CUJ_JUNE 2024

JUNE 2024 | CONFEDERATED UMATILLA JOURNAL

JUNE 2024

CONFEDERATED UMATILLA JOURNAL

NEWS DAILY @ CUJ ONLINE

VOLUME 32 • ISSUE 5

THE MONTHLY NEWSPAPER OF THE CONFEDERATED TRIBES OF THE UMATILLA INDIAN RESERVATION

Tribal dividend payments increase

Memorial honors Cayuse Five

By CHRIS AADLAND Reporter MISSION – Tribal members received a larger quarterly revenue sharing payment last month. May payments were calculated using the new formula approved by Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR) leaders last year.

Tribal officials told the Board of Trustees (BOT) on May 6 that the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) had finally responded to the BOT-approved changes to how much casino revenue is shared with tribal members.

Since the previous Gaming Revenue Allocation Plan (GRAP) had required BIA approval, applying the changes was delayed while officials waited for guidance from the federal government – forcing the tribe to send out the year’s first quarterly payments using the old taxable gaming per capita formula.

The first payments using the amended GRAP were released May 20.

Officials learned that the BIA approved the amended formula in a recent letter, Dan Hester, an attorney who represents the tribe, told BOT members during their May 6 meeting.

Technically, he said, the federal agency determined that the tribe’s plan didn’t require its approval because payments would now be classified as general welfare benefits and not as per capita PAYMENTS CONTINUED PAGE 8

Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR) Chairman Gary I. Burke speaks during a June 3 ceremony in Oregon City to honor five Cayuse men who gave their lives in 1850 to stop hostilities between Oregon Territory militia men and the Cayuse Tribe. Standing next to Burke is CTUIR member Isaiah Welch, who repeated the chairman’s words for the crowd to hear. In the back from left to right are CTUIR member David Wolf, General Council Chairman Alan Crawford, CTUIR member Woodrow Star and CTUIR Workforce Development Director Lindsey X. Watchman. See story on Page 3. TRAVIS SNELL | CTUIR PHOTO

CTUIR working to stop Tri-Cities casino plan

By CHRIS AADLAND Reporter PASCO, Wash. – Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR) leaders have begun working to thwart a proposed casino and resort in the Tri-Cities they say would negatively impact the tribe’s economy.

The Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) initiated a multi-step process in April to determine whether to put into trust land the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation bought in Pasco in 2019 for an

approximately 184,000 square-foot casino and resort. The proposed gaming facility is a three-hour drive from the northwest Washington tribe’s Nespelem headquarters.

The potential casino, according to the Colville Tribes, would allow it to improve services for its members and boost the Tri-Cities economy.

Colville officials also state the casino would restore a connection to land in which some Colville members claim descendancy from Palouse people who were part of the Yakama Nation but moved to the Colville Reservation in the late 1800s.

CTUIR leaders, however, say the Colville’s ancestral claims to the area are flawed and that BIA approval of the casino would violate CTUIR and Yakama Nation treaty rights.

CTUIR officials have estimated the casino would also lead to significant decreases to Wildhorse Resort & Casino's more than $38 million annual revenue.

Now, with the first steps of the federal review process underway, the CTUIR is preparing actions to protect Wildhorse profits, the biggest CASINO CONTINUED PAGE 8

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CONFEDERATED UMATILLA JOURNAL | JUNE 2024

JUNE 2024 | CONFEDERATED UMATILLA JOURNAL

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CTUIR, Oregon City host Cayuse Five commemoration event

By CHRIS AADLAND Reporter OREGON CITY – While the search for where five Cayuse men were buried after being unjustly executed in Oregon City in 1850 continues, a public memorial overlooking an area near where they died now marks the event and what led to it.

Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR) community members made a nearly 450-mile round trip June 3 for a remembrance event to honor the men – known as the Cayuse Five – and commemorate the completion of an interpretive display and memorial to them. The event took place on the 174th anniversary of the men’s deaths.

More than 100 CTUIR members, leaders, local officials and others attended the event, which included a reading of the names of the men, an honor song and flag procession, and Washat songs to honor the Cayuse Five. The remembrance also included a nearby reception, where attendees were given commemorative items.

“The five Cayuse men that we are remembering today have a very important role in the history of the Cayuse people. We are here because of these five men who gave their lives for the future of their people. They made the ultimate sacrifice,” said CTUIR Chairman Gary I. Burke

during the ceremony. “Their last breaths were here in Oregon City, on this day, June 3, 174 years ago. For more than three decades, individuals from our Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla who descend from the families of these men, leaders and headmen, and elected officials have worked to remember these five men, their lives and their deaths.”

The CTUIR and Oregon City worked together for three years on the project meant to help provide healing from the events that led to the five Cayuse men being hanged and give the public a place to reflect on the incident.

The memorial sits in a small park along the McLoughlin Promenade, which boasts expansive views of Willamette Falls. An educational sign informs visitors about the significance of the site to the CTUIR and the events that led to the unjust hanging of the Cayuse Five, while a pathway leads to a moss-covered boulder under a mature tree.

A plaque on the boulder presents a message of hope that the men’s burial location will be found: “This land hears our prayers. This land bears witness to all that happens here. The names of the five elders who died here are not forgotten.

Their names echo across the Earth as we speak them. These ancestors are buried nearby, far from their homeland. Our families long to bring them home. Perhaps the land where

Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation Board of Trustees Member at Large Toby Patrick and Treasurer Raymond Huesties sing and drum at the Cayuse Five ceremony on June 3 in Oregon City. The CTUIR and Oregon City honored five Cayuse men who were wrongfully arrested and hanged by Oregon Territory militia men in 1850 in Oregon City. LEE GAVIN |CTUIR PHOTO

they are buried will reveal itself. We continue to pray for these relatives.”

Oregon City proclaimed June 3 as the Cayuse Five Day of Remembrance to acknowledge the “losses and injustices imposed on tribal people, lands and resources as a result of overland migration,” Mayor Denyse McGriff said.

She added that the project with the tribe would promote “healing and reconciliation” among its residents and encouraged all to “commit to building a more just and equitable community.”

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A project between the CTUIR, Tamastslikt Cultural Institute and University of Oregon Clark Honors College students started in 2022 has narrowed potential burial sites to several spots in Oregon City using oral and written histories, government and church records, and other documents.

Future work – like the review of additional old government records and other materials researchers have gained access to – will hopefully help to further narrow potential burial locations or find the site.

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Flag Day ceremony held May 20

By CHRIS AADLAND Reporter ABOUT THE CUJ

The Confederated Umatilla Journal (CUJ) was created in 1975 as the official publication of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR), which includes the Cayuse, Umatilla and Walla Walla people. The CUJ is produced monthly by the CTUIR Communications Department.

Publisher: Kaeleen McGuire kaeleenmcguire@ctuir.org Editor: Lisa Hicks Snell lisasnell@ctuir.org Reporter: Chris Aadland christopheraadland@ctuir.org Advertising: M. Moses-Conner monecemoses@ctuir.org Contributing Photographers: Dallas Dick dallasdick@ctuir.org Lee Gavin leegavin@ctuir.org CONTACT US Confederated Umatilla Journal 46411 Timine Way Pendleton, OR 97801 Email: CUJ@ctuir.org Phone: 541-429-7005 SUBSCRIBE

The CUJ is free to pick up at tribal entities and area businesses.

However, a mailed subscription can be purchased for the price of shipping and handling by contacting the CTUIR Finance Department. Call 541-429-7150 or visit the Finance Department in person at Nixyáawii Governance Center, 46411 Timine Way, Pendleton.

One year: $15 • Two years: $28 The CUJ prints on the first Thursday of each month.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: • Limit to 300 words or less

MISSION – Dozens of community members gathered on Monday, May 20 to recognize the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR) holiday honoring the tribal flag.

The annual event – the only holiday the tribe recognizes that isn’t shared by anyone else – was held outside Yellowhawk Tribal Health Center. About 70 attendees heard remarks about the significance of the flag to the CTUIR, along with witnessing a procession that was opened and closed by the big drum to mark the 14th year the day has been recognized.

While the ceremony is typically held outside of the Nixyaawíí Governance Center, Yellowhawk CEO Aaron Hines said during opening remarks that this year’s recognition outside of Yellowhawk to reinforce that the flag “represents all of us – all of the tribal entities.”

General Council Vice Chairman Michael Ray Johnson provided a dedication for the flag, while tribal member Jeanine Gordon gave the main address.

Gordon, who leads Native American outreach efforts at Whitman College, spoke about how the design reflects CTUIR culture and history and serves as a “beacon

From left to right, David Wolf stands at attention with the American flag while Thomas Morning Owl watches Clifford Stanger unfurl the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR) flag during the May 20 Flag Day observance outside of Yellowhawk Tribal Health Center.

CHRIS AADLAND | CUJ PHOTO

of determination and hope for our future,” and is displayed across the country in local, state, federal offices and at colleges – including Whitman.

“It reminds us that we are a strong people and that we persevered. It reminds us that we have endured and thrived in the face of adversity,” she told attendees. “The CTUIR flag is more than a piece of cloth; it is a living testament to our identity, our unity and our resilience.”

During the ceremony, CTUIR military veterans led a procession

and posting of the colors, as well as raising the new flag and retiring the old one that flew outside Yellowhawk.

The retired flag is presented every year to a CTUIR tribal member for exceptional service to the tribe. This year, it was given to former General Council Chair Alvina Huestes.

The CTUIR flag was adopted by the General Council in May 2001 and by the Board of Trustees on May 20, 2002. BOT leaders designated May 20 as Flag Day in 2010.

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Ancestral remains long kept in NZ museum return home

By CHRIS AADLAND Reporter MISSION – The remains of two ancestors have been returned from a museum in New Zealand about 150 years after being illegally exhumed from a burial site in the ancestral homelands of Columbia River Basin tribes.

Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR) officials joined the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation and Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation on May 24 to rebury the remains of an adult and child, along with funeral objects like dentalium shells and beads, at an undisclosed location along the Columbia River.

The remains were repatriated from New Zealand, where they had been stored in a human remains room at the Auckland War Museum.

The reburial concluded a fouryear-long process that began when the museum contacted the tribe about remains the museum obtained in the late 1870s and believed to be relatives of CTUIR and other Columbia River Basin tribes.

In the days before the reburial ceremony, Board of Trustees (BOT) Vice Chair Aaron Ashley, CTUIR Intergovernmental Affairs Coordinator Audie Huber and Cultural Resources Protection

Program Manager Teara Farrow Ferman traveled to New Zealand, where they met with museum and U.S. State Department officials.

Ashley said the experience was incredibly powerful, adding that the “excellent communication and collaboration with all entities involved” showed that international repatriation is possible.

A federal government initiative – started to assist tribes with limited expertise working with museums and institutions to repatriate Indigenous cultural items or remains, or to help tribes overcome barriers or other challenges associated with repatriation that can frustrate tribes – also aided the effort.

The tribe began working with the museum in 2019 after being informed that the museum’s collection likely contained the remains of ancestors that they wanted to return.

The CTUIR then conducted its own research, reviewed the museum’s sparce records of the remains and writings of the amateur archaeologist who gave the remains to the museum, and had anthropologists analyze photos of the remains’ physical features to conclude that they came from the aboriginal homelands of the CTUIR, Warm Springs and Yakama tribes.

The CTUIR sent a letter to the Auckland War Museum last November to formally request that

From left to right, Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR) Board of Trustees Vice Chair Aaron Ashley, CTUIR Intergovernmental Affairs Coordinator Audie Huber and Cultural Resources Protection Program Manager Teara Farrow Ferman examine cases of stone arrowheads at the Auckland War Museum. COURTESY PHOTO

the remains be returned.

In its letter, which the CTUIR BOT unanimously approved sending on Oct. 30, the tribe thanked the museum for working with the CTUIR and for its proactive approach to repatriation.

“We only wish more institutions made an informative effort to return ancestors without the endless

evidentiary barriers,” the letter read.

“Our ancestors have been away from their homeland and their people for far too long.”

The CTUIR Department of Natural Resources completed eight repatriation reburials for 33 individuals, 122 associated funerary items and 85 other objects in 2023, according to the tribe.

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CONFEDERATED UMATILLA JOURNAL | JUNE 2024

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MISSION – Interim Executive Director J.D. Tovey on Friday, May 31 appointed Kathryn Burke and Paul Rabb as the Confederated Tribe of the Umatilla Indian Reservation’s (CTUIR) interim deputy executive directors, effectively immediately.

with a deep understanding of our organizational policies and procedures to quickly jump into these critical roles to effectively and efficiently carry out the Board priorities and directives,” Tovey said.

“I look forward to working with them through this transition.”

Burke is the current Human Resources director, and Rabb is the Finance director. They will help Tovey administer the CTUIR’s governmental departments and Board of Trustees (BOT) priorities.

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Tovey said he chose Burke and Rabb as interim deputy executive directors because of their extensive experience in senior leadership at the CTUIR.

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Tovey took over as interim executive director on May 10 after former Executive Director Donald Sampson resigned for personal reasons.

Pursuant to the CTUIR Executive Management Policy, in the coming weeks the BOT will appoint a committee to facilitate the advertising for the executive director and to collect and screen applications for consideration by the BOT.

JUNE 2024 | CONFEDERATED UMATILLA JOURNAL

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Answers to FAQs regarding new revenue payments

By CHRIS AADLAND Reporter

Do I have to provide any information to the CTUIR to receive my money?

MISSION – The Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR) recently received confirmation from the federal government that it could implement the new gaming revenue sharing plan for tribal members that leaders approved last November.

With that, the CTUIR made its second quarterly payments to enrolled members on May 20 using the new Gaming Revenue Allocation Plan (GRAP), which leaders say means more money for tribal citizens.

But with the new payment formula comes new paperwork requirements for tribal members and questions about how the new system will work.

Here’s answers to some of the questions CTUIR leaders and officials say they’ve been asked:

Tribal members will receive their remaining payments for 2024 regardless, but to qualify for the tax exemption that will help increase individual payout amounts, the CTUIR Enrollment Department needs to receive an application by Dec. 1.

The 2024 General Welfare Tax Exemption Verification form only asks for a tribal member’s name, enrollment number, address and a signature.

Failing to submit the tax exemption form will result in the CTUIR issuing a 1099 tax form for your dividends. The 1099 form is used to report non-employment income to the Internal Revenue Service and the amount will be subject to taxes.

The form can be found on the CUJ website https://cuj.ctuir.org or requested by contacting the Enrollment Department at 541-429-7035 or enrollment@ctuir.org.

What changed?

Eligibility for the payments hasn’t changed.

But two major differences from the previous per-capita distribution system will change how much each tribal member will receive.

The federal government doesn’t consider the new payments taxable. They’re classified as a general welfare benefit.

How the payouts are calculated has also changed.

Tribal members share of Wildhorse revenue will now be between 20% and 25%, compared to the previous set rate of 20%.

The tribe has said the changes, which came after a previous suggestion from a Board of Trustees (BOT) member and pressure from the General Council last year, were meant to result in bigger payments for tribal members.

May’s payment was $1,000 and the remaining two payments for 2024 have already been set for $1,000.

Will the amounts ever change?

Since the BOT adopted the new GRAP so close to a new year, and because the federal government was taking longer than expected to review the changes, leaders set the flat payment amounts for 2024 because they were unsure if they’d be able to implement the changes in time for the first payments – or for which of the following payouts – in 2024.

As of press time, a continuation of $1,000 payments is the plan for the remaining two payments this year.

The most recent payment was untaxed and the remaining 2024 payments will likewise be tax-free.

Payment amounts using the new formula will start in 2025.

Will I have to submit receipts or detailed spending information?

No, but the tribe will ask for some information about spending habits.

The Tribal General Welfare Exclusion Act of 2014 changed the federal tax code so that a tribal nation could provide tax exempt payments to members to meet their general welfare needs.

General welfare needs is how the CTUIR now classifies its allocations to tribal members. The CTUIR is one of the few tribes so far that have made tax code changes to how it shares gaming revenue with tribal citizens.

Payments made under that definition also come with some limits to how the money can be spent by each person.

Tribes who make the untaxed payments to tribal citizens are required to submit information gathered from enrolled members to the federal government to ensure that the money is being used to meet general welfare needs and the system isn’t being abused.

This means CTUIR tribal members will have to submit an additional form every year with basic details about what they spent their quarterly payments on the previous year.

A simple, one-page form asks for general information about how much of their allocations were applied to each category of allowable expenses: housing, education, care for elders and disabled people, cultural and religious practices, and some other expenses that don’t fall into those categories.

Tribal officials say CTUIR members won’t have to provide any additional information such

as receipts to verify how they spent it, or other details, like amounts for individual expenditures in each category.

Information about individual tribal member spending will be kept confidential, according to tribal officials. It will be used to produce broader data about CTUIR membership dividend spending to show tribal compliance with federal regulations.

What can I spend the payments on?

A wide range of situations and permitted expenses under each category shouldn’t make it difficult to spend the money, according to the tribe.

The form tribal members will have to submit annually with their spending details includes dozens of situations or examples of permitted ways to use the money.

Approved expenditures, according to the form, include: • Mortgage, rent or utility payments • Housing repairs and some improvements • Transportation, temporary housing or hotel and other living expenses due to housing emergencies or for victims escaping abusive situations • Various expenses associated with caring for elder or disabled family members • Transportation, lodging and meal costs when seeking medical care • Nonprescription drugs and traditional tribal medicines or treatment • Educational costs and extracurricular needs or supplies for children • Tuition payments • Child care expenses for parents who are working or completing an education • Funeral expenses • Costs associated with traveling to attend or participate in community activities like powwows • Expenses connected to participating in other cultural or traditional activities.

What if I don’t submit any of the required forms?

Tribal members will receive their quarterly distributions even if they don’t provide the required information.

However, not doing so could result in that person owing the federal government money for unpaid taxes when filing their income tax returns for the previous year.

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contributor to the tribal government budget, and convince BIA officials to deny the Colville Tribes’ application.

“It will have devastating impacts on the CTUIR economy, our government and services that we offer to the tribal community as well as other communities through our Wildhorse Foundation,” BOT Secretary Roberta Wilson said at the meeting.

The expected revenue declines could force the CTUIR to cut jobs, shrink programs and reduce quarterly gaming revenue payment amounts to members, CTUIR officials said during an April 24 public hearing in which the BIA took initial feedback on the proposal.

The April 24 meeting gave CTUIR leaders and Wildhorse officials their first chance to publicly detail opposition to the Colville Tribes’ casino plans. Several Yakama Nation leaders, also citing similar objections, joined the CTUIR in pressing the BIA to reject the proposal.

That meeting was the first of two public hearings required under the federal review process, and BOT members and CTUIR officials in recent months have discussed the potential effect a Pasco casino would have on tribal finances and the need for an aggressive lobbying strategy to counter the Colville Tribes efforts.

After the BIA meeting, CTUIR and Yakama Nation officials met

in Toppenish on May 10 to discuss coordinating efforts to combat Colville’s proposal.

The BIA will prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) before deciding whether to permit the Colville casino. After a draft of the EIS is released, the public will be able to submit written feedback or testify during a public hearing before the final findings are issued.

Restoring connections and diversifying economies After the Colville Tribes purchased more than 180 acres of agricultural land near the Tri-Cities Airport, the tribe began forming partnerships with local governments, business groups and government agencies to gain support for the planned casino.

On April 3, the BIA announced it had started the process to decide whether to take about 160 acres of that land into trust for the Colville Tribes and allow it to move forward with its proposed gaming project.

Current plans call for a casino with 2,000 slot machines, 30 table games, restaurants, event space and 200 hotel rooms, according to the BIA. The project would “support” about 7,000 direct or indirect jobs during construction during the first 10 years after it opens, Colville Chairman Jarred-Michael Erickson said at the April 24 meeting.

According to Colville leaders, the casino would also have financial benefits for the tribe and its 9,200 enrolled members, such as better

education and health services and more money for underfunded natural resource management goals.

“This will be beneficial for both the Pasco area and the Colville Tribes,” Erickson said. “It is important to create employment opportunities both within and outside the boundaries of our reservation.”

Port of Pasco Economic Development Director Stephen McFadden said the casino project would bolster the Tri-Cities economy.

“The port is committed to supporting the efforts, which will improve the economy of the Pasco region and enhance our tourism industry,” McFadden said during the April 24 meeting. “And for that reason, we are in support of this proposed project.”

Colville leaders state opening a casino approximately 165 miles away from its reservation headquarters would allow the tribe to reestablish a connection to part of its homeland severed in the 19th century. Some of its enrolled members claim descendancy of a small number of Palouse, or Palus, people who moved to that reservation after it was established by an executive order in 1872.

“There is a lot of discussion of the distance of the Colville Tribe from the City of Pasco,” Rodney Cawson, a Palus descendent and former Colville chairman who served when the tribe bought the Pasco land, said at the April 24 meeting. “Well, think of how I feel as a Palus member. This was the country of my ancestors.”

PAYMENTS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

gaming distributions. Per capita plans, and amendments to them, must be federally approved.

The update also came on the same day the BOT approved a resolution making changes involving the tribe’s minor and protected person trust.

“The timing of this resolution couldn’t be better,” Hester said.

For tribal members, the news means more Wildhorse Resort & Casino revenue will begin flowing to them through quarterly payments beginning with May’s distribution.

The percentage of net Wildhorse revenue shared with tribal members increased from 20% to up to 25%.

Payments made to minors’ parents or guardians also jumped from $125 to $250 per quarter.

Payments will be further inflated because they’ll be untaxed, thanks to the change from a taxable gaming per capita classification to a tax-exempt general welfare benefit model.

JUNE 2024 | CONFEDERATED UMATILLA JOURNAL

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CTUIR hosts U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley town hall on reservation

By CHRIS AADLAND Reporter MISSION – Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR) leaders and community members told Democratic U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley about their priorities and concerns during a town hall May 19.

The CTUIR hosted the event for Merkley, who plays a key role in allocating federal dollars for Indian Country in the Senate, at the Nixyáawíi Governance Center as part of an annual town hall tour where he meets with constituents in each of Oregon’s 36 counties.

Merkley took questions on concerns which ranged from groundwater contaminated by high levels of nitrates in the region to missing and murdered Indigenous people from about a dozen of the approximately 60 attendees, which included tribal members and nonNative community members from the area, after spending the morning meeting with CTUIR tribal leaders, local government and civic leaders from the surrounding community.

“I hold a town hall for every Oregon county every year because there is simply no substitute to hearing directly from folks about the ideas and priorities that matter most to them and their communities,” Merkley said in a CTUIR press

release following the event.

During conversations with tribal leaders, the senator addressed issues like ongoing Umatilla Basin water rights settlement negotiations, a recent agreement with the federal government aimed at restoring salmon run levels in the Columbia River Basin and the CTUIR’s ongoing pursuit of access at Willamette Falls, according to the press release and separate interview between Merkley and the Confederated Umatilla Journal.

“There’s a long list of issues the tribe’s working on,” he said during the interview.

Another topic the two sides discussed was the Army Corps of Engineer’s pledge to build tribal fishing villages along the Columbia River and what Merkley can do to speed up the process, Merkley told the CUJ. The Army Corps of Engineers is working to find sites and develop plans for villages to replace tribal villages flooded with the construction of dams on the Columbia River.

But the pace the federal agency has worked to identify appropriate sites has frustrated tribal leaders.

Merkley said it’s taken too long, more than 75 years, for the federal government to fulfill a promise to replace the villages destroyed by the dams, adding that he would be pushing the Army Corps of

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Sisters Lisa Faye and Abigayle McIntosh ask Sen. Jeff Merkley about what the federal government was doing to address the crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous people and support their families. CHRIS AADLAND |CUJ PHOTO

Engineers to identify and acquire sites for the villages more quickly.

He also said he would continue to include language in legislative proposals to ensure the initiative remains funded and authorized.

Merkley added he would also try to knock down other hurdles to the project, like the need for potential land transfers or extensive infrastructure development as they arise, before the window of opportunity closes.

“If we don’t find and secure a site, we will never get there,” Merkley said. “I want to see those [villages]

constructed.”

He also committed to supporting the CTUIR as it works to wrap up Umatilla Basin water rights settlement negotiations with land owners, state and local officials.

A final settlement between stakeholders would require federal legislation to implement the agreement, which he said he would be “happy to champion.”

“So, my team’s been standing by to be helpful when that time arrives,” Merkley said.

MERKLEY CONTINUED PAGE 16

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10

States set Columbia River salmon, steelhead seasons CLACKAMAS — Oregon and Washington fishery managers have finalized preseason planning for 2024 Columbia River summer and fall recreational salmon and steelhead fisheries.

Forecasts for summer and fall Chinook, sockeye and coho will allow opportunity for anglers to target these fish. The planned 2024 fall-season fisheries are primarily limited by the expected harvest of upriver bright fall Chinook which is subject to catch-sharing agreements with the Columbia River treaty tribes under the U.S. v. OR Management Agreement. As has been the case in recent years, added protections are also necessary for ESA-listed Lower Columbia River (LCR) fall Chinook and summer steelhead.

For the summer season, retention of adult hatchery Chinook, hatchery steelhead and sockeye will open June 16 from the Astoria-Megler Bridge upstream to the Highway 395 Bridge in Pasco, Washington.

Due to the summer Chinook forecast of 52,600 adults (similar to last year’s actual return) and allocation guidance, adult Chinook retention will only be open from June 16–19 in the area downstream of Bonneville Dam and from June 16–30 upstream of Bonneville Dam. However, the sockeye return is forecast to be 401,700 (about 20% higher than last year’s actual return)

and the retention of sockeye and hatchery steelhead is expected to remain open through the end of July.

The daily adult bag limit during the summer season is two adult salmon/ steelhead, but only one may be a hatchery steelhead, and all sockeye are considered adults.

This year’s adult fall Chinook forecast of 551,800 fish and the Columbia River coho forecast of 279,900 adults are both lower than their returns last year. Chinook and coho retention seasons start Aug. 1 and vary by river section, please see Columbia River regulation updates for specific details. This year’s regulations include additional measures, such as mark-selective (adipose fin-clipped only) retention rules for Chinook in the Buoy 10 and lower river fisheries and salmon/ steelhead angling closures upstream of west Puget Island when Chinook retention is prohibited. These are intended to help manage fishery impacts to ESA-listed stocks and to increase the stability of the planned season structure.

“While fall salmon forecasts are down a little this year, we have been able to work with our co-managers and the public to craft some excellent fishing opportunities for this fall season. If an in-season review of the upriver bright Chinook stock indicates a return higher than the pre-season forecast, we may be able

to provide Chinook opportunity beyond the preseason plans,” said Jeff Whisler, ODFW’s Columbia River Fisheries manager.

The preseason forecast of 126,200 upriver summer steelhead is slightly higher than last year’s return but still represents a poor return relative to historic levels. In recognition of the expected low abundance, anglers will see conservative retention regulations again in 2024, similar to recent years. Hatchery steelhead retention will be allowed June 16 to July 31 from the Astoria-Megler Bridge upstream to The Dalles Dam and June 16 through Aug. 31 from The Dalles Dam upstream to the Highway 395 Bridge in Pasco with a reduced bag limit of one fish. After retention of summer steelhead closes in each area, it is expected to remain closed through the end of the year; however, winter steelhead retention will open under permanent regulations beginning Nov. 1 downstream of The Dalles Dam. Protective regulations will also include Thermal Angling Sanctuaries in Eagle Creek, Herman Creek, and the Deschutes River as well as in the Columbia River near the mouths of these tributaries (see the website for maps and detailed descriptions of these sanctuary areas). The John Day Arm (lower John Day River, downstream of Tumwater Falls) will

also be closed to angling for salmon and steelhead from Sept. 1 through the end of the year.

Detailed preseason regulations with season dates and bag limits by area are available at https://www. dfw.state.or.us/fish/OSCRP/CRM/ index.asp (see 2024 Preseason Summer and Fall Columbia River Recreational Fishery Regulations).

As always, regulations are subject to change based on in-season information on abundance and fishery performance. Anglers are reminded to check Regulation Updates for their zone before fishing.

For more information about Columbia River fishing seasons, visit ODFW’s online fishing reports at https://myodfw.com/recreationreport/fishing-report/columbiazone.

Scan the QR code above with your smart phone for 2024 CTUIR emergency tributary and mainstem Snake River regulations for spring/ summer Chinook fisheries.

Sunday, June 9 CTUIR Members receive $20 OFF per person on any entrée with your Tribal ID at any dining location.

Includes Plateau Fine Dining, Traditions, Wildhorse Sports Bar, Wild Roast, Burgers & More, Moe Pho, Brigham Fish 'N Chips, Quaking Aspens Lanes, Hamley Café, Hamley Steakhouse & Saloon, Clubhouse Bar & Grill, The Grill at Birch Creek and On-Floor Service.

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JUNE 2024 | CONFEDERATED UMATILLA JOURNAL

11

DNR seeing success repopulating rare owl species

By CHRIS AADLAND Reporter

The CTIUR is one of five government partners in a group called the Columbia Development Authority (CDA). The CDA owns thousands of acres of the land and is working on management and development plans at the former Umatilla Army Depot land.

WANAKET WILDLIFE AREA – On a recent warm and sunny morning several Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR) Department of Natural Resources (DNR) employees and conservation partners met at the tribe’s Wanaket Wildlife Area to check on a pair of nesting owls.

The tribe will soon manage the restoration effort, which had been led by Johnson and the Global Owl Project for nearly 20 years, on the CDA lands.

After a short walk, they found the female and nine recently hatched chicks nestled inside a man-made hole in the ground.

Johnson’s group came in to help recover the population at the site, which contains ideal habitat for the owls.

While that would be an alarming find for most owl species, they were elated to make the discovery.

That’s because this owl is an unusual species, the Western Burrowing Owl, that the tribe has been working to increase populations of in recent years. This is the first mating pair of burrowing owls that has nested in the approximately 2,700-acre Wanaket Wildlife Area in six years.

“There is room for more,” David Johnson, who leads the Global Owl Project and was working with the tribe that day, said of Wanaket’s suitability for a large burrowing owl population.

The owl, which is culturally significant to the CTUIR, has largely disappeared from the eastern Oregon landscape, primarily due to dwindling of the shrub-steppe habitat environments they prefer.

However, tribal wildlife managers are hoping that conservation efforts, which will ramp up later this year when the DNR takes over a successful reintroduction project at the sprawling site of the former U.S. Army Umatilla Chemical Depot nearby, will lead to more pairs choosing to raise chicks in the 20 man-made burrows at Wanaket or elsewhere in the region.

The small, brownish owl species with long legs and a short tail can be found in eastern Oregon and the Columbia River Basin throughout the spring and summer feeding mostly on insects and rodents and raising young before migrating to warmer climates for the winter.

Since then, he has been overseeing a research project at the property, banding owls, recording their vocalizations and tracking their migration patterns.

David Johnson, Director of the Global Owl Project, holds a Western Burrowing Owl outside its burrow while the chicks’ health is assessed May 16 at the Wanaket Wildlife Area. CHRIS AADLAND | CUJ PHOTOS

in Canada and is being considered for endangered status in California.

Washington state officials are also considering listing the species as endangered.

“They’re not doing well,” said Lindsay Chiono, a CTUIR DNR employee who will help oversee the CTUIR’s increasing burrowing owl conservation work. “There are a lot of factors, but we’ve lost something like 90% of shrub-steppe habitat on the Columbia Plateau, for example.”

The goal of the group at Wanaket May 16 was to trap the male and female pair to assess their health, take their measurements and place a band around one of their characteristic long legs so they can be tracked if they hadn’t already been banded.

The CTUIR hopes that the population there will continue to thrive under its stewardship and begin expanding at Wanaket, where wildlife managers believe about 15 pairs and their young could thrive.

While the species, “papuu” in Umatilla, is important ecologically, the tribe’s conservation efforts also have cultural significance to the CTUIR, said Andrew Wildbill, DNR Wildlife Program manager.

The tribe has even named the Umatilla Chemical Depot area “Papuunmi” to recognize the burrowing owl’s importance to the tribe, he said.

Lindsey Chiono is helping oversee the CTUIR’s owl conservation work.

“These burrowing owls are highly important to our tribal culture,” Wildbill said. “And we recognize them as being a very important animal in this ecosystem.”

The group also handled the nine chicks, which likely ranged between 1 and 7 days old, to gauge their health and age.

They will often choose holes that had been previously excavated by badgers, prairie dogs or other creatures, as nests and tend to congregate in communities of at least five or six pairs that burrow within a couple hundred yards of each other for better protection, Johnson said.

To trap the male, they placed traps at both entrances to the pairs underground burrow, covering them with dirt, pebbles and grass to make them appear more natural. Johnson then began playing a recording of a “punk” – a young, unmated, underweight male – to make it seem like there was an intruder in the burrow.

But habitat loss, coupled with a decreased badger populations in the region, has made burrowing owls increasingly rare.

“Everything they are is tied up in that burrow,” Johnson said. “They’ll put their life at risk for that burrow and territory.”

The Western Burrowing Owl is classified as a “sensitive-critical” species in Oregon, a step below threatened status.

The male didn’t fall for the ruse that morning, though DNR staff were successful the following day.

It is listed as an endangered species

healthy and growing population nearby. DNR staff will soon take over management of those owls with hopes they will move over to Wanaket to nest.

Johnson said a record 98 pairs have burrowed at the property this year in artificial burrows designed by him, adding that he believes this is the largest grouping in the Pacific Northwest.

While there’s only one pair at Wanaket this year, there’s a

David Johnson and Rich Scheele, Wildlife Biologist and Wanaket land manager, work to camouflage a trap meant to capture the Western Burrowing Owls so they may be checked over and banded if needed.

12

CONFEDERATED UMATILLA JOURNAL | JUNE 2024

LETTER Oral History Program calls for knowledge keepers As the newest staff member of the Cultural Resource Protection Program’s (CRPP) Oral History Program, I’d like to introduce myself to the tribal community. My name is Trevor Williams, and I am an enrolled CTUIR tribal member.

Recently, I finished my bachelor’s degree at the University of Oregon with a major in anthropology and minors in Native American and Indigenous Studies, as well as philosophy. Since then, I’ve moved back to the reservation and have started my new position as an Oral History/NAGPRA assistant. In the short time since I started in CRPP, I have learned a great deal about our shared history and traditions.

My duties have included taking part in oral history interviews, both in-house at the Nixyáawii Governance Center and on-site at various traditional use areas. I have also been honored to participate in the repatriation and reburial of our ancestors to our homelands.

It is not lost on me that the history of anthropological research has left a bad taste in the mouth of many Indigenous folks, and rightfully so. For over a century our traditional knowledge has been

told to, archived, and disseminated by academics from outside of our communities. For 30 years CRPP has been successful in reclaiming our cultural narratives. Our oral history database has more than audio interviews and transcripts that are critical for our mission to promote the protection, preservation, and perpetuation of the CTUIR’s culturally significant places and resources for the benefit of current and future generations.

The CTUIR’s CRPP has been a pioneer in anthropological practices that have become industry standards.

As a part of our efforts to continue this mission, we, the Oral History Program, are making a renewed effort to reach out to the CTUIR community. We are seeking knowledge keepers of all kinds. Enrolled tribal members, descendants, and local community members are invited to share their knowledge on a wide range of subjects from traditional and modern hunting, fishing, or gathering locations so that we can document and protect those areas, to local community history and traditional stories.

Interviews may take place at the governance center, during on-site tours to relevant locations or at your home. These interviews will become

a permanent part of our growing database, and anything shared will be recorded, transcribed and stored in accordance with the interviewees’ wishes. The rights of our knowledge keepers are our primary concern, and they will have full control over their contribution to tribal history. Interviews will include fair compensation, and transportation or lodging costs will be covered for longer interview excursions.

If you would like to schedule an interview or site visit, please contact CRPP staff Trevor Williams at 541429-7204 or TrevorWilliams@ctuir. org, or Dara Williams-Worden at 541-429-7205 or DaraWilliamsWorden@ctuir.org.

Letters are published on a space available basis, in order of receipt.

• Limit to 300 words or less • Information found to be inaccurate/ libelous will not be published.

• Letters containing profanity will not be published.

• Multiple letters by the same person will be published in the same issue.

• Campaigning is not allowed.

• Author’s full name, address and phone number must be included with submission for verification.

Email letters to CUJ@ctuir.org

CTUIR May 2024 Weather Report Weather information summarizes data taken at the Pendleton Weather Station Lat 45 40 N and Lon -118 51 W from May 1 to May 29. Temperature is reported in degrees Fahrenheit and time in Pacific Standard Time.

The average daily temperature was 70.7 degrees, with a high of 87 degrees on May 11. With a low of 36 degrees on May 3rd.

With a departure from normal of 0.4 degrees Total precipitation to date in May was 2.62, with the greatest 24hr average of 1.81 on May 4-5. 6 days out of the month had precipitation levels greater than .01 inches, with 5 days greater than 0.10 inches and with 1 days greater than 0.50” and 1 day where it was greater than 1.00 inches There was a departure of 1.32” from average for the month of May. The average wind speed was 11.8 mph, with a sustained max speed of 37.0 mph from the West on May 5th. A peak speed of 48 mph occurred from the West on May 5,48MPH on May 15, and 48 mph on May 25. The dominant wind direction was from the West.

There were 2 Thunderstorms, 11 days out of 29 in which some rain fell, 0 Haze events/ days, and 5 Fog/Mist. Air Quality Index values remained Green/Healthy.

– Submitted by Caleb Minthorn, Air Quality Technician on behalf of CTUIR Department of Natural Resources’ Energy and Environmental Sciences Program

JUNE 2024 | CONFEDERATED UMATILLA JOURNAL

Did you know?

On June 2, 1924, Congress enacted the Indian Citizenship Act, which granted citizenship to all Native Americans born in the U.S. The right to vote, however, was governed by state law; until 1957, some states barred Native Americans from voting.

13

MORE FUN MORE OFTEN!

Information from the Library of Congress: https://loc.gov/item/today-in-history/june-02

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CONFEDERATED UMATILLA JOURNAL | JUNE 2024

2024 SPRING SEASON TRIBAL FISHERY ANNOUNCEMENT The Four Columbia River Tribes made the following fishery change: In a continued effort to balance the limited number of available chinook under the allowed harvest rate with the need to provide additional fishing opportunities, the tribes have modified the current the Zone 6 Platform and Hook and line fishery schedule by adding fishing time. An additional day will be added to the two remaining fishery openings of the spring season fisher.

The new openings are: • 6AM Wednesday June 5 to 6PM Saturday June 8 • 6AM Wednesday June 12 through 6:00 PM Saturday June 15.

The fishery will remain open for subsistence use only. For fishers using hook and line gear, only two poles per person are allowed. Other platform gears are allowed under standard gear regulations. Contact your tribe’s fish and wildlife department for details on gear rules.

Summer management period fisheries will be announced later. **********************

If you have any fishing enforcement problems or need assistance or information, day, or night, contact the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fisheries Enforcement Office, 4270 Westcliff Drive, Hood River, Oregon. Phone: (541)-386-6363 or toll-free (800)-487-FISH (3474).

Show pride in your Tribe’s treaty rights by carrying your tribal ID. Please consult your tribal Fisheries Department for additional details on tribal regulations. PLEASE WEAR YOUR LIFE JACKETS FOR SAFETY and avoid overloading your boats.

06/04/2024

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Current Cayuse Holdings job opportunities include: Chief Finance Officer (Remote), Business Intelligence Analyst (Remote), Junior Marine Engineer (Guam), HR Specialist (Remote), Program Manager (MD), Technology SpecialistJourneyman (VA), Federal Proposal Coordinator (Remote), Translator (CA/ AZ), and Interpreters (CA/AZ).

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JUNE 2024 | CONFEDERATED UMATILLA JOURNAL

15

OEM shares safety tips for wildfire season SALEM – The Oregon Department of Emergency Management (OEM) encourages Oregonians to prepare for the upcoming wildfire season by staying informed, having an emergency plan and packing a go-kit. People can find an evacuation checklist, live wildfire and evacuation maps and wildfire preparedness and prevention tips at wildfire.oregon.gov.

“Oregon follows a three-level evacuation notification system structured around the readiness need and threat level,” said OEM Director Erin McMahon. “People should be familiar with the ‘Be Ready, Be Set, Go Now’ evacuation levels and their meaning. They should also evacuate anytime they feel unsafe, as conditions can change rapidly. Being prepared and knowing what to do when you receive an evacuation notice can help keep you and your household safe during a wildfire or other disaster.”

Level one (green on a map) means BE READY to evacuate. Be aware of the danger in the area and prepare to evacuate.

• Sign up for local emergency alerts at ORAlert.gov to be notified of an evacuation.

• Check phone settings to ensure wireless emergency alerts are turned on.

• Have an emergency plan that

names an out-of-area contact, a meeting place outside of the hazard area, and how to contact each other if separated.

• Put together a go-kit of essential health and safety supplies and identification for each person and pet.

• Call 211 or visit 211info.org for shelter options.

• Use TripCheck.com or call 511 to map out evacuation routes.

• Older adults, families with children, people with disabilities, livestock and pet owners, and those with limited access to transportation should consider evacuating at level one.

Level two (yellow on a map) means BE SET to evacuate. There is significant danger in the area and people should be ready to leave with short notice.

• Continue to stay informed; check for updates through local city and county websites, social media, TV and radio.

• Consider relocating to a safe place outside of the affected area.

• Inform loved ones of plans and destinations.

Level three (red on a map) means GO NOW – leave immediately.

There is extreme danger and it is unsafe to stay.

• Grab the go-kits.

• Follow the emergency plan.

• Leave as fast as safely possible; do not stop and gather belongings or protect the home.

• Emergency responders may not be available to help those who choose to stay.

• Do not return to the area until officials announce the area is safe.

OEM offers a statewide evacuation service that provides greater situational awareness of impacts on communities and lets people view estimated populations affected by evacuation. View this GIS StoryMap to learn more and visit Oregon.gov/oem for additional preparedness information.

CONFEDERATED UMATILLA JOURNAL | JUNE 2024

16

MERKLEY CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9

Tribal leaders also brought up a plan developed by the CTUIR and other Columbia River tribes to aid depleted salmon populations in the basin while also coming up with solutions to meet the region’s future energy, shipping, agricultural and other needs.

The federal government has promised to spend more than $1 billion in the next decade to support the effort. Last December, it adopted the plan, The Resilient Columbia Basin Agreement, and agreed to partner with the tribes and states of Oregon and Washington in implementing it.

Merkley has supported the plan, which many say sets the stage for the elimination of dams on the Columbia and lower Snake rivers.

While he said he didn’t yet have a position on whether to breach the dams, he said he agreed with tribes and scientists who say salmon runs on the Snake River will disappear without changes to the current situation.

But first, questions like how to how to replace energy produced by the basin’s hydropower system and how to affordably and efficiently ship goods and wheat currently transported by a river barging system that would be lost need to be answered before the future of the dams can be addressed.

“Many issues would have to be

resolved,” Merkley said. “So I fully support the research going into what’s possible.”

Facing the public Most of the questions during the town hall portion of the senator's visit involved issues – inflation, a lack of affordable housing and increasing partisan divides in Congress – that affect the whole region and not just the CTUIR. But he also answered a few questions posed by several members of the CTUIR Youth Leadership Council concerning issues important to the CTUIR, especially its younger generations.

Saying she had witnessed friends who struggled with mental health challenges, Luka Worden asked how Merkley could help provide better access to care. Abigayle and Lisa Faye McIntosh wanted to know what the federal government was doing to address the crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous people and support their families.

Merkley responded by saying that the federal government has been working to expand youth access to prevention hotlines. He said there was a need for more mental health workers in tribal communities –workers who are from those communities that can better relate to, and understand, the challenges the younger generations are encountering.

He then listed some new federal initiatives, like increased funding

to law enforcement agencies for MMIP cases, adding that continued awareness of the problem led by Indigenous people was vital to keeping pressure on policy makers to contribute to solutions.

“So, thank you all for being advocates and raising these issues today,” he told the McIntosh sisters.

Sun Hawk Thomas, a graduating senior at Pendleton High School, pushed Merkley on what is being done to address water issues. Merkley mentioned CTUIR initiatives he supports like the Umatilla Basin water rights settlement and the tribe’s work in the Columbia River Basin to prevent salmon extinctions adding that addressing water concerns is complicated given the many different types of stakeholders who rely on water for different reasons.

“There’s a phrase I heard growing up in Douglas County that I never really understood… ‘Whiskey’s for drinking and water’s for fighting,’” he said. “What did they mean? Well, how important water is to everything we do and therefore requires a lot of collaboration and consultation.”

Merkley is a member of the powerful Senate Committee on Appropriations, which controls how much of where the federal government’s money is spent. He also serves as the chairman of an appropriations subcommittee that is responsible for allocating federal funds to agencies like the Bureau of Indian Affairs that have major impacts to the country’s tribal nations.

In his interview with the CUJ, Merkley said his role in dishing out federal funding to Indian Country means he tries to meet individually with Oregon’s tribes during his statewide tours. He listed several tribal priorities like replacing an aging drinking water system on the Warm Springs Reservation and spearheading legislation that established natural co-management rights with tribes that he’s helped tackle at the federal level.

“I’ve really taken the initiative to help the tribes in a number of issues,” he said. “I have a lot of projects going with the tribes.”

Board of Trustees Chairman Gary I. Burke thanked Merkley for coming to the Umatilla Indian Reservation and meeting with tribal leaders to discuss CTUIR priorities he can help address.

“We are glad that our doors are open for him to conduct his business with the public here today, and we hope that his doors will always be open to us as we strengthen our relationship,” Burke said.

The senator will be holding six in-person town halls for Oregon communities in June: Coos and Curry counties on Friday, June 7; Klamath and Lake counties on Saturday, June 8; and Crook and Wheeler counties on Sunday, June 9. The events continue Merkley’s 2024 town hall tour of Oregon, where he is holding a community conversation for each of the state’s 36 counties.

Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation

46411 Timíne Way | Pendleton, OR 97801

General Council

www.ctuir.org email: generalcouncil@ctuir.org Phone & Fax: 541-429-7378

General Council Draft Agenda June 20, 2024 @ 2:00 PM Hybrid: In-person & Virtual via Zoom

1.

Call to Order 2.

Invocation 3.

Ascertainment of Quorum

a. General Council Officers

b. Board of Trustees

c. General Council Members 4.

Approval of Agenda

5.

Approval of Executive Summary - May 16, 2024

6.

Old Business

7.

New Business a. Cayuse Holdings: Randall Willis Cayuse Government Operations Executive Managing Director b. Housing Development Update: Bill Tovey Economic and Community Development Director c. CTUIR Community Wellness Improvement Collaborative Marcus Luke II, Chair

8.

9.

Announcements/Notes Adjournment

Only enrolled CTUIR Tribal Members permitted to attend. Email Shawna Gavin, ShawnaGavin@ctuir.org, for zoom meeting ID & passcode.

JUNE 2024 | CONFEDERATED UMATILLA JOURNAL

17

Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation

Board of Trustees Gary I. Burke Chairman

Aaron Ashley Vice Chairman

Corinne Sams Member at Large

Raymond Huesties Treasurer

Lisa Ganuelas Member at Large

Roberta J. Wilson Secretary

Toby Patrick Member at Large

Alan Crawford

General Council Chairman

Steven Hart Member at Large

Nixyáawii Governance Center CTUIR Board of Trustees Minutes 46411 Timíne Way Pendleton, OR 97801 541-276-3165 bot@ctuir.org ctuir.org MAY 6, 2024 staff to take the technical and as Exhibit 1 tolthis Resolution,

Reservation to the United States professional level steps needed which Trust shall become Department of Energy for the Ascertainment of Quorum. to complete the Wellness Court effective upon Secretary of the of under participating The Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation is comprised of the Cayuse, Umatilla, and Walla Wallapurpose Tribes, formed the Treaty in BOT Present: Burke, BOT application consistent approval of the Amended to protect, the Home of 1855 atGary the Walla Walla Valley,grant 12 Stat.

945. In 1949, the Tribes with adopted Interior a constitutional form of government preserveElectrification and enhance and the reserved treaty rights guaranteed under federal law.

Chairman; Aaron Ashley, Vicethe Project Abstract, Budget Gaming Revenue Allocation Plan, Appliance Rebates Program for Chair; Raymond Huesties, Narrative and Memorandum subject to such reasonable time Indian Tribes, and is a Board of Treasurer; Roberta Wilson, of Agreement and submit the as may be needed to coordinate Trustees priority for Housing Secretary; Lisa Ganuelas, necessary materials to the Bureau trust and program administration 2024 Annual Work Plan as to Member; Steve Hart, BOT of Justice Assistance be-fore the including time to notify af-fected apply for grant to help update Member and, Alan Crawford associated deadlines of May 2, Tribal members and to complete electric panel, replace heat General Council Chairman. 2024 and May 9, 2024 deadlines; required forms and procedures; system from 1970’s-80’s with new Corinne Sams, BOT Member on AND BE IT FURTHER RE-SOLVED, AND BE IT FURTHER RE-SOLVED, ductless heating/air; AND BE IT travel. Toby Patrick, BOT Member approves the Board Chair to sign that the Finance Director, in FINALLY RESOLVED, the Board of on personal leave. Quorum policy level documents necessary consultation with the Office of Trustees authorizes and directs present. to complete the associated Legal Counsel, shall be authorized the Executive Director to submit Wellness Court grant consistent to make necessary technical or any supplemental information Agenda Review. MOTION: Alan with the Project Abstract, Budget grammatical corrections to the required for participation in Crawford moves to approve Narrative and Memorandum attached Minors’ and Protected the Home Electrification and agenda. Steven Hart seconds. of Agreement and submit the Persons’ Trust that do not change Appliance Rebates Program Discussion. Question. Motion necessary materials to the U.S. its purpose, intent or substance; for Indian Tribes; MOTION: carries 6-0-0.

Department of Justice Bureau AND BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, Lisa Ganuelas moves to adopt of Justice Assistance before the that the Board of Trustees hereby Resolution 24-038. Steven Hart Old Business: None. associated deadlines of May 2, directs the Executive Director, seconds.

2024, and May 9, 2024 deadlines; Finance Director and Enrollment New Business: Proposed AND BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, Officer to take such further action Discussion. Question. Motion Resolutions: Next resolution the Board requests the Court and execute documents that may carries 6-0-0. number is 24-036: Matt Johnson, to incorporate the progress of be necessary to implement the Tribal Court Director explained the Wellness Court planning, attached Minors’ and Protected Other Board Action Items: None. two deadlines for resolution and implementation, and unmet Persons’ Trust. MOTION: Alan tribal match. The only change needs into the routine reporting Crawford moves to adopt BOT Travel or External Meeting was budgetary information. frameworks for policy oversight Resolution 24-037. Raymond Reports. None.

There is a 30-day deadline and and consistent with the CTUIR Huesties seconds. Discus-sion.

Yellowhawk Commission did Fiscal Management Policies; Question. Motion carries 6-0-0.

BOT Leave and Travel or Outside approve it.

MOTION: Raymond Huesties Meeting Requests. Corinne Sams, moves to adopt Resolution 24- Resolution 24-038: Topic: US 5/30 polled personal leave.

Resolution 24-036: Topic: 036. Roberta Wilson seconds. DOE Home Electrification and Lisa Ganuelas, 5/27-31 travel to Wellness Court Planning and Discussion. Question. Motion Appliance Rebates Program. Washington, DC. Implementation RESOLVED, carries 6-0-0.

RESOLVED, the Board of Trustees Toby Patrick, 5/10 and 5/13 the Board of Trustees supports authorizes the Executive Director personal leave.

MOTION: the Wellness Court concept Resolution 24-037: Topic: to sign and submit the attached Raymond Huesties moves of healing to wellness and Minor’s Trust RESOLVED, that letter of intent, Exhibit 1, or a to ratify and approve leave approves the exhibits attached the Board of Trustees hereby substantially similar document, requests. Steven Hart seconds. to this Resolution; AND BE IT approves of the Minors’ and on behalf of the Confederated Discussion.

FURTHER RESOLVED, authorizes Protected Persons’ Trust attached Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Question. Motion carries 6-0-0.

18

APRIL 29, 2024 Ascertainment of Quorum.

BOT Present: Gary Burke, BOT Chairman; Aaron Ashley, ViceChair; Raymond Huesties, Treasurer; Roberta Wilson, Secretary; Toby Patrick, Member; Lisa Ganuelas, Member; Corinne Sams, Member; Steve Hart, BOT Member and, Alan Crawford General Council Chairman. Full quorum present.

Agenda Review.

Raymond Huesties asked to place an agenda item under 11.b. regarding resignation letter to have Office of Legal Counsel and Human Resources Direc-tor present. Roberta Wilson added this would be at 2:30 pm as a closed executive session.

MOTION: Corinne Sams moves to approve agenda as amended. Aaron Ashley seconds. Discussion.

Question. Motion carries 8-0-0.

Old Business: None.

New Business: Proposed Resolutions: Next resolution number is 24-036: Resolution 24-036: Topic: Wellness Court Planning and Implementation.

MOTION: Corinne Sams moves to defer Resolution 24-036 until Health Commission is polled and resolution will be polled before the May 2 deadline. Aaron Ashley seconds. Discussion. Question.

Motion carries 8-0-0.

Other Board Action Items: Wildhorse Foundation Annual Report.

MOTION: Raymond Huesties moves to approve the Wildhorse Foundation Annual Report. Corinne Sams seconds.

Discussion. Question. Motion carries 8-0-0.

Commission/Committee Update

by Roberta J. Wilson, BOT Secretary.

Science & Technology Committee, 2- year term, two vacancies with one application from Kat Brigham.

MOTION: Aaron Ashley moves to advertise the STC positions.

Raymond Huesties seconds.

Discussion. Question. Motion carries 7 for - 0 against - 1 abstaining (Lisa Ganuelas).

-Veterans Committee, 3-year staggered terms, one vacancy, with one application from Kath-

CONFEDERATED UMATILLA JOURNAL | JUNE 2024

leen Elliott.

MOTION: Raymond Huesties moves to defer appointment of an alternate until a work session on the Advisory Code is conducted. Corinne Sams seconds. Discussion. Question.

Motion carries 8-0-0.

-Terms Expiring, Resignations and removals - none.

-Will advertise for 4 positions for CTUIR Culture Coalition, to fill a three-year term, meets as needed.

All applications are due May 20 by 4 pm with a work session on May 24 at 8:30 am and appointment made on Tuesday, May 28.

Executive Director (OED) Information by Executive Director.

Old Business (follow up on previous action items): BOT approved sending the FWC, youth and youth families to attend the Bringing the Salmon Home tour, May 24-25 at the headwaters of the Columbia River in BC. BOT approved Dr. Hathi’s meeting with CTUIR leaders and staff on May 30 or 31 subject to Health Commission review and reporting back to the Board of Trustees.

BOT approved staff to attend the Tribal Lands and Environment Forum (TLEF) conference in Eugene from August 12-15.

BOT nominated Cor Sams for the 2024 Indigenous Leadership Ecotrust Award and requests OED to bring names back from the management team to be nominated.

BOT approved relevant DNR, DECD, and TPO staff to coordinate with the state of Washington on this request and to report back to the BOT. New Business (Including Departmental info, top issues): Changing MPAS from the 2nd Wednesday to the 1st Monday of the month before the BOT Meeting, starting in June.

MOTION: Lisa Ganuelas moves to review and discuss MPAS format be-fore considering request to move MPAS meetings from the 2nd Wednes-day to the 1st Monday of the month before the BOT starting in July. Roberta

Wilson seconds. Discussion.

Question.

Motion carries 8-0-0.

Budget Issues: None Announcements: NONE TRIBAL SESSION Oregon Update: Governor Tina Kotek is hosting a campaign event on May 21st from 5-6:30 pm in Wilsonville, OR. CTUIR is a sponsor the tribe donated $5000 to her campaign.

MOTION: Aaron Ashley moves to approve available BOT and Lobby-ists Phil Donavon and Amanda Hess to attend Governor Tina Kotek’s campaign fundraiser event on May 21st from 5:006:30 pm at Wilsonville. Raymond Huesties seconds. Discussion.

Question.

Motion carries 7-0-0. [Lisa Ganuelas not present for vote] Legislative Commission on Indian Services Meeting on May 1st from 8:30 am to 2:45 pm, Oregon State Capitol, Salem, OR. This is an in-person meeting & virtually via Teams. Gary Burke will be on personal leave from April 30 to May 2.

MOTION: Corinne Sams amends her motion to delegate BOT Vice­ Chairman Aaron Ashley to attend the LCIS virtual meeting on Wednesday, May 1. Toby Patrick seconds. Discussion. Question.

Motion carries 7 for - 0 against - 1 abstaining (Aaron Ashley).

Discussion on CTUIR hosting a meeting with LCIS on September 17. JD Tovey said that date may conflict with ATNI which several BOT will probably be attending.

MOTION: Corinne Sams amends motion to tentatively host a meeting with LCIS on September 17. Toby Patrick seconds.

Discussion. Question. Motion carries 8-0-0.

Washington Update: Gubernatorial candidate Mark Mullet is scheduled to be in the Tri-cities on May 22nd.

MOTION: Corinne Sams moves approve a work session to prep with talking points for those BOT attending the meeting with Gubernatorial candidate Mark Mullet on May 22nd in Tri-Cities.

Toby Patrick seconds. Discussion.

Question. Motion carries 7 for 0 against - 1 abstaining (Robert Wilson).

Fundraiser Opportunity the 2024 Spark Powering Transformative

Change on May 9th in Seattle, WA at the Museum of History, and Industry (MOHAI), Outgoing Governor Jay Inslee will be a guest speaker, and Governor Candidate Bob Ferguson, Attorney General will be a speaker. This event is put on by the Washington Conservation Action.

MOTION: Roberta Wilson moves to purchase a Team Captain Package of 5 in-person tickets for $750. The BOT Chairman Gary Burke, General Council Chairman Alan Crawford and staff Kaeleen McGuire, Brandie Weaskus, and Lobbyist Marie Sullivan to attend the event in Seattle, WA on May 9. Raymond Huesties seconds.

Discussion. Question. Motion carries 8-0-0.

The Washington Nuclear Caucus will hold meetings at Hanford on June 24-25th or 25- 26th.

Legislators and Energy Northwest need to hear CTUIR’s concerns.

MOTION: Raymond Huesties moves to approve Vice-Chairman Aaron Ashley and technical staff to attend the meetings on June 24- 25th or 25-26th. Aaron Ashley seconds. Discussion.

Question.

Motion carries 8-0-0.

The 2nd Tribal Opioid and Fentanyl Response Summit will be held July 23-25th at the Davenport Grand Hotel in Spokane.

MOTION: Corinne Sams moves to approve General Council Chair-man Alan Crawford to attend the Tribal Opioid and Fentanyl Response Summit on July 23-25th. Raymond Huesties seconds.

Discussion. Question. Motion carries 8-0-0.

Washington State Department of Ecology Water Resources Program is having a Tribes-Only Water Resources Informational Session on the upcoming 2nd Draft update to the Municipal Water Law policy (POL-2030) on 5/29 from 10-11 am.

MOTION: Raymond Huesties moves to approve Member at Large Lisa Ganuelas and technical staff attend the Water Resources In-formational Session on the upcoming 2nd Draft update to the Mu-nicipal Water Law policy (POL-2030) on May 29th from 10 to 11 am. Steven Hart seconds. Discussion. Question.

Motion carries 7 for- 0 against-1 abstaining (Lisa Ganuelas).

JUNE 2024 | CONFEDERATED UMATILLA JOURNAL

Washington, DC Update: Senator Jeff Merkley will be in Eastern Oregon on May 17-19th.

He would like to host a Town Hall here at CTUIR on May 19th. The tentative date is Sunday, May 19th at 10:45 am to meet with BOT for 30 minutes before the Town Hall meeting.

End of report.

MOTION: Lisa Ganuelas moves to approve hosting Senator Jeff Merkley tentatively on May 19th for a Town Hall and meeting with the BOT for 30 minutes be-fore the Town Hall with a work session pri-or to the meeting. Corinne Sams seconds.

Discussion.

Question. Motion carries 8-0-0.

MOTION: Corinne Sams moves to approve Legislative Report.

Toby Patrick seconds. Discussion.

Question. Motion carries 7-0-0.

[Aaron Ashley not present for vote] CTUIR Executive Director Communication.

Action Items: The modification is for $204,871.

Memo justification is included.

This requires Board Action on Monday’s BOT Meeting (Hardware replacement and contracting services).

MOTION: Corinne Sams moves schedule a work session to better understand the full fiscal impact of the request for modification 33051 for hardware replacement and contracting services of $204,871.

Aaron Ashley seconds.

Discussion. Question. Motion carries 7 for - 0 against- 0 abstaining. [Lisa Ganuelas not present for vote] Information Items: General Council announced May 20th is CTUIR Flag Day and Yellowhawk Tribal Health Center is hosting the event and staff is invited to lunch at noon.

Management Team Retreat: we have received a draft of the executive summary and are coordinating with the retreat facilitator. We are reviewing and

19

finalizing the task list, which is anticipated to be delivered in late April.

Comment/Complaint Card update. To protect the privacy of complainants and parties in-volved, these updates will provide general information to apprise the BOT of the status of each complaint for April: received - 1, following up - 0 and concluded - 1.

End of report.

WRC Comp Vouchers Requests. None.

seconds. Discussion. Question.

Motion carriesn 8-0-0.

Homeownership Counseling Land Lease Loans

Executive Director’s Leave and Travel Requests. JD Tovey, sick leave from 1 pm on 5/1 and all day 5/2.

-Business Services Program by Jacob Wallis: Pendleton Urban Renewable Competition Native Empower Hour Small Business Accelerator Program Digital Marketing Phase 2 Client Data System Upgrades Small Business Loans Fish Tax Workshop -Farmers Market -Benchmarks.

-Lending Services Summary.

End of report.

MOTION: Corinne Sams moves to approve JD Tovey’s sick leave re-quest. Toby Patrick seconds.

Discussion. Question. Motion carries 8-0-0.

Review Minutes:

and

Scheduled Work Sessions (5): Robert Fossek, 5/1 at 10:30 am re: CTUIR Emergency Operation Procedure Plan. Marcus Luke, 5/1 at 2:30 pm re: DOE Appliance Rebate grant for Housing resolution. Lucas Eastwood, 5/2 at 9:30 am re: hotel/commercial real estate proposal.

Mason Murphy, 5/8 at 1:30 PM re: Naval Nuclear Propulsion Annual review.

Gordy Schumacher,5/9 at 8:30 am re: Oregon Dept. of Agriculture MOA for pesticide application with resolution.

MOTION: Corinne Sams moves to approve-the four of the five work sessions as scheduled and have tribal member Lucas Eastwood meet with Economic & Community Development Commission. Aaron Ashley seconds. Discussion. Question.

Motion carries 8-0-0.

BOT Travel or External Meeting Reports. None.

BOT Leave and Travel or Outside Meeting Requests. Corinne Sams, 5/6-5/17 travel to Washington, DC. Gary Burke, 5/6 all day and May 9 afternoon personal leave. Lisa Ganuelas, 4/26 birthday leave.

Raymond Huesties, 4/24 polled personal leave from noon to 4 pm. Steven Hart, 5/19 to 5/24 travel to ATNI at Canyonville.

Toby Patrick, 4/26 polled personal leave.

MOTION: Aaron Ashley moves to ratify and approve leave requests. Raymond Huesties

MOTION: Corinne Sams moves to defer the April 22, 2024, Minutes. Raymond Huesties seconds. Discussion. Question.

Motion carries 8-0-0.

Next Meeting: Next MeetingMonday, May 6, 2024.

Announcements. None.

MOTION: Aaron Ashley moves to recess at 11:15am and to reconvene at 1:30 pm. Raymond Huesties seconds. Discussion.

Question. Motion carries 8-0-0.

Reconvened at 1:30 PM. BOT present: Full quorum.

Staff present: JD Tovey; Dave Tovey, Jacob Wallis Via Zoom: Brandie Weaskus, and Kathryn Burke Entity Report at 1:30 PM. Nixyaawii Community Financial Services (NCFS) by Dave Tovey, Executive Director.

-NCFS Administration: Consumer Loan Portfolio. Food Truck Park Nixyaawii Neighborhood OHCS Grant EPA Greenhouse Gas CCIA. Leader-ship Change at ATNI-EDC -Development Summary.

Services

-Homeownership Services: Financial Success Education Series USDA Rural Development USDA 502 Direct Loan Packagers Certification Training Nixyaawii Neighborhood Open Houses -Mortgage Loans: Credit Coaching/

MOTION: Corinne Sams moves to accept NFCS report. Raymond Huesties seconds. Discussion.

Question. Motion carries 8-0-0.

Closed executive session at 2:30 pm. Helen Morrison left Zoom meeting, the recorder and Zoom was turned off from the BOT Chambers by Zoom host.

MOTION: Corinne Sams moves to go into closed executive session at 2:30 pm regarding resignation letter. Aaron Ashley seconds.

Discussion. Question. Motion carries 8-0-0.

MOTION: Raymond Huesties moves to go out of closed executive session and back to regular BOT meeting at 3:31 pm. Corinne Sams seconds.

Discussion. Question. Motion carries 8-0-0.

Letter of resignation.

MOTION: Raymond Huesties moves to accept the April 12 letter of resignation submitted

by Executive Director Donald Sampson, to appoint JD Tovey as Interim Executive Director starting May 11, and to issue an immediate press release announcing the resignation and interim appointment.

Alan Crawford seconds.

Discussion. Question. Motion carries 8-0-0.

Adjournment.

MOTION: Corinne Sams moves to adjourn at 3:36 PM. Steven Hart seconds. Discussion.

Question. Motion carries 8-0-0.

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CONFEDERATED UMATILLA JOURNAL

Community J UNE 2 0 24 | VOLUME 32 • ISSUE 6

Sexual assault report released to tribal members

By LISA SNELL Editor MISSION – It’s something uncomfortable to talk about, to hear about, or even believe is happening in your community, but a report on the history of sexual assault crimes happening on the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR) was delivered to tribal members’ homes and tribal offices in early May. “Learning the number of victims on the Umatilla Reservation is alarming because it’s something we don’t talk about and we don’t hear about,” said Corinne Sams, CTUIR Board of Trustees Member at Large and Law and Order Committee member.

The report, published and distributed by the CTUIR’s Family Violence Services program, is the culmination of nearly four years of surveys, community outreach and research led by the program’s manager, Desiree Coyote, and Diane Gout, of Gray O.A.K., LLC., a Native-woman owned research and evaluation company specializing in the field of violence against women with an emphasis on violence against American Indian and Alaska Native women.

One of the report’s key findings was “a pervasive culture of silence and normalization around sexual violence, significant barriers to reporting and accessing services, REPORT CONTINUED PAGE 7

Youth from the Nez Perce Tribes and Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation share a photo with Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission commissioners and staff during the May 22 Salmon Keepers event at the Wildhorse Resort & Casino in Mission. The event stemmed from CRITFC’s intention to inform Native people of the issues contributing to declining salmon runs. TRAVIS SNELL | CTUIR COMMUNICATIONS PHOTOS

Youth Council, CRITFC host firstever Salmon Keepers event at WRC

By TRAVIS SNELL CTUIR Communications MISSION – The Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation Youth Leadership Council (CTUIR), in collaboration with the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission (CRITFC), hosted the first-ever Salmon Keepers dinner at the Wildhorse Resort & Casino on Wednesday, May 22.

Corinne Sams, CTUIR Board of Trustees Member at Large and CRITFC chair, said the event highlighted the work CRITFC and its member tribes (CTUIR, Yakama Nation, Nez Perce Tribes and Warm Springs Tribes) are doing in the Columbia River, Snake River Basin and tributaries to rebuild native fish, as well as invited youth and families

from the four tribes to learn about and share information regarding salmon.

“This event was built from robust discussions at the CRITFC table from commissioners, but mainly from our elder commissioners.

These elders continue to emphasize the importance of sharing our rich history and long litigation battles that upheld all four Columbia River Treaty Tribes’ reserved rights, including in all our usual and accustomed areas,” Sams said.

“Our intention is to inform our membership of the issues that are continuing to contribute to our declining salmon runs such as climate change, poor fish passage, water quality, habitat, instream flow, KEEPERS CONTINUED PAGE 14

Weptas Brockie, who serves as the CTUIR Senior Youth Council chairman, speaks during the Salmon Keepers event on May 22 at the Wildhorse Resort & Casino in Mission. The 16-year-old said restoring salmon to healthy and sustainable runs should be important to Native and non-Native people because they are a keystone species.

CTUIR hosts MMIW events, display

By CHRIS AADLAND Reporter

Enola Dick, lead advocate for the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation’s Family Violence Services, reads out the names of tribal members who have gone missing or were murdered during a afternoon ceremony May 6 outside of the Nixyáawíí Governance Center. LISA SNELL | CUJ PHOTO

MISSION – Red dresses and shirts with messages or names of murdered or missing people, personalized messages planted outside on miniature dresses and a parade of community members wearing red helped demonstrate on May 6 that their loved ones haven’t been forgotten and that solutions are still needed.

The displays were part of two Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR) events, where community members remembered missing or murdered loved ones and called for action, held as part of a nationwide week to draw attention to the disproportionate rates that Indigenous people go missing and experience physical and sexual violence.

“We want to bring healing to our community for those who are missing, murdered or have been trafficked and are trying to come back to who and what we are as Indigenous”, said CTUIR Family Violence Services Program Manager Desiree Coyote, adding that the week’s events show people that “We are not invisible” and honor families who have experienced the crisis.

Outside the Nixyáawíí Governance Center (NGC), the Nixyáawíí student drum group performed honor songs and Umatilla Master Speaker Fred Hill offered a prayer to open the weeklong display that included the names of CTUIR tribal members who were victims.

Enola Dick, lead advocate for CTUIR’s Family Violence Services, read out their names as each name was punctuated by a beat of the drum.

MMIW CONTINUED PAGE 14

2 Community

CONFEDERATED UMATILLA JOURNAL | JUNE 2024

Burke receives Happy Canyon Appreciation Award PENDLETON – The Happy Canyon Board of Directors named Kathryn Burke, interim deputy executive director of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR), a recipient of their annual Appreciation Award in May. Burke has acted in the Happy Canyon Show since the early 1970s when her aunts Rose Quaempts Peters, Delores Quaempts Moses and Martha Quaempts Franklin took her into the show.

“I was very fortunate to grow up with a big family which included many cousins,” she said, adding that her uncles Elias, Louis and Paul Quaempts were also instrumental in getting her involved during those early years.

Burke began acting in the village scene and she remembers waiting for the ‘Indian Love Call’ to finish up. That was her cue to enter the set.

She also performed in the wedding dance scene.

She and her husband, CTUIR Board of Trustees Chairman Gary I. Burke, and their family are heavily involved in Round-Up and Happy Canyon. For 21 years, together they have set up teepees, rode in both Dress-Up and West Ho parades, and dressed in regalia and performed in the arena – riding and dancing.

As a young woman, Burke not only

dressed in regalia and participated in Happy Canyon, but took part in dancing, parades and the beauty pageant.

“My family encouraged me to participate, to dance and dress up, to ride a horse with an Indian saddle, trappings and to have poise,” she said.

Burke’s grandmother Annie Hall Quaempts camped along with her siblings in the 1930’s era of the Round-Up teepee village. Her aunt Edna Quaempts Crane was on the Round-Up Court in 1948 and she helped to welcome President Harry S. Truman to Pendleton.

“Happy Canyon is a story of past history. If you look at the timeline of Happy Canyon and our participation and involvement in it, we have carried it on since 1916.

The cultural exchange of the Indian people is being viewed by thousands who come to watch the pageant.

We wear our regalia – some of it may be over 100 years old – trade cloth blankets, buckskin dresses, buckskin shirts... These represent our identity, our history and living culture,” she said.

Today, Burke and husband Gary have many grandchildren acting in the show who started as soon as they were old enough to participate.

“I think as I get older, I notice the setting sun and sharing this time

Kathryn Burke, center, is joined by Happy Canyon Princesses Lauren Gould and Layla Sohappy after receiving her Happy Canyon Appreciation Award May 21 at the Pendleton Convention Center. DALLAS DICK | RED ELK IMAGES PHOTO

with my husband as we go over to the Happy Canyon Night Show from the teepee village,” she said. “I am very thankful and appreciative of my husband Gary and all of my sisters and my sons, daughters, grandchildren and our large family for the traditions and all of our participation.”

Burke was honored with a plaque lauding her years of service during a reception held May 21 in the Happy

Canyon Room at the Pendleton Convention Center.

Nathan Garton, audio visual manager at Wildhorse Resort & Casino, was also honored with an Appreciation Award. Garton leads the sound team for the Happy Canyon night show and puts in countless hours not only for the Happy Canyon show, but also the Pendleton Round-Up Kick-Off concert and Pro Bull Riding.

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Community 3

JUNE 2024 | CONFEDERATED UMATILLA JOURNAL

Clay Walker to headline 2024 Round-Up, Happy Canyon Kick-Off Concert

Eddie Montgomery

While Walker is known for his string of smash hits like “Live Until I Die,” “Hypnotize the Moon,” “Rumor Has It,” “Then What,” and “She Won’t Be Lonely Long,” he’s seeing a resurgence and comeback thanks to the country fans behind the almost 20 million on-demand and video streams for his latest single, “Need a Bar Sometimes.”

Walker recently released his debut album with Show Dog Nashville, Texas to Tennessee, and the realities of place are as central as this comeback album’s name implies – Nashville busily working toward the next fresh hit; Texas moving at its inimitable and familiar pace.

There’s also a mix of songwriting and production approaches, evident and more nuanced relationships between the songs themselves, and the overarching presence of a naturally gifted vocalist who relentlessly pursues his own development as a singer.

Walker has also become known for his battle against Multiple Sclerosis (MS), with which he was diagnosed in 1996. Since then, he’s become a passionate advocate and fundraiser for others with the disease through his Band Against MS. Among his efforts are the annual Clay Walker Charity Classic at Pebble Beach.

The golf event highlights the highly active way Walker has approached MS, continuing to perform and raise

a growing family while showing no signs of slowing down.

You might catch Eddie Montgomery taking a quick glance at an empty space beside him when he and The Wild Bunch take the stage to play the expected duet hits as well as tunes from his brand-new and mostly raucous solo debut “Ain’t No Closing Me Down.” The man who is always “with” Montgomery on stage and immersed in the soul of his first solo album is his longtime partner, Troy Gentry, who died Sept. 8, 2017, in a helicopter crash that could have put a tragic end to Montgomery Gentry sound. Except Montgomery made a promise that the MG sound would go on: Which, at its heart, is what this new album is all about.

Rowdily honed-in at honky-tonks and at parties in their Kentucky homeland, Montgomery Gentry rocked to stardom in 1999 with their propulsive collection Tattoos & Scars. Over the next 18 years, the duo had 20-plus charted singles, collected CMA, ACM and Grammy nominations and awards with No. 1s including “If You Ever Stop Loving Me,” “Something to be Proud Of,” “Lucky Man,” “Back When I Knew It All” and “Roll With Me.” “We are thrilled to have Clay Walker and Eddie Montgomery take the stage at the Happy Canyon Arena in September,” said Happy

CULTURAL INSTITUTE

Clay Walker

Canyon President Kipp Curtis.

“Last year’s concert with Craig Morgan and Clint Black showed our fans crave those 90s country superstars, and we’re sure that Clay Walker and Eddie Montgomery will bring some of that 90s nostalgia along with some great new hits.”

Round-Up President Tiah DeGrofft agreed. “This concert is going to be a fantastic way to kick off the week for Round-Up and Happy Canyon,” DeGrofft said. “We can’t wait for everyone to see this show and have some fun.”

Tickets for the concert are on sale now. To reserve tickets, visit www. pendletonroundup.com or call 541276-2553.

2024 ArtWORKz

Junior Art Show & Competition Come view the incredible artwork submitted by talented youth from all over the region. Over 100 pieces of art are on display featuring paintings, drawings, sculptures, photography, ceramics, and traditional arts. You will be amazed at the level of professionalism and creativity!

Thank you to Nixyaawii Community Financial Services and Blick Art Materials!

ARTISTS RECEPTION & AWARDS CEREMONY 2024 ArtWORKz Junior Art Show & Competition

Saturday, June 22 1pm-3pm

Join the artists and their families to see who won awards and celebrate the incredible talent of these young artists. Free and open to the public. Refreshments will be served.

Thank you to Nixyaawii Community Financial Services and Blick Art Materials!

FREE FIRST FRIDAY! FREE admission all day at Tamástslikt Cultural Institute.

June 7 10am-5pm

FREE admission all day at Tamástslikt Cultural Institute. View the 2024 ArtWORKz Junior Art Show & Competition. Enjoy Indian Tacos and Frybread from 11am-2pm at Kinship Cafe.

Shop the Museum Store for discounted summer items!

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PENDLETON – Chart-topping country star and 90s hitmaker Clay Walker will headline the Pendleton Round-Up and Happy Canyon Kick-Off Concert at the Happy Canyon Arena on Saturday, Sept.

7, along with special guest Eddie Montgomery of Montgomery Gentry.

4 Community

CONFEDERATED UMATILLA JOURNAL | JUNE 2024

CTUIR employee earns alumni award MISSION – An employee with the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation’s (CTUIR) Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) recently returned to her home country to receive an award from her college alma mater.

Zenaida Saavedra Masangkay Lyles, a grants specialist, received the Gawad Sulo for Eminent Alumni 2024 Award from the Philippine Normal University’s National Center for Teacher Education on April 30 at the university’s Manilla campus.

“I am honored to be a recipient of the Gawad Sulo for Eminent Alumni Award,” said Lyles, who graduated from PNU in 1966. “As a grants specialist, I write proposals for grants to improve the health and well-being of the community members on the reservation and to protect and practice CTUIR’s sovereign rights. I was delighted and honored when I received the letter of award.”

However, upon learning of the award, she realized she would not be able to receive it in person because of a short timeline to plan travel to the Philippines. Believing she would accept the honor virtually her friends began planning and raising funds to send Lyles to her home country to accept the award.

“They surprised me with the news that enough funds were raised

from my friends who wanted me to receive the award in person and to spend time with my family in the Philippines… The scene, to say the least, was very emotional for me.”

Lyles said she graciously accepted the funds and left for her home country on April 23. She returned to the CTUIR on May 7. But while in the Philippines, she visited her siblings and cousins and their families, as well as members of a fifth-grade class at Jose Rizal Elementary School in 1968.

“We celebrated as I dedicated the award to them, and they reminisced and shared the fond memories of they had in that classroom once upon a time with their teacher Miss Zenaida Masangkay,” Lyles said.

She said she also took time to celebrate the award with her late husband, whose remains rest besides her parents in Lemery, Batangas, Philippines.

“I am thankful to my friends who thoughtfully provided funds for me to travel and be with my family in the Philippines,” she said. “I am forever grateful to all for the happiness and honor of receiving the award and the bliss of celebrating life with family and loved ones in my homeland.”

Some of the funded grant proposals that Lyles has helped write at the CTUIR include a $2.1 million project to train tribal members to become licensed drone pilots and

Zenaida Saavedra Masangkay Lyles, a grants specialist, received the Gawad Sulo for Eminent Alumni 2024 Award from the Philippine Normal University’s National Center for Teacher Education on April 30 at the university’s Manilla campus..

SUBMITTED PHOTO

a $5000,000 project to improve the Átaw Miyánašma Learning Center.

“Writing gives me joy and at the same time it has become a tool to manifest the much-needed resources of our diverse community,” she said.

Lyles graduated magna cum laude from PNU with a bachelor’s degree in teacher education. She earned her master’s degree through PNU’s Ford Foundation Scholarship, which also funded her post graduate studies at the University of Minnesota.

It was in Minnesota where she met her late husband Rodney E. Lyles. The couple married in Walla Walla, Washington, and had two

children, Randy and Lara.

During her career, she has served as a classroom teacher and a faculty member in graduate and undergraduate higher education institutions. She also served as a resource specialist with the thenUmatilla ESD Bilingual, Migrant and Indian Education Program.

“I was named a master teacher by the U.S. Department of Education,” Lyles said. “I served as principal at the Umatilla School District. I also served as the director of the CTUIR Department of Education when the Nixyáawii Community School established in 2004.”

JUNE 2024 | CONFEDERATED UMATILLA JOURNAL

Community 5

6 Community

OHS President steps down

CONFEDERATED UMATILLA JOURNAL | JUNE 2024

JUNE GROCERY SPECIALS Betty Crocker™ Bisquick™ Pancake Mix 1lb 4oz

$4.79 PENDLETON – Mort Bishop III, Chairman of the Board of the Pendleton Woolen Mills, stepped down as President of the Oregon Historical Society (OHS) Board of Trustees on May 15th, after leading in that role for two years and serving as a Trustee for eight years.

The Oregon Historical Society honored the moment by purchasing a Pendleton Woolen Mills manufactured Kúsi blanket from Tamastslikt Cultural Institute for the outgoing Trustee.

Robing Bishop in the photo are Bobbie Conner, incoming Secretary of the OHS Board, and Pete Nickerson, incoming OHS Board President.

“Kúsi (Umatilla and Walla Walla) and Tüunap (Cayuse) means horse,” Conner said. “Horses signify strength, prosperity, and independence for our tribes. The design was inspired by a painted rawhide war shield and a beaded buckskin shirt owned by prominent past headmen, Willliam Minthorn and Clarence Burke, of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation.”

The limited-edition blanket is exclusive and only available from Tamastslikt Cultural Institute.

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Dorothy Cyr takes a moment May 22 to pose with her copy of the CUJ while enjoying the lights of Times Square, New York City. Cyr, Wildhorse Resort & Casino Employment Manager, was in New York for the National Native American Human Resources Association Compensation and Benefits Summit.

Want to be featured? Email your photo with the CUJ to CUJ@ctuir.org

Monday – Saturday 6am – 8pm | Sunday 9am – 5pm 46493 Mission Rd. Pendleton, OR 97801 • 541-276-9082

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Owned and Operated by the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation.

Community 7

JUNE 2024 | CONFEDERATED UMATILLA JOURNAL

REPORT CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

and a profound mistrust in law enforcement and the criminal justice system.”

“As you can see in the report, a lot of people, especially the older people, said that this happened when they were kids and nobody wanted to address it. It’s happening today and still no one wants to address it in a meaningful way for our community,” Coyote said.

The report summarizes the results of three surveys with a combined return of 228 responses and comments gathered in community interviews and focus groups that garnered 31 participants – 18 of whom were CTUIR members.

“It’s a terribly underreported crime, not just here, but everywhere,” said Tony Barnett, lead criminal investigator for the Umatilla Tribal Police Department. “I think it’s an underreported crime for a host of reasons, many of which are identified in this [report] and a lot of it comes from this feeling of not being believed.”

There is also perhaps a sense of not feeling supported, Sams said. “I think oftentimes victims are silenced, not because they don’t want to speak out, but they’ve seen others who have and there wasn’t a whole lot of support. That lack of support creates issues within a community that are unfavorable.”

Tribal officials say there are victim

resources available and steps are being taken to improve services and access. According to Sams, an external assessment was done on the UTPD in 2021 and a follow up review is currently in progress. That review is expected to conclude at the end of the year.

“Hopefully we can rewrite policy in a way that benefits our community and tribal membership so that they feel like they do have a voice… hopefully we can start to fill those gaps within services and within communication, because there’s definitely been a breakdown according to the survey that was done,” Sams said.

UTPD Chief Tim Addleman said his department follows the Department of Public Safety Standards and Training, which is where officers get their certifications in Oregon, adding that there are new trainings required every year like crisis intervention and equity and inclusion.

“We front load a little bit of training the first month they are here and then they go to the academy for 16 weeks. When they come back, they complete a 12-week field training program,” Addleman said.

In addition to training, officers also wear body cameras which the force acquired in 2020. All patrol officers and investigators are required to wear them. “For the last four years now, everything’s been on body camera and it’s been nothing but beneficial,” Barnett said. “We have the ability to be even that much

more transparent now.”

Sams stresses that tribal leaders want the reservation to be safe from predators, saying the CTUIR was one of the first tribes to implement the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) and tribal court can now prosecute non-Indians for those crimes.

“Jurisdictional issues are imperative,” she said. “The message we want to send is that if you commit crimes on the reservation, you will be held accountable.”

UTPD maintains and manages a sex offender registry available online at https://ctuir.nsopw.gov/ SearchOffender.aspx. A nationwide registry is available at www.nsopw. gov.

If you or someone you know is the victim of sexual assault, there are resources available within the CTUIR and the surrounding community. For assistance, you may call CTUIR Family Violence Services’ confidential 24-hour hotline at 541240-4171. For medical care, CHI St. Anthony’s hospital in Pendleton has three sexual assault nurse examiners (SANEs), one of whom is certified to perform pediatric exams. Help is also available in nearby Hermiston at Good Shepard Medical Center which has seven SANEs on staff.

For most adults, reporting to law enforcement is their prerogative.

Evidence will numbered, bagged and labeled for identification and storage. Evidence will be stored with the Oregon State Police crime lab for up to 60 years and available should

The report, Increasing Access to Services by Sexual Assault Survivors: The Voices and Perspectives of a Tribal Community, was published and distributed by the CTUIR’s Family Violence Services program. LISA SNELL | CUJ PHOTO

a victim decide to report the assault.

For more information, Family Violence Services is hosting a tribal, state and federal summit July 9 -11 at Wildhorse Resort & Casino. The discussions will cover various aspects of addressing intimate partner violence and what trauma-informed services are and how to use them.

The CUJ will be continuing coverage on this issue and the findings published in sexual assault report.

If you have input or information to share, call Lisa Snell at 541-429-7399 or email lisasnell@ctuir.org.

8 Sports

CONFEDERATED UMATILLA JOURNAL | JUNE 2024

Picard wins first individual gold for NCS

By CHRIS AADLAND Reporter EUGENE – Landon Picard edged out the reigning high jump champ to take the gold during the 1A State Track and Field Championships May 16-18 in Eugene. It was the first-ever individual state championship for a Golden Eagle.

Picard cleared 1.93 meters for the win over Yoncalla’s Jaden Churchwell, who won the championship last year. Churchwell finished a close second at 1.87 meters.

“It was a great, great season,” he said.

Head coach Weyekin Wildbill said the state title win was even more impressive because Picard only started competing in track last year.

“It was pretty inspirational to watch him compete to the best of his ability every meet and to see him have that hunger and passion right away after entering the sport,” he said.

Picard also ran in the 110-meter hurdles – an event Wildbill said Picard only started halfway into the season – finishing fifth after spending only about a month practicing.

Wildbill credited first-year assistant coach Micah Reading, who he said specializes in the high jump, for helping Picard go from merely qualifying for the state meet last year, to beating the defending state champion and winning the gold medal.

Picard, Baron Moses, Sacas Wildbill and Sun Schimmel also qualified in the 4x400 meter relay, where they placed 10th out of 12 teams.

The team’s overall accomplishments capped what Wildbill described as a great season, adding that he was proud of the team’s dedication and hard work.

Landon Picard clears 1.93 meters (approximately 6 feet, 4 inches) during the 1A State Track and Field Championships May 18 in Eugene. ROBERT McLEAN | COURTESY PHOTO

“It’s very rewarding,” Wildbill said. “These kids deserve it.”

Three girls and nine boys competed at the district championships. Overall, 13 boys and girls ran for the Golden Eagles this season. It was also the second season where Nixyáawii competed as its own team and not as part of a co-op with a nearby school, Wildbill said, adding that he hopes this

John graduating with honors ZILLAH, Wash. – Nakea John, Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation member, will be graduating from Zillah High School, Zillah, Washington, with honors this month. He is a member of National Honors Society and is the youngest son of Syd and Robin John. His Indian name is Tama’xaaptxawni and paternal grandparents are

season’s success helps the young program continue to grow.

“I just think that their accomplishments are going help motivate other kids out here to come out for track,” he said. “And then seeing kids like Landon being the first ever state champ might give them hope that they can potentially do it someday, too, if they work hard like he did.”

Buckaroos win state title

Atway Sharon (Hoptowit) John and Lehigh John Sr. John is a top student athlete and the only one in his class earning a four-year varsity letter award in both football and basketball.

He participated in seven state championships in three different sports during his high school career.

He was honored with South Central Athletic Conference All-League Team awards in all sports.

According to his mother, John was the football team captain, runs a fast 400 meters, and started all games as the shooting guard/small forward in basketball. The highlight of his high school career was winning the WIAA 1A Basketball State Championship with an undefeated 27-0 season with his childhood classmates. During the championship game, he played while injured and scrambled for a loose ball at half court to make the assist that clinched the game.

Nakea John takes the ball upcourt during the 2024 WIAA Basketball State Championship at the Yakima Valley Sundome. COURTESY PHOTO

John will continue playing this summer, hitting Native American Jr. Nationals and Native American Basketball Invitational tournaments.

He will also continue traditions – attending Wildhorse Powwow, fishing, picking huckleberries and going camping. This fall he will be attending Perry Technical Institute in the Instrumentation, Automation and Robotics Technology Program.

A WINNING COMBINATION: In the first round of the state playoff games Pendleton Buckaroos hosted the North Bend Bulldogs on May 21. The bucks shut out the North Bend team 15-0 in four innings with the help of shortstop Avery Quaempts and Ella Sams on second base. The Buckaroos moved on to the second playoff round against LaGrande on May 24 at Steve Cary field.

The Pendleton Buckaroos ended their season by defeating Henley in the Oregon 4A softball championship game June 1, 2024, at Jane Sanders Stadium in Eugene. DALLAS DICK | RED ELK IMAGES PHOTO

Sports 9

JUNE 2024 | CONFEDERATED UMATILLA JOURNAL

Sisters competing in state archery tourney

By LISA SNELL Editor HERMISTON – Sisters Manaia and Stella Wolf will be traveling to Albany this month to compete in the Oregon State 4-H Shooting Sports Championships scheduled for June 17-19.

Manaia, a sophomore, shoots with a barebow. Stella, a seventh grader, uses a compound bow. Both started practicing with the Ranch Jams 4-H Archery Club in Hermiston last fall.

Their mother, Althea Wolf, said 4-H was a way for them to not only practice archery, but learn some animal husbandry as well.

“I wanted them to learn how to better care for their horses and tack, and about goats and chickens – all the farm animals. Hermiston’s club offered that as well as archery,” Wolf said. “I just didn’t expect them to take off the way they did [in archery].

They’ve only been practicing with the club since last fall.”

The practice has paid off. In April, Manaia was named the MiltonFreewater Junior Show’s traditional bow champion and received a prize belt buckle for her skill with the barebow. Barebows are considered traditional in the 4-H program and are a basic style of recurve bow which uses modern materials but does not permit accessories to aid in aiming or stabilization.

Manaia also won the state 4-H Senior Barebow mail-in Archery Championship for 2024, which is the qualifying mechanism for the annual Oregon 4-H Shooting Sports Contest. The Mail-In championship ran November to March, with competitors shooting and submitting scores each month. Scores statewide are uploaded to the 4-H Archery Project and results returned to all participating clubs.

While she didn’t win her age group for compound bow, Stella’s mail-in tournament scores qualified her to join her sister at the state tournament in Albany.

“It’s all so new to us,” Althea Wolf said. “We’re still learning and it’s exciting for the girls.”

A win at the state tournament means a trip to Grand Island, Nebraska, the following week for the 4-H Shooting Sports National Championships where youth from across the country will compete in recurve and compound archery, air rifle, air pistol, .22 rifle, .22 pistol, shotgun, muzzleloading and hunting skills.

WAY TO GO! Anthony Nix, a Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR) member and senior at Weston McEwen High School in Athena, won the Oregon Class 2A State Championship for Triple Jump with a jump of 43 feet, 9.75 inches.

COURTESY PHOTO

Manaia Wolf takes aim at a target. COURTESY PHOTOS

Stella Wolf practices her aim with the compound bow.

FUTURE STARS: Marilyn Spencer takes a swing playing tee-ball at McKay Fields, May 16.

DALLAS DICK | RED ELK IMAGES PHOTO

Tamiah Sampson prepares to swing for the fence for Oregon East May 18 during Pendleton’s 12-under Ashley Hodgen Tournament. OE advanced in the tournament but fell to UC Lightning 3 - 6.

AARON WORDEN | COURTESY PHOTO

PLAYER TO WATCH: Alanah Eagle Heart was a key player for the Pendleton Junior Varsity team this season. The Bucks finished their season with 23-3 record.

DALLAS DICK | RED ELK IMAGES PHOTO

10 Health

CONFEDERATED UMATILLA JOURNAL | JUNE 2024

Health 11

JUNE 2024 | CONFEDERATED UMATILLA JOURNAL

Pride Month for two-spirit, LGBTQ+ community EAGAN, Minn. – During June, Pride Month celebrates the 2SLGBTQ+ community’s achievements and advocates for equal rights and community acceptance.

It’s also a time to remember a people known as “Two-Spirits,” who were once revered before colonization and considered gifted by the Creator.

“Colonization forced us to accept values and beliefs that did not fit within our own customs and traditions,” said CEO Lori Jump, StrongHearts Native Helpline.

The Two-Spirited People It was during an Indigenous lesbian and gay gathering in Winnipeg in 1990 that the term “Two-Spirit’’ was used to distinguish Native LGBTQ+ peoples from non-Native LGTBQ+ peoples. It is a name that ties TwoSpirit to our cultural beliefs and spirituality. In many ways, the 2S and LGBTQ+ people share the same life experience: sometimes accepted, shunned, or even ignored.

According to the Indian Health Service, “Native American twospirit people were male, female, and sometimes intersexed individuals who combined activities of both men and women unique to their status as two-spirit people.” For example, women may have had to be the hunter and the gatherer, or men the homemakers. These were skill sets tied to their natural inclination.

Two-Spirit people may be

straight, gay, bi-sexual or asexual, male, female, transgender female, transgender male, non-binary, queer, or plus (something else).

Two-Spirit embodies an Indigenous worldview of gender, including any individual who may express or present as having both male and female qualities.

“The biggest takeaway from the concept of our Two-Spirit relatives is that alternative lifestyles were accepted as a matter of course; they were never frowned upon,” Jump explained, adding that Indigenous people understood that a birth didn’t have predetermined assignments and there was a purpose and a need for all walks of life.

“If only we could see through the eyes of our ancestors,” Jump concluded. “We might see how acceptance is key to our health and wellbeing.”

Bullying and Suicidal Risk Factors Sadly, a lack of awareness, education, and an understanding of 2SLGBTQ+ people often leads to bullying, discrimination, and harassment, which can contribute to a decline in mental health and increase the risk of suicide.

Bullying and Discrimination: TwoSpirit individuals often face bullying, discrimination, and harassment based on their sexual orientation, gender identity, or expression. This can occur in various settings such as

schools, workplaces, communities, and even within families.

Impact on Mental Health: Persistent bullying and discrimination can have serious negative effects on the mental health of Two-Spirit individuals who experience these forms of mistreatment. It can lead to a higher risk of developing depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, and other mental health issues.

Suicide Risk: Two-Spirit youth, in particular, are at a significantly higher risk of suicidal ideation, suicide attempts, and completed suicides. This is due to persistent bullying and discrimination, which can exacerbate feelings of isolation, hopelessness, and worthlessness.

Lack of Support: Two-Spirit individuals who experience bullying and discrimination may also face challenges in accessing supportive resources and networks. Fear of rejection or further mistreatment can lead to social withdrawal and reluctance to seek help.

It is essential to understand that addressing bullying and discrimination against the 2SLGBTQ+ requires a multifaceted approach involving education, raising awareness, supportive environments, and increased access to services. Also, creating inclusive and affirming spaces where individuals feel safe, valued, and supported is crucial to the health and well-being of future generations.

According to the Indian Health Service, “Native American twospirit people were male, female, and sometimes intersexed individuals who combined activities of both men and women unique to their status as two-spirit people.” COURTESY PHOTO StrongHearts Native Helpline serves all individuals who reach out for their services regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, age, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, disability, or any other factor protected by local, state, or federal law. Call or text 1-844-762-8483 or chat online at strongheartshelpline.org.

– Submitted by StrongHearts Native Helpline

12 Education

CONFEDERATED UMATILLA JOURNAL | JUNE 2024

NCS grads earn Whitman scholarship WALLA WALLA, Wash. – Whitman College has named three Nixyáawíí Community School graduates as recipients of the institution’s most generous award, the Šináata Scholarship.

With this scholarship, Anthony Crawford, Sky Smith and Allen Zamudio will have the entire cost of attending Whitman College covered. This includes tuition, room and board, books, supplies and a transportation allowance.

“Anthony, Sky, and Allen will be great additions to Whitman.

Each student will bring uniqueness and positivity to the campus. The Golden Eagle family wishes them well in their journey,” said Nixyaawii Community School Principal Ryan Heinrich.

The Šináata Scholarship builds on a number of educational initiatives developed under the framework of

the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) that Whitman and the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR) signed in 2017 and renewed in 2022. The scholarship ensures that the entire cost of attending Whitman College will be covered for selected students who are enrolled CTUIR members.

It may also be awarded to Native American students from other parts of the Pacific Northwest who have close ties to and have demonstrated active community involvement with the CTUIR. “We are so pleased to have Sky, Allen and Anthony joining the Whitman College Class of 2028 as Šináata Scholars,” said Whitman College President Sarah Bolton.

“Their academic achievements and leadership qualities are an honor to the families and communities who have raised them. We look forward to

welcoming them to campus this fall for the next step in their educational journeys.”

Anthony Crawford

Sky Smith

Allen Zamudio

More about the Šináata Scholarship: Tamastslikt Cultural Institute, the cultural education arm of the CTUIR, proposed the name Šináata [pronounced shin-AHHtah] for the scholarship. According to Tamastslikt Director Bobbie Connor, the name is in the original Cayuse language and means ‘to seek.’

This name was recommended to provide the CTUIR and Whitman College the opportunity to actively use a Cayuse word as a signal that the language is still in use. It also provides an occasion to align the ancient practice of vision seeking with the pursuit of higher education, seeking knowledge, enlightenment and insight.

Education 13

JUNE 2024 | CONFEDERATED UMATILLA JOURNAL

American Indian College Fund launches voting campaign DENVER – Native Americans are more impacted by the law than any other group in the United States.

Native students in higher education or seeking a higher education in particular, are impacted by federal and state laws impacting funding for education, such as Pell Grants, student loans, and federal funding for tribal colleges and universities (TCUs), 70% of which comes from federal sources. To ensure Native students, community members, and their allies are represented and heard at all levels of government, the American Indian College Fund (College Fund) is launching its “Make Native Voice Heard – Vote!” campaign to encourage Native people to register and vote on Tuesday, Nov. 5.

In addition to ensuring Native voices are heard with regard to higher education, voting also gives Indigenous communities representation within laws and policies that guide Native nations, including housing, health care, early childhood education, energy programs, and reservation infrastructure.

One hundred years ago on June 2, the U.S. government unilaterally extended U.S. citizenship to Native Americans with the passage of the Indian Citizenship Act. As dual

citizens of their Tribal Nations and the United States, members of federally recognized tribes have the right to register and participate in both non-tribal (federal, state, and local) elections and tribal elections to decide who should represent them.

“Native people were often deterred from exercising that right, and continually litigated for that right to be honored. Only in 1958, 38 years after the Indian Citizenship Act, did Native voters participate in elections in all 50 states. By voting in tribal, local, state, and national elections, Native people exercise their legal right to vote and honor the ancestors that fought for it, while ensuring we have a say in our futures as Native people and sovereign Nations,” said President and CEO of the American Indian College Fund, Cheryl Crazy Bull.

To make Native voices heard and exercise the right to vote, every Native citizen must register to do so in their state of permanent residence. The College Fund’s Make Native Voices Heard web page shares information on how to register to vote in every state at https://collegefund.org/vote/ register/.

The campaign will run through early November.

Rosa Arellanes Oregon State University Bachelors of Science in Botany

Martina Gordon | ka’poy Eastern Oregon University Bachelor of Applied Science | Business

Lysandra Kaelyn Fegan Swarthmore College Psychology & Educational Studies Primary Teaching Certification and English Language Development (ELD) Certification

Adilia Hart Haskell Indian Nations University Associates in Community Health

Kristian Charles Mankiller Gonzaga University Bachelor of Science Biochemistry Summa Cum Laude

Teal Soaring Eagle United Tribes Technical College General Studies- Associates of Science Honors graduate

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14 Announcements

KEEPERS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

sediment build up, hydropower systems and much more.”

Aside from dinner, attendees were provided information about the Belloni and Boldt decisions. In 1974, Judge George H. Boldt’s ruling in the case of U.S. v. State of Washington affirmed tribal sovereignty and secured Washington tribes the right to fish at usual and accustomed grounds. Five years earlier, in Sohappy v. Smith/U.S. v. Oregon, Judge Robert C. Belloni ruled that Columbia River treaty tribes had an “absolute right” to a fair share of fish runs. Belloni emphasized tribal sovereignty and called for separate consideration of tribal fisheries alongside non-treaty commercial and recreational fisheries.

Other topics on the agenda included fishing rights 101 and conservation.

Attendees also heard about the importance of First Fish, First Kill and First Dig ceremonies after a Yakama CRITFC commissioner felt the youth needed to recognize and understand the importance of continuing such ceremonies, Sams said.

“This is the time you are standing yourself up to be a provider of our foods to yourself, your family and your people,” she said. “Our way of life depends on our connections to the foods, land, body, spirit and unwritten laws to protect our sacred foods. We have unwritten laws that

CONFEDERATED UMATILLA JOURNAL | JUNE 2024 are vital to how we take care of ourselves, others, our foods and way of life.”

Among the approximate 130 people in attendance, 16-year-old Weptas Brockie, who serves as the CTUIR Senior Youth Council chairman, said he attended because he wanted to learn more about salmon and how he can make a difference in their restoration.

He said he’s been interested in native fish restoration since the sixth grade when he learned that salmon were in danger.

“It’s a concern because salmon is very sacred to our people. It’s one of our first foods, and right now the water keeps getting hotter and hotter, so the fish are depleting.

And the dams are causing the fish to not be as plentiful as they used to be, and not as many are coming back each year,” Brockie said. “Other youth should attend events like this because they need to learn more about their culture, and even if they aren’t Native, they should learn this information because salmon is a keystone species. It brings nutrients up the water for plants to grow.

That’s what I’ve learned. And they should attend to show that they care.

It’s a concerning issue.”

CTUIR programs and departments that helped conduct the Salmon Keepers event were Fish and Wildlife Commission, Fisheries Program, First Foods Program, Family Engagement Program and Department of Children and Family Services.

MMIW CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

Family Violence Services organized the display and hosted opportunities during the week for people to make their own memory dresses or shirts. They then posted a circle of red dress silhouettes with hand drawn messages like “Invisible No More” and “Say their Names” around the NCG. After the morning ceremony, about 40 people participated in a remembrance walk organized by Yellowhawk Tribal Health Center’s Tribal Tobacco Prevention Program.

Walkers shared lunch afterwards, taking in slideshows and information about the high rates of violence Indigenous people face while decorating ribbons with names of people they know who disappeared or were killed to be displayed at Yellowhawk.

The CTUIR is holding its remembrance events this week to draw attention to the crisis and call for changes to address obstacles, system shortcomings and other root factors that have led to the crisis.

“There is a lack of accountability, a lack of transparency with regard to addressing the violence that occurs against our people,” Coyote said.

She said systems that are

supposed to protect or provide justice to Indigenous people need to do a better job of taking cases involving Native Americans seriously and collect better data.

Too often, Coyote said, cases involving Indigenous people have been ignored or aren’t prioritized.

In a proclamation naming May 5 as MMIP Awareness Day in Oregon meant to raise awareness and as a call to action for Oregonians, Gov. Tina Kotek said the state was committed to addressing causes and systemic obstacles that have contributed to the disproportionate rates of Native people facing violence or going missing.

The CTUIR community hasn’t been untouched by the crisis or problems that contribute to it.

Many tribal members who are counted in those statistics were recognized by name May 6 – whether it was having their name mentioned during the morning ceremony, having their name displayed outside, or posted at Yellowhawk.

Dick said the event and reading of names was meant to honor and recognize family members and show them that “we haven’t forgotten about their missing loved ones.”

The display outside the NGC remained for a week and was concluded May 10 with a closing prayer and songs.

Announcements 15

JUNE 2024 | CONFEDERATED UMATILLA JOURNAL

EMPOWERING YOUTH

POWWOW CONTEST RESULTS Tiny Tot Girls: 1st Marilyn Spencer 2nd Sophia Bonifer 3rd Swatas Spencer

11-13 Girls: 1st Kelsey Jones 2nd Awana’ee Najara 3rd Johnni Goodrider

Tiny Tot Boys: 1st Asland Wood 2nd Andre Watchman 3rd Christopher Selam

11-13 Boys: 1st Joshua Selam 2nd Kendall Red Elk-Thompson 3rd Joseph Higheagle

7-10 Girls: 1st Kiya Frost 2nd Feather Najara 3rd Braelynn Crane

14 & Up Girls: 1st Aurora Whiskeyjack 2nd Toshena Broncheau 3rd Emma Star-Nez

7-10 Boys: 1st Bronson Treloar 2nd Mato Treloar 3rd Elwood Harper

14 & Up Boys: Demetri Brockie

TINY TOT GIRLS WINNERS

PHOTOS COURTESY DALLAS DICK | RED ELK IMAGES

TINY TOT BOYS WINNERS

WRC MAY

Employees of the Month Supervisor of the Month: Shannon Elliot, ATP Shift Supervisor

7-10 GIRLS WINNERS

7-10 BOYS WINNERS

“I would like to nominate ATP Shift Supervisor Shannon Elliott as Supervisor of the month. Shannon has been in the role of ATP Shift Supervisor for 1 1/2 years.

During this time frame she has taken in a lot of information and has learned a lot of different aspects of the job position. Shannon is a team player. She is willing to help wherever she is needed. She has been flexible with her schedule, and she has been willing to be trained and coached in many different aspects of the job functions. She does an excellent job in the cash accounting processes. One area that she has allowed herself to be trained/coached in, is how to effectively deal with employee conflict, addressing different customer issues, and implementing policy and procedures.

During the learning phase, she has taken constructive criticism well. She has a willingness to learn whatever she can. She does what is asked of her, and she does it in an efficient and timely manner as requested. Shannon has added strength to our Supervisory team, that has been lacking in the last few years. She can be depended on to do the job that is required of her. What she brings to the table is recognized and appreciated.”

- Nominated by Kathleta Rodriguez, ATP

Frontline Employee of the Month: Adam Height, Security Officer

11-13 GIRLS WINNERS

11-13 BOYS WINNERS

“We would like to nominate Adam Height for Employee of the month! Adam was one of our escorts for our yearly shred. Adam truly went above and beyond during this year’s shred. He jumped in wherever was needed. He helped sling heavy boxes, helped keep our shred bins rotating so we could continue working efficiently, while ensuring the areas we were working in continued to be safe.

Adam had a great, lighthearted, but get it done attitude and it made the whole experience a lot better. No one likes shred day, BUT with employees like Adam, it was a much better experience. Adam’s work ethic and great attitude was immediately noticed and appreciated! Thank you so much Adam!”

- Nominated by Jennifer Manson, Jeni Mitchell, & Chantel Dominguez

Support Employee of the Month: Alexa Swanson, Vault Cashier

14 & UP GIRLS WINNERS

14 & UP BOYS WINNER

“I nominate Alexa Swanson, Vault Clerk, based upon her impeccable customer service skills and cash handling. She handles difficult interpersonal situations with calm and grace, without resorting to pettiness or anger. She is an exceptional listener and helper both within the vault and while crossing the gaming floor. The ability she shows in the daily balance of her vault window or bank is exceptional and exemplary, and I think that she is an incredible asset to Wildhorse Resort.”

- Nominated by Michelle Walker, Vault, and also Antonio Pacheco, Cage

16 Announcements

CONFEDERATED UMATILLA JOURNAL | JUNE 2024

SPRING CELEBRATION POWWOW CONTEST RESULTS Tiny Tot Girls: 1st Nicholi Mayfield 2nd Desba Sol 3rd Jophiel Schimmel Tiny Tot Boys: 1st Christopher Salam 2nd Thunder BadWarrior 3rd Timinah Ellenwood Parrish

Teen Girls Jingle/Fancy: 1st Alexis Payer Teen Boys Grass/Fancy: 1st Cashis Bevis Teen Boys Traditional: 1st Eli Bauer 2nd Sheldon Joseph 3rd Tahrey Jones

Men Traditional: 1st Carlos Calica 2nd Wilbur Oatman 3rd Sunhawk Thomas All Around 17 under Girls: 1st Virgalina Begay 2nd Dazha Joseph 3rd Nila Mayfield

Jr. Girls Jingle/Fancy: 1st Kya Frost 2nd Zelma Salam 3rd Nila Mayfield

Women Golden Age: 1st Cece Begay 2nd Jacki Barkley 3rd Karen Holme

All Around 17 under Boys: 1st Timinah Ellenwood Parrish 2nd Keanu Begay 3rd Sheldon Joseph

Jr Girls Traditional: 1st Dazha Joseph 2nd Hazel Quaempts 3rd Tamanu Salt

Men Golden Age: 1st John Bevis 2nd Randy Minthorn 3rd Lloyd Barkley

All Around 18+ Women: 1st Cece Begay 2nd Katrina Miller 3rd Teata Ellenwood

Jr. Boys Grass/Fancy: 1st Timinah Ellenwood Parrish 2nd Keanu Begay 3rd Miko Treloar

Women Fancy/Jingle: 1st Teata Ellenwood 2nd Diamond Greene 3rd Nizhoni Toledo

All Around 18+ Men: 1st Wilbur Oatman 2nd Gary Smith 3rd Logan Quaempts

Women Traditional: 1st Katrina Miller 2nd Molly Minthorn, 3rd Weynona Thurman

Drums: Howtmi, Purple Rain, Cayuse, Tomahawk, Umatilla Intertribal, Rocky Ridge, Big River

Jr Boys Traditional: 1st Bryson Marsh 2nd Bronson Treloar 3rd Truman Bauer Teen Girls Traditional: 1st Annie Payer 2nd Virgalina Begay

Men Fancy/Grass: 1st William Wesley 2nd Redhorse Wesley 3rd Gary Smith

Hazel Quaempts stands awaiting the start of a circle dance contest.

DALLAS DICK | RED ELK IMAGES

In Memoriam

Anthony Marcell Matamoros May 9, 1999 – May 9, 2024

Dressing was held for Anthony Marcell Matamoros on Monday, May 13 at Pendleton Pioneer Chapel, Folsom-Bishop and followed by Washat that evening. Seven Songs Ceremony was Tuesday, May 14.

Burial at Agency Cemetery.

JUNE 2024 | CONFEDERATED UMATILLA JOURNAL

Announcements 17

qayciyáw’yaw (Thank you) The CTUIR Office of Human Resources would like to thank all the Tribal entities, programs/departments, colleges (Whitman College, Eastern Oregon University, Portland State University, Oregon State University, Walla Walla Community College, Blue Mountain Community College, Lewis and Clark Community College, Walla Walla Community College) who attended and participated in the 2nd annual Career Fair held May 15th at the Nixyáawíí Governance Center.

We had nearly forty vendors signed up with displays, demonstrations, and engaging conversations with nearly 150 high school students and the community.

We would also like to express our gratitude to the Board of Trustees, Office of Executive Director, and Management team for staff participation and turnout.

This event has grown in the two short years that it’s been hosted.

A big thank you to the TERO Program for lunches provided for students/ vendors. Department of Children and Family Services-apples/oranges. Public Works Maintenance/Custodial for set up and keeping it clean and sanitized.

We had staff volunteers (behind the scenes) Brittney Eickstaedt, Tina HabigBaum, TeLa Branstetter, Kimberly Hughes, Marlene Hale, Lauren Burke, & Randy Royer during the fair.

Our sponsors who donated raffle items- OMG! Burgers & Brew, Walla Walla Sweets, Buckin Bean Coffee Roasters, Moe Pho, Sorbenots, Pendleton Round Up, Big Johns hometown pizza, Tamastslikt Cultural Institute, Pendleton Woolen Mills, Urban Native Era, Wildhorse Resort & Casino, 8th GEN, Hines Meat. Co. Arrowhead Truck Plaza, and City of Pendleton Parks and Recreation.

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Happy Graduation

18 Announcements

CONFEDERATED UMATILLA JOURNAL | JUNE 2024

Birthdays:

18th: Sean Van Pelt

1st: Royal Barrett

21st: Cohen Biemmel and Austin Anderson

3rd: Jordan Price 4th: Sterling Thompson 5th: Nicholas Jones 7th: Tia McLaughlin 9th: Danielle Chavez and Evelyn Dick 12th: Iva Edmiston and Nathaniel Marsh 13th: Enola Dick, Brittney Eickstaedt, Tehya Becenti and Samuel Jones 16th: Harper Copsey

22nd: Jamie Coley 23rd: Toni Medina 26th: Tiona Morrison, Aaron Barrett and Tana Flowerdew 28th: Ginella Thompson and Danny Bing Anniversaries: 3rd: Tia & Ryan McLaughlin 21st: Mary & Derek Wittkopf

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CONFEDERATED UMATILLA JOURNAL | JUNE 2024