CUJ News Wishram selected for proposed ‘N’chi wana’ Housing By the CUJ
MISSION – Wishram across the Columbia River from Celilo has been chosen as the site for eventual federal housing by representatives of a new inter-tribal housing entity. The creation called N’Chi Wana Housing (NWH), which is being coordinated by the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission (CRITFC), has been endorsed by the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR). Marcus Luke, Housing Department Director, is the CTUIR representative of the new entity. According to a resolution passed by the Board of Trustees (BOT), the CTUIR BOT is in “strong support” of additional federal replacement housing, which is a “long-standing obligation” as a result of construction and operation of federal dams, throughout all reservoirs created by Bonneville, The Dalles, John Day and McNary dams. NWH is charged with creating a comprehensive housing plan based on a community needs assessment that also supports the CTUIR Housing Department. The resolution endorsed by the CTUIR BOT said that the “one village development” at Celilo does not satisfy the full federal obligation. According to the resolution, NWH will provide a broad range of housing services such as affordable homes, improvements for health and safety concerns and immediate emergency housing needs of
families living in unsafe and unsanitary conditions. Among others, fishers who live along the river would be able to eventually live in adequate housing. The state of current housing has been described as horrible by Tribal leaders. Further, the NWH will provide services like new homeownership classes, down payment assistance and economic and community development activities that benefit the tribal community along the Columbia River. NWH will also provide drug and alcohol abatement services, the resolution states. Representatives of the Columbia River tribes – Umatilla, Nez Perce, Warm Springs, and Yakama - are expected to establish a steering committee comprised of tribal housing professionals, experts and tribal community representatives to guide the formation of N’chi Wana Housing, including appointing an interim Executive Director. The board membership of NWH will include, at a minimum, representation from those who lost housing or their descendants as a result of the construction and operation of dams in what is known as Zone 6 (Bonneville to McNary dams) on the Columbia River. According to the CTUIR BOT resolution, a board member has the option of holding one seat on the N’chi Wana Housing Board of Directors or to choose a representative, the position is currently filled by Luke. NWH representatives, at
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Pa’xum War Dancing to highlight all-day birthday bash for American Legion By the CUJ
MISSION – Several years after they were defeated in a battle with the Cayuse Army in 1878, a delegation of Bannock Indians came by train from the Fort Hall Reservation in Idaho to the Umatilla Indian Reservation to share the Pa’xum war dance. That Pa’xum will be a part of the 100th anniversary celebration March 16 of the American Legion and the 92nd birthday of American Legion George St. Denis Post 140, which was established on the Umatilla Indian Reservation in 1927 (Cap Sumkin). Later the American Legion Post 140 was renamed George St. Denis, who was killed in action in 1946. The all-day event opens at 9 a.m. at the NixYa-Wii Warriors Memorial and then moves to
American Legion 100th Birthday Celebration Saturday, March 16, 2019
Nixiyaawii Longhouse in Mission, Oregon on the Umatilla Indian Reservation 9 a.m. - Nixyaawii Veterans Memorial Honoring Ceremony 10 a.m. - Grand Entry into Longhouse 11 a.m. - American Legion 100th Birthday Luncheon 2-5 p.m. - Pa’xum (War Dance)
the Mission Longhouse for activities that will last until a Washat song and the colors are retired around 5 p.m. The anniversary celebration for the 100th birthday of the American Legion will take up the morning and the birthday party will began See American Legion page 23A
See N’chi wana housing page 23A
Confederated Umatilla Journal
46411 Timine Way Pendleton, OR 97801 Phone 541-429-7005
Bannock War veterans, as well as descendants of Bannock War veterans, gathered in 1910 for Pa’xum War Dances at the Pendleton Round-Up. The photo was taken by W. S. Bowman.
Fax 541-429-7005 Email cuj@ctuir.org www.ctuir.org
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March 2019