyaawii; that’s where my heart is at, with Nixyaawii. It’s hard to say, ‘Yeah, I’m done.’”

June 2020

John taking track career on to Colorado School of Mines ZILLAH, Wash. - Sydney John Jr. m i d - d i s t a n c e s p r i n t e r a n d b e i n g wasn’t able to complete his prep track thrust into a 4 x 400-meter relay, he career as a senior this year at Zillah High began to excel in track in the 400School, but he plans to continue his run- and 800-meter distances. Carrying ning at the Colorado the fastest splits on School of Mines in his team, the reGolden, Colorado, lay squad brought where he will enroll back seventh place this fall.

(2018) and fourth John is graduatplace (2019) state ing with an honors medals in the 4 X diploma from Zil400 and he indilah High School vidually was sevwith a cumulative ent h in t he open grade point average 400-meter race at of 3.979 and departstate in 2019. mental honor cords Recruitment for from mathematics, spring sports has science, English and been curtailed this social studies. year, but this will alCarrying the name low John to recover of his great-greatcompletely from a great grandfather, basketball injury. He Kalish No Kwnot, was able to be part of John has earned six Sydney John races ran on relays and as the returning state an individual in state high school track trips to the Washing- championships in Washington. Now he'll be championship team ton high school state running in Colorado. as a manager and track and field chamfinished a sport he pionships with his seventh cut short by started at the age of 3 with the UMCA the current COVID-19 pandemic.

Itty Bitty basketball league.

He qualified for state as an individual John plans to get a few more laps in all four years in cross country and led around the track next spring as a scholar his fellow runners as team captain. athlete while pursuing a degree in comAfter discovering he was a good puter science engineering.

June 2020

Confederated Umatilla Journal

3B

Students earn biliteracy diploma seals in Nez Perce, Umatilla languages PENDLETON – Five graduating Native students, including Seth Scott who made remarks in Nez Perce at the Pendleton High School commencement ceremonies, have earned the Oregon Seal of Biliteracy for their achievements in studying native languages.

Besides Scott, four students from Nixyaawii Community School earned the Susie Patrick Oregon Seals, which will appear on their diplomas. Those students are Christina Kaltsukis, Susie Patrick, Lilly Picard and Joseph Simon.

The Seal of Biliteracy recognizes students who achieve proficiency in English and one other world language before graduating high school. The national program was adopted in Oregon in 2016, but this is the first year that languages Christina Kaltsukis of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR) have been included.

Scott passed the exam in Nez Perce while the NCS students passed the exam in the Umatilla language. The tests, developed by the CTUIR Language Program, were created to measure students’ abilities in speaking, reading and understanding Umatilla and Nez Joseph Simon Perce. The tests were administered to the students one at a time by a tribal elder and fluent speaker of the languages. Each test took about two hours.

The following are the comments made in Nez Perce from Seth Scott at the Pendleton High School graduation ceremony on May 30.

G

ood Morning, My name is Hillaloosa, my English name is Seth Scott. I never thought our graduation would turn out like this; being pulled out of school all of a sudden and not seeing friends as much as we used to.

Back in middle school I loved when the graduating high school students came to our school and walked through the hall, showing Seth Scott us their pride for PHS and the end of his journey.

I thought, "I can't wait to do that when I graduate." Even though I was stressed, I kept thinking "I will make it! And here we are, graduating with challenges facing each of us, to continue forward.

The future holds our dreams and desires - we have to reach out with steadfast resilience and continue to work hard to achieve our dreams and desires. We'll look back and know we thrived through this pandemic!

Students came into the test with different backgrounds in their language experiences. One had been studying hard for just under a year, while others who had been studying longer “chatted” comfortably in the oral exam.

The purpose of the State Seal of Biliteracy, as described on the Oregon Department of Education website, is “to Lilly Picard encourage students to study additional world languages, to allow employers and institutes of higher education to recognize people with language skills, and to promote world language education in schools.”

College graduates: Stayin' Alive at 65 Happy Birthday Madame Secretary

4B

Confederated Umatilla Journal

Send your graduation photos with your name, your school, your major and any honors to cuj@ctuir.org.

June 2020

May was hot, rainy

June 2020

Navaeh Moore and Kadence Hart cool off in Bear Creek when temperatures approached 90 degrees on May 30. There were some warm days in May, but the month was also extremely wet with nearly three inches of rain recorded.

CUJ photo/Dallas Dick

Confederated Umatilla Journal

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Tribes developing 'Safe Routes To School' plans for Nixyaawii students

By Dani Schulte, CTUIR Transportation Planner

MISSION - How many Nixyáawii Community School (NCS) students are walking or bicycling to school?

Have you seen students cutting across the busy highway to get to Mission Market on their lunch break?

Is there adequate lighting for students walking to a basketball game?

These are some questions the Tribal Planning Office is hoping you can help answer. Your feedback is crucial in identifying the safety needs for the Safe Routes to School Plan (SRTS).

The Tribal Planning Office has created a project team to embark on this grantseeking process. This SRTS Plan is funded by the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) SRTS Project Identification Process (PIP).

Planners from Alta Planning + Design, active transportation planning consulting

DID YOU KNOW? The Umatilla occupied both sides of the Columbia River from above the junction of the Umatilla River downstream to the vicinity of Willow Creek on the Oregon side and to Rock Creek on the Washington side. The river people were tied with other Tribes along the river with close family, trade, and economic interests in the Columbia River Gorge and the northern Plateau.

The Walla Walla and the Umatilla were a part of the larger culture of Shahaptian speaking river people of southeastern Washington, Northeastern Oregon, and Western Idaho.

The Cayuse, whose original language is known to linguists as Waiilatpuan, lived: "..south of and between the Nez Perces and Wallah-Wallahs, extending from the Des Chutes or Wawanui river to the eastern side of the Blue Mountains. It [their country] is almost entirely in Oregon, a small part only, upon the upper Wallah-Wallah river, lying within Washington Territory."

Gathered from ctuir.org.

6B

Confederated Umatilla Journal

'Not only is safety a top priority, but increasing physical activity among our youth and families is important for the health and wellbeing of our people.'

Marissa Baumgartner, NCS School Board member

firm, will be assisting with the planning process. The project team includes or is supported by the Nixyaawii Community School Board of Directors, the CTUIR Planning staff, Yellowhawk Tribal Health Center, ODOT Region 5, and Umatilla County.

“As a Nixyáawii Community School Board member and an expecting parent, it’s important that we create safe opportunities for students to get to and from school,” said project-team member Marissa Baumgartner.

Due to the COVID-19 crisis, the SRTS Planning Process will take place in two phases.

During the first phase, the project team will collaborate remotely to identify top safety needs on roads within a mile of the Nixyaawii Community School and apply for the ODOT SRTS Competitive Construction Grant this summer to seek funding for the top priority improvements.

During the second phase in the 2020-21 school year, the team will host a community meeting and observe student arrival or dismissal to document the walking and biking opportunities and challenges around the school area.

The City of Pendleton recently conducted a SRTS plan and submitted an application for schools within the city limits.

CTUIR is applying separately because it has the road jurisdiction on the reservation. People who have participated in the Pendleton SRTS Planning Process are welcome to participate again in the Tribal survey.

There are a few limitations for these grants, the biggest being that improvements must be within one mile of the school. The Project Team realizes that will not meet the needs of many students who live in rural areas outside that mile radius.

That’s why it is so important, Baumgartner said, to get feedback from the community on safety priorities for the area.

“Not only is safety a top priority, but increasing physical activity among our youth and families is important for the health and wellbeing of our people,” Baumgartner said. “I encourage parents and students to participate in the survey to provide feedback so that this project is successful.”

June 2020

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Chris Schwartz, NCS girls athletic trainer, is one of the people featured in the video messages posted to the Nixyaawii Community School website and Facebook page that congratulate the Class of 2020 graduates. He sent his message from his deployment in Kosovo.

NCS media class produces video message for grads

By Casey Brown of the CUJ

MISSION - While the decision about graduation is pending as of press time, Nixyaawii Community School’s New Media class has been working to produce messages of positivity for the Golden Eagles Class of 2020.

“We wanted to make sure that the community has a chance to cheer on students,” Michelle Van Pelt said.

Two video messages have been posted to the NCS website and Facebook page.

Students are featured in the first video called “You are not alone.” Teachers and staff share messages in the second video called “Senior Appreciation from Nixyaawii Community School.”

Two other videos featuring the community are scheduled to be released early this month. The class has been working with the Department of Children and Family Services and the Communications Department to collect videos and pictures from parents, family and the community.

The class was about to start another project when the school was closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The class travelled to Tri-Cities to meet with Digital Brilliance, a native-owned media production company, to start the process of shooting a film. Van Pelt said the seniors were to be the characters in a movie.

However, when the school was closed, that changed.

“We were robbed of our last two months together,” she said.

Graduating senior Susie Patrick has taken the class since she was a sophomore.

“I’ve been thinking about it a lot, too, that we didn’t get to have a lot of things that the other seniors got. It really hit me a lot thinking about it, how we didn’t know it was our last day.”

But she says she will remember her classmates and her teacher.

“She was a great teacher to me. She

didn’t just became a teacher she became a close friend. She did a lot for me. She helped us fundraise for summer camps.

She was an amazing teacher. I’m going to miss her next year knowing I can’t go to her.”

However, Michelle helped Susie with where she’s headed next.

“I went to get help from her. She helped me get a job last summer, she gave me recommendations, she even brought us to summer camps and brought us back. She did a lot for me and some Nixyaawii students.”

She was surprised at how much she liked photography and video editing.

“It has helped me know that I really did like video editing, even though I’m not as good at it as my sister (Ada Samayoa).”

Van Pelt has been teaching the media class since it started three years ago and has been teaching many of the students in the class since they were freshmen.

“Three of them graduated this year, so we are going to have to recruit a couple new students for the class,” Van Pelt said.

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Confederated Umatilla Journal

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CTUIR ready to celebrate Voc Rehab's 100th year From the CTUIR Vocational Rehabilitation Program

On June 2, Vocational Rehabilitation turned 100 years old. President Woodrow Wilson signed into law the SmithFess Act of 1920, which established the first federally funded program to assist people with disabilities who had not acquired their disabilities as a result of serving in the military.

During the last four decades, more than 83 Tribal Vocational Rehabilitation (TVR) programs have been created.

The Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR) have been offering vocational rehabilitation services since 2010.

The CTUIR’s tribal program will celebrate the 100th birthday in October during Disabilities Awareness Month and staff is inviting the community to attend when the time and date are set.

Susie Calhoun, program manager, has been with the program “since inception.”

“We started from scratch. We didn’t have a form, we didn’t have anything, and we’ve been working with our participants on reaching their employment goals ever since Oct. 1, 2010.”

During that time, the program has served 200 people, according to Calhoun.

The program serves tribal members from any federally recognized tribe living on or near the Umatilla Indian Reservation, and refers unenrolled Indians and non-Indians with a “warm hand off” to state and local partner organization such as the State of Oregon Vocational Rehabilitation.

When participants “walk through the door,” they meet with program staff – Calhoun, Janine Winn and Joanna Malumaleumu - and collaboratively develop an

Individual Plan of Employment (IPE).

Calhoun says they aren’t “cookie cutter” or “one-size-fits-all” plans.

“If you want to be employed by the Tribe and you don’t even have a GED, there are steps you take to get there.

Each individual we work with makes the choice of what they are willing to do as we prepare their Individual Plan of Employment,” but each person is on an employment path with the program, Calhoun said.

Creating the IPE takes as much or as little time as needed.

“It is a one-on-one and intensive process looking at what the best fit for that person is. We do assessments and lots of exploration with people, but it all comes back to them and their choice of how to meet their goal. Then how to achieve this gaining or using their skills and abilities for the job they are seeking,” Calhoun said.

One participant may focus on their health and wellness and discover they needed glasses, while another participant may want to start their own business.

“We meet the unmet needs of people, and sometimes they don’t even know they have a disability – because we don’t see people through their disability, we see the person and their abilities and partner with them to work on their employment goals,” Calhoun said.

When the program isn’t the right fit or it isn’t the right time, that’s okay too.

“We’ve had a few people come in and start the process and decided they just weren’t ready or going to go to work, so they opted out and that’s fine. We always tell them the door is open.”

For more information or to schedule an intake, email tvr@ctuir.org.

We’re pleased to present the ...

Achievers of the Month

Like they did during the big floods in February, volunteers turned out in May to fill sandbags when flash-flood type rains inundated gullies and ditches that threatened homes on the Umatilla Indian Reservation.

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Confederated Umatilla Journal

June 2020

Glavis Wagner, peer recovery mentor at Yellowhawk, participated in the Ready 2 Work program through Tribal Vocational Rehabilitation. He is joined by Susie Calhoun, program manager, Janine Winn, and Mary Ann Rhoads, HR training specialist. Wagner worked closely with them and Viola Tendler, former case manager, while working through the program.

CUJ photo/Casey Brown

Glavis Wagner prime example of CTUIR voc rehab client

By Casey Brown of the CUJ

The open road became the long road that brought Glavis Wagner, 59, back home to Oregon in 1995.

Wagner is a peer recovery mentor at Yellowhawk Tribal Health Center with the BH2I program and former bus driver on the Mission route for Kayak Public Transit. He is enrolled with the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation.

As a long-haul truck driver for more than 20 years, he made his way around the country one load at a time. One day, when he called in to make his daily report and was told he had a message to call his sister, he thought, ‘now wait a minute.’ His younger sister, atway Linda Montoya (CTUIR), did not use the telephone, so he knew it wouldn’t have been from her.

He called the phone number to see who might be on the other end of the line.

“The number he gave me was a 503 area code and back then all of Oregon was 503. I knew I was born in Oregon, but I grew up in Kansas City. I said, hmmm I wonder what this is about, so I called. Sure enough it was my sister (Belen Montoya, CTUIR) that I never knew about.”

When he arrived, he got a job at Kayak, with the help of their staff as well as the Tribal Vocational Rehabilitation (TVR) program.

“I drove the Mission bus and at that time Kayak was just transitioning from being operated by the cab company to coming out to the reservation,” he said.

“That’s why they wanted me on the Mission route because I was one of the few Indians out here with a driver’s license and who knew how to drive a big bus.”

He had been in prison and was looking for a job where he could use his skills and abilities.

“It was the only job that paid decent but I wasn’t out digging a ditch.”

Besides, it was a good place to rest a while and talk to his people as he drove up and down Old Mission Highway.

June 2020

As part of his “Individual Plan of Employment” with voc rehab, he worked to get his driver’s license back, and then his CDL to operate the big bus, but he tried some other things along the way. He looked into the diesel mechanic program at Blue Mountain Community College, but realized it wouldn’t be the right fit.

“Eventually I wanted to try the diesel mechanic program. I found out that that wasn’t going to be the best job for me either. There’s a high physical demand in that job too,” he said.

When the Ready 2 Work program started, he knew he’d found his ticket.

“Actually things really kicked off for me with the Ready 2 Work program.

That got me into the computer stuff. I didn’t have a lot of experience with that.

I barely knew how to work a cell phone.

My job placement was in HR.” Mary Ann Rhoads, human resources training specialist, and Viola Tendler, former case manager, and Susie Calhoun were “instrumental.”

He thought he would stay in the human resources field, but then he went to Portland for heart surgery. While there his wife, Dora Anderson, had a heart attack.

“Had we not been in Portland when she had a heart attack, she would have died. You can’t get medical care in Ukiah.

Even LifeFlight takes 20 minutes.”

He and his wife took some time off to deal with what they had been through.

Then he heard that Yellowhawk had open positions for peer recovery mentors.

“They were starting this new program over there and they really wanted me to get into that. So, we made a new plan and voc rehab ended up sending me to school in Portland and I got my certification to be a certified recovery mentor.”

And that’s where he sits today, talking and listening, with his people.

“That’s how it tied into driving the bus. It is almost the same thing as what I’m doing now, but now it’s on a higher level and I have more resources to help people.”

Confederated Umatilla Journal

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He should have stayed at the YMCA EUGENE, Ore.—A Florida man pleaded guilty and was sentenced to federal supervised release in early June for falsely claiming to represent The Village People band and swindling $12,500 from The Mill Casino in North Bend, Oregon, announced U.S. Attorney Billy J. Williams.

Howard Harlib, 67, was sentenced to time served in federal prison and three years’ supervised release.

Harlib has been in state custody in Florida since 2016 after being convicted of unrelated charges.

According to court documents, in August 2015, The Mill Casino, owned and operated by the Coquille Indian Tribe, received a flier from Harlib advertising the opportunity to book The Village People for a show at the casino. Casino employees contacted Harlib, who spoke with them about dates, pricing, and other matters involved in the booking. The same day, Harlib sent the casino a brochure with information about his company, Premier Entertainment. Harlib claimed the band had a show in Las Vegas, Nevada the night before one of the dates discussed with the casino and, therefore, traveling to North Bend would not be an issue.

Later, Harlib emailed the casino an artistic engagement contract, which the casino signed and returned to Harlib with a check for $12,500. Harlib cashed the check two days later. In January 2016, the casino discovered that The Village People were scheduled to appear in Florida the same day they were booked to play in North Bend. After having difficulty reaching Harlib, the casino contacted another representative of the band. The representative confirmed that Harlib did not have any association with the band. Harlib later admitted he had no authority to book the band.

Harlib’s history of frauds and swindles dates back decades, to at least 1992. In 2004, he was convicted of third degree grand theft in Florida for the same exact scheme: contracting with two victims to have The Temptations, The Supremes, and Jimmie Walker perform at their venues. After spending five years in prison for that conviction, Harlib spent another five years in prison for impersonating a doctor and possessing a variety of prescription medications.

On April 29, 2019, Harlib was charged by federal criminal information with one count of wire fraud. He pleaded guilty today to the same charge.

During his sentencing, U.S. District Court Judge Ann L. Aiken ordered Harlib to pay $12,500 in restitution to the Coquille Indian Tribe.

NICHT-YOW-WAY ELDERS GROUP 55+

NONOTRAVEL TRAVEL due to the

COVID-19 PANDEMIC #stay home # stay safe

April, May, June, July and August or until the stay-at-home order is lifted by the Board of Trustees for the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation.

If you need assistance or have questions please call the Department of Children & Family Services at 541-429-7300.

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Confederated Umatilla Journal

June 2020

2020 Census on track; 4 out of 5 responses completed online Responses to the 2020 Census are on track as more than 60% of U.S. households have responded to the 2020 Census, with approximately four out of every five households that responded on their own choosing to do so online at 2020census. gov.

Current internet self-response rates are 9.2 percentage points above Census Bureau projections, as households continue to favor online to phone and mail in responding to the census.

In a video message , Census Bureau Director Dr. Steven Dillingham thanked people for responding to reach this milestone and encouraged those who have not responded to help shape their future for the next 10 years.

In mid-March, most households received an invitation in the mail to respond to the 2020 Census, followed by multiple reminders and a paper questionnaire. Census takers are scheduled to visit households that have not yet responded to the 2020 Census beginning in August.

Beginning the week of May 4, in coordination with federal, state and local health officials, the Census Bureau began a phased restart of some 2020 Census field operations in select geographic areas.

As part of this phased restart, the Census Bureau resumed dropping off 2020 Census invitation packets at front doors in areas where the majority of households do not receive mail at their home. About 5% of households are counted during this operation, known as Update Leave,

June 2020

As of June 1, just over half of CTUIR tribal members have responded to the US Census.

Those who have not completed theirs yet, which is mandated by law, have until Oct. 31 to respond online, over the phone, or by completing the paper form.

where census workers confirm or update a householdâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s physical location address and then leave a census questionnaire packet.

The health and safety of Census Bureau staff and the public is of the utmost importance. All returning staff will receive safety training on social distancing protocols and be provided personal protective equipment before restarting operations.

Confederated Umatilla Journal

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Briefly

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY

Wellbriety goes digital MISSION - Yellowhawk Tribal Health Center has started offering Nixyaawii Men’s Wellbriety meetings on Zoom.

Yellowhawk will offer the classes every Wednesday, providing culturallybased healing for the next seven generations.

According to their website, the Wellbriety’s mission is to “disseminate culturally based principals, values, and teachings to support healthy community development and servant leadership, and to support healing from alcohol, substance abuse, co-occurring disorders and intergenerational trauma.”

For more information, contact Kelsey Burns at 541-240-8427 or kelseyburns@ yellowhawk.org.

WE ARE SENDING EXTRA LOVE AND GRATITUDE FOR YOU THIS YEAR. COULDN'T DO IT WITHOUT YOU! LOVE, DARA AND KARA

June in Men's Health Awareness Month MISSION - June is Men’s Health Awareness Month and Yellowhawk Tribal Health Center is hosting events on “Healthy Háama Mondays.”

Blue can be worn on Mondays to show support.

On June 8, Jeremy Wolf will fillet and cook salmon.

On June 15, there will be Healthy Haháam exercise tips.

On June 22, the theme is Honoring Your Tota.

On June 29, men’s mediation will be the focus.

For more information, visit Yellowhawk’s Facebook page where you will find these virtual events.

June Birthdays & Anniversaries Birthdays: 1st: Royal Barrett 3rd: Jordan Price 4th: Sterling Thompson 5th: Nicholas Jones 7th: Talia McLaughlin 12th: Iva Edmiston 13th: Enola Dick, Brittney Eickstaedt, Samuel Jones and Tehya Becenti 18th: Sean Van Pelt 21st: Cohen Blemmel and Austin Anderson 22nd: Jamie Coley 23rd: Toni Medina 26th: Tiona Morrison, Aaron Barrett and Tana Flowerdew 28th: Ginella Thompson

Anniversaries: 3rd: Talia & Ryan McLaughlin 21st: Mary & Derek Wittkopf

Birthday ad deadline is June 23.

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Confederated Umatilla Journal

June 2020

Natives grab diplomas at hands-off PHS ceremony

Cason Broncheau, above, waits to walk toward the table to retrieve his Pendleton High School diploma while members of his family take photos from the back of a pickup in the Round-Up arena May 30.

Jonathan Begay, left, smiles for the camera after receiving his Pendleton High School diploma.

Begay was one of 17 Natives to graduate from PHS on May 30.

See photos of the region's high school graduates on Pages 14A and 15A.

Paris Leighton was decked out in a banquet of jewelry for the 2020 Pendleton High School graduation, which was unique in its own right because of the COVID-19 social distancing restrictions.

CUJ photos by Dallas Dick

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Confederated Umatilla Journal

13B

Housing receives federal grant to repair tribal-owned homes

By Casey Brown of the CUJ

MISSION – Funds from a $30,000 federal grant will be used to repair houses owned by tribal members on the Umatilla Indian Reservation.

This is the first time the Housing Department has received a grant from the National American Indian Housing Council (NAIHC). However, the purpose of the NAIHS grant – safety upgrades and home repairs - is similar to previous federal Housing Preservation grants that the CTUIR has received in past years and has applied for again this year.

According to Pamela Ranslam, Homeownership Program Manager, the priorities for homeowners are roof repairs, cleaning and replacement of septic systems, and remediation of mold and/ or dry rot.

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Confederated Umatilla Journal

“It is giving us a safety net that we have always needed,” Ranslam said.

Unmet needs in Indian Country were illustrated clearly in USDA’s 2017 Housing Needs of American Indians and Alaska Natives in Tribal Areas. According to an NAIHC press release, the report found that “tribal homes experience rates of substandard plumbing at 4.3 times the national average and substandard heating at 6 times the national average.”

Those interested in applying for funding will need to fill out an application, and document household income as well as proof of homeownership.

Ranslam said that some homeowners can be apprehensive about filling out paperwork or providing documentation, especially financial information, but it is a requirement of the grant. Information will be kept confidential, she said.

Ranslam said the Housing Department’s funding for emergencies like broken water heaters will likely be slimmer in the future because of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, this new grant can help homeowners replace water heaters and make other repairs now.

Ranslam thinks the money will be helpful in several reservation households.

“It is another way we can serve those tribal members within the community that need help keeping their homes safe for them to live in for the remainders of their lives,” Ranslam said.

June 2020

June 2020

Confederated Umatilla Journal

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Confederated Umatilla Journal

June 2020