2023 November CUJ

NOVEMBER 20 23

NOVEMBER 2023 • NEWS • CONFEDERATED UMATILLA JOURNAL Confederated Umatilla Journal

REMEMBER TO CAST YOUR BALLOT NOV. 14

NEWS DAILY @ CUJ ONLINE

VOLUME 31 • ISSUE 11

The monthly newspaper of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation

Elder listening session addresses concerns, gathers feedback

By CHRIS AADLAND Reporter

Diane Pierre, left, stands next to CTUIR Veterans Services Coordinator Sam Spino and poses a question during an Oct. 20 event at Wildhorse Resort & Casino where elders asked tribal leaders about issues that most affect them and provided feedback on how the tribe could best serve the tribe’s elders. It was the second time leaders and elders had gathered for a listening session dedicated to elder issues.

PHOTO BY CHRIS AADLAND

MISSION, Ore. — Land buy-back program concerns, improving communication and access, alcohol sales and many other topics were on the mind of tribal elders who attended a recent listening session held Oct. 20.

Dozens of elders, Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation staff, program leaders and Board of Trustees members gathered in a conference room at the Wildhorse Resort & Casino for a listening session where elders posed questions on some of the most pressing issues they face and provided feedback for tribal leaders to consider when making decisions.

It was the second such listening session for elders, who make up about a quarter of CTUIR’s membership, held in recent years and included lunch and refreshments for attendees. The meeting was also streamed online for those who couldn’t attend in person.

BOT Chair Kat Brigham and other leaders said they were eager to listen and answer questions and would use what they learned to guide tribal decisions and actions going forwards.

“We were told we needed to listen,” she told attendees at the start of the event. “So, we’re here to listen. We’re here to hear your concerns, your comments and respond to the questions that you have.”

The discussion centered around five questions, but other issues, like concern over allowing alcohol sales at Arrowhead Travel Plaza, were presented.

Elders also said the tribe needs to improve how it communicates with elders and provide resources, like technology and training, so they have better access to information from the tribe, the BOT, and other tribal meetings.

The CTUIR Elders Advisory Group developed five questions after gathering feedback from elders, said Susan LISTENING CONTINUED PAGE 10

Dividend payment increase could be seen as early as February MISSION, Ore. — Tribal members could soon begin seeing bigger gaming dividend payments under a change to the revenue sharing formula approved by the Board of Trustees at its most recent meeting.

The plan must now be approved by the Department of the Interior before it can be fully implemented, though.

Months of discussion -- prompted by a BOT suggestion in January about potentially altering how the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation shares gaming revenue with enrolled members via quarterly payments, followed by a General Council resolution in July calling for an increase in those payments – culminated in trustees unanimously voting on Oct. 30 to adopt a new casino income distribution plan that will result in bigger payouts to tribal members.

Board Chair Kat Brigham and BOT member

CTUIR 46411 Timine Way Pendleton, OR 97801

By CHRIS AADLAND Reporter

Lisa Ganuelas weren’t present at the meeting and unable vote because they were representing the tribe at an event in Washington.

General Council Chairman Lindsey Watchman said he was proud of the “due diligence” from General Council officers, tribal administrative staff, the BOT, and tribal members like Bob Shippentower and Eugena Stacona, who pushed for the change and brought the issue “to the forefront.”

DIVIDENDS CONTINUED PAGE 9

SPORTS ROUND UP: See pages B5 & B6

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

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CONFEDERATED UMATILLA JOURNAL • NEWS • NOVEMBER 2023

CUJ 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’s 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 Fax: 541-429-7005 SUBSCRIBE

The CUJ is free to pick up at tribal entities and some 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 by visiting the Finance Department at Nixyaawii Governance Center, 46411 Timine Way, Pendleton.

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

EMAIL LETTERS TO THE EDITOR TO: CUJeditor@ctuir.org DEADLINE: 20th of the month prior • Limit to 300 words or less • Information found to be inaccurate/libelous will not be published.

• Letters containing profanity will not be published.

• One letter per issue will be published. Campaigning is not allowed.

• Author’s full name, address and phone number must be listed for verification purposes.

CTUIR Hydrologist Kate Ely points to features of the Blue Mountains and explain how they affect groundwater levels in the area during a stop on Duff Road looking toward Kanine Ridge on a recent tour of the reservation and ceded lands for tribal leaders and water managers. The tour was organized to demonstrate findings from a groundwater study, which will soon be finalized and published, that will be vital in guiding tribal water management decisions in the future. PHOTO BY CHRIS AADLAND

Surprising research findings challenge assumptions, could be vital to future reservation water use decisions

By CHRIS AADLAND Reporter MISSION, Ore. — New research findings about how area ground water is – or rather, isn’t – being replenished could have significant implications as tribal policy makers and water managers increasingly work to address water rights and ground water issues in the coming years.

Essentially, the study used the age of the Umatilla Basin’s groundwater to determine how ground water moves throughout the 913-squaremile study area, finding that groundwater aquifers recharge at rates much slower than expected due to the area’s dense basalt rock being nearly impenetrable.

At the same time, groundwater in the Blue Mountains – which receives much more precipitation than the basins lowlands – is blocked by large, complex fault systems from filtering downhill to refill aquifers in the lowlands on the Umatilla Indian Reservation, defying expectations and further contributing to poor aquifer recharge rates.

The findings, though still preliminary, are “revolutionary,” said Kate Ely, a longtime Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation hydrologist, at an Oct. 12 Board of Trustees work session where the

research was discussed.

The research could also change assumptions for tribal leaders and water managers as they prepare to negotiate a major water rights settlement and consider other long-term water use policies to ensure future generations and First Foods have access to water.

“It’s a new story,” Ely, who worked on the study, said at the work session.

“And it will give better insight to the board on decision making when it comes to the tribal water rights settlement coming up.”

The study, started in 2017, builds on more than 20 years of work with the United States Geological Survey in studying the area’s groundwater.

USGS Oregon Water Science Center Research Hydrologist Hank Johnson is the primary author of the study.

An overview of the study was presented to the BOT at a work session on Oct. 12. That meeting was followed by a day-long tour of some of the sites used in the study.

Several BOT members and several CTUIR staff members involved in water and natural resource management, among others, participated in the tour. It included stops at Deadman Pass, Emigrant Springs State Heritage Area, a tribal groundwater monitoring well near the Umatilla River and a road overlooking Kanine

Ridge, to better illustrate the findings and how show how the researchers conducted the study.

But it wasn’t just a leisurely day out of the office.

Tour participants asked additional questions about the study and discussed how its findings can be used to guide policymaking and how the study can also be used to influence other entities, like nearby local governments in the basin and the state, that also have groundwater management concerns.

During a discussion on next steps during the tour, Board of Trustees Chair Kat Brigham said the findings reinforced the opinion that the tribe and its neighbors needed to prioritize addressing water management issues and asked if the tribe now had all the data it needed to make decisions.

“We need to start these discussions,” she said. “We’ve got to have a plan.”

Even after the study is finalized and released, Johnson said the tribe indeed still needs more data, like a working groundwater model, before it can set water policies and confidently know how they’ll impact groundwater levels.

A groundwater model study, he said, could take up to five years to complete.

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NOVEMBER 2023 • NEWS • CONFEDERATED UMATILLA JOURNAL 2023_Nov-CUJ_ad_PRINT.pdf

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The Art and Evolution of Plateau Beadwork Wednesday, Nov. 8 6pm

Local beadworkers and researchers speak on the significance of beadwork through time, the history and acquisition of beads, and contemporary trends in this handwork. Admission is free and open to the public.

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Gallery Talk with Fred Mitchell & Bobbie Conner Wednesday, Nov. 15 4pm

Learn more about the Fred L. Mitchell beadwork collection as two of the most ardent beadwork enthusiasts discuss the storytelling behind and the intricacies of the collection’s beaded works of art. Admission is free and open to the public.

www.tamástslikt.org 541.429.7700

Exhibits, Museum Store Open Tues-Sat, 10am-5pm Kinship Cafe Open Tues-Sat 11am-2pm First Fridays are FREE!

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November 3, 10am-5pm

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View 100 HORSES: AN EQUINE HISTORY IN BEADWORK, our current exhibit. Enjoy Indian Tacos ($10.50) and Frybread ($5) from 11am-2pm. Dine inside at Kinship Cafe or order take-out. And don't forget to visit the Museum Store!

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Thanksgiving Thank You Sale!

Nov. 18-25

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CONFEDERATED UMATILLA JOURNAL • NEWS • NOVEMBER 2023

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Feds OK natural gas pipeline expansion through Pacific Northwest over environmentalist protests

By CLAIRE RUSH Associated Press

CTUIR Election Official Candidate List General election Nov. 14, 2023 BOARD OF TRUSTEES Chair N. Kathryn Brigham – Incumbent Gary I. Burke BOARD OF TRUSTEES Vice Chair Aaron Ashley – Incumbent Kola Thompson BOARD OF TRUSTEES Secretary Sally Kosey – Incumbent Roberta J. Wilson BOARD OF TRUSTEES Treasurer Sandra Sampson – Incumbent Raymond Huesties BOARD OF TRUSTEES At Large Lisa Ganuelas – Incumbent Toby Patrick – Incumbent Corinne Sams – Incumbent Victor Bates Jesse Bevis, Sr. Matthew Farrow, Jr. Shawna Gavin Steven Hart Cami Lewis Linda A. Sampson David Wolf, Jr. GENERAL COUNCIL Chair Alan J. Crawford GENERAL COUNCIL Vice Chair Michael R. Johnson – Incumbent

PORTLAND, Ore. — Federal regulators have approved the expansion of a natural gas pipeline in the Pacific Northwest over the protest of environmental groups and top officials in West Coast states, who said it goes against the region's plans to address climate change and could pose a wildfire risk.

The project, known as GTN Xpress, aims to expand the capacity of the Gas Transmission Northwest pipeline, which runs through Idaho, Washington and Oregon, by about TC Energy’s Keystone pipeline facility is seen in Hardisty, Alberta, on Nov. 6, 2015.

Federal regulators on Thursday, Oct. 19, 2023, approved the expansion of a nat150 million cubic feet (4.2 million ural gas pipeline owned by TC Energy in the Pacific Northwest over the protest of cubic meters) of natural gas per environmental groups and top West Coast officials. The pipeline project, known day. The Federal Energy Regulatory as GTN Xpress, belongs to TC Energy of Calgary, Canada — the same company Commission gave it the green light behind the now-abandoned Keystone XL crude oil pipeline. AP FILE PHOTO BY in a vote on Oct. 19.

JEFF McINTOSH TC Energy plans to modify three compressor stations along the pipestates’ climate policies would be “misguided.” line - in Kootenai County, Idaho; After the vote, Washington’s Democratic governor and Walla Walla County, Washington; and Sherman County, California’s Democratic attorney general condemned the Oregon. Compressor stations help maintain the pressure decision. And the Democratic U.S. Senators from Washand flow of gas over long distances in a pipeline. ington and Oregon described the project as “incompatible Environmental groups criticized the decision. with our climate laws” in a letter to the energy agency.

In a statement, Audrey Leonard, staff attorney for envi“GTN Xpress represents a significant expansion of ronmental nonprofit Columbia Riverkeeper, said it repremethane gas infrastructure at a time when California, Orsented a “rubber stamp of unnecessary fracked gas in the egon, and Washington are moving away from fossil fuels,” Northwest” and accused the energy agency of failing to the senators said. listen to U.S. senators, governors, state attorneys general, The attorneys general of the three states, citing the tribes and members of the public. energy agency’s draft environmental impact statement for Leonard said potential spills and explosions on the the project, said it would result in more than 3.47 million pipeline, which was built in the 1960s, would not only harm the environment but also present a heightened wild- metric tons of planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions per year for at least the next three decades. fire risk in the arid regions it passes through.

The agency’s final environmental assessment issued last “An explosion of that level in eastern Washington or November revised that number downward by roughly half eastern Oregon would be catastrophic,” she said. in calculations contested by environmental groups. This is Leonard said Columbia Riverkeeper will appeal the partly because some of the project’s gas would be delivfederal regulators’ decision and submit a petition for a ered to Tourmaline, a Canadian natural gas producer. The rehearing.

The pipeline belongs to TC Energy of Calgary, Canada - assessment said it wasn’t clear what the end use of the gas delivered to Tourmaline would be, leading it to conclude the same company behind the now-abandoned Keystone that the company’s downstream emissions -those stemXL crude oil pipeline. ming from consumers - weren't “reasonably foreseeable.”

The company said the project is necessary to meet conThe energy agency’s chairman, Willie Phillips, reiterated sumer demand and welcomed the decision in an emailed its stance after Thursday’s vote. statement.

“There was no evidence presented that this project Environmentalists and officials opposed to the project would significantly increase greenhouse gas emissions,” have expressed concern about TC Energy's safety rehe told reporters. “The commission determined that this cord. Its Columbia Gas Transmission pipeline exploded project was needed and therefore we support its approval.” in Strasburg, Virginia, in July and its existing Keystone pipeline spilled nearly 600,000 gallons of bitumen oil in In its final assessment, the federal agency also said the Kansas last December. compressor stations were in non-forested areas with low The 1,377-mile (2,216-kilometer) pipeline runs from to moderate fire hazard and concluded the project “would the Canadian border through a corner of Idaho and into result in limited adverse impacts on the environment.”

Washington state and Oregon, connecting with a pipeline “Most adverse environmental impacts would be tempogoing into California. rary or short-term,” the federal agency said.

Oregon, along with Washington and California, have But environmental groups say the assessment didn’t passed laws requiring utilities to transition to 100% clean adequately address the harm caused by the project, electricity sources by 2040 and 2045, respectively. including by fracking to obtain the natural gas that flows Idaho's Republican governor and Congress members through the pipeline. have supported the project and said that imposing other

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NOVEMBER 2023 • NEWS • CONFEDERATED UMATILLA JOURNAL

Housing department asks for help finding basketball court vandals

By CHRIS AADLAND Reporter MISSION, Ore. — Tribal housing officials are searching for ways to discourage vandalism to projects meant to increase quality of life after a new basketball court was intentionally damaged just weeks after it was installed.

On Oct. 9, Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation Housing Department staff discovered damage to the recently completed basketball court installation in between Walla Walla Court and Cayuse Loop, said Marcus Luke, the department’s director.

It appeared that someone drove a vehicle onto the court, leaving behind tire tracks over much of the court, which is made of a tiled playing surface over a new concrete pad. The vandals then damaged the court in other ways – gauging holes in the playing surface, ripping up and breaking some tiles, and ruining the alignment or mangling the tiles in other spots.

The vandalism, and other reported incidents in recent weeks, like graffiti at a bus stop, has left Luke frustrated as the housing department prepares to upgrade and replace other recreational equipment on the reservation over the next year. “[I’m] not sure why people do this, as the tribe spends thousands to make it a nicer area and then this?” Luke said in an email.

So now, he’s turning to the public for help to identify those responsible and to dissuade future vandals.

Anyone with information about the basketball court disfigurement – or anybody who might witness a future act of vandalism or have information about an incident – is asked to immediately contact tribal police, Luke said.

To encourage tipsters to come forward with information about the basketball court vandalism and help discourage future incidents, Luke would like to see – and has suggested that leadership work to make it happen -- the tribe offer cash rewards for anybody who can identify those responsible or provide information that leads to an arrest.

The damaged court has since been repaired, Luke said.

The Housing Department has spent about $200,000 recently to upgrade recreational equipment, like the basketball court, and have plans to replace more basketball courts and playground equipment, Luke said earlier this month.

He said the department is currently replacing old playground equipment at Walla Walla Court and early next year will be adding a playground and half basketball court at the Lucky 7 manufactured home park.

Hopefully the public appeal to share information with police, and a potential reward incentive, will deter future intentional destruction of projects, like playgrounds and basketball courts, Luke said.

If not, he said any perpetrators will increasingly be caught on camera, as the Housing Department has plans to install more security cameras on the reservation and near housing or department projects, in addition to cameras that had been recently

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Someone drove a vehicle onto the recently completed basketball court, leaving behind tire tracks over much of the court, then damaged the court in other ways – gauging holes in the playing surface, ripping up and breaking tiles, and ruining the alignment or mangling tiles in other spots. PHOTO BY CHRIS AADLAND

installed in housing developments like around Walla Walla Court.

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CONFEDERATED UMATILLA JOURNAL • NEWS • NOVEMBER 2023

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NOVEMBER 2023 • NEWS • CONFEDERATED UMATILLA JOURNAL

Tribal members promote MMIP awareness during the 2023 Pendleton Round Up Western Ho parade, Friday, Sept. 15. CUJ FILE PHOTO BY LISA SNELL

FBI announces extra resources for regional MMIP investigation units PORTLAND, Ore. — The Federal Bureau of Investication recently announced the results of Operation Not Forgotten, which dedicated more than 40 FBI Special Agents, Intelligence Analysts, Staff Operations Specialists, and Victim Specialists to 10 FBI Field Offices whose designated regions support women and children in indigenous communities, including the FBI Portland Field Office.

commitment to ensuring the safety and security of women and children in indigenous communities,” said FBI Deputy Director Paul Abbate.

“By expanding our presence in Indian Country and working closely with tribal law enforcement agencies and community advocates, the FBI aims to achieve meaningful and impactful progress in solving these cases and bringing justice for victims and their families and loved ones.”

During Operation Not Forgotten, resources were added to FBI Portland's Bend Resident Agency to focus on Indian Country in Oregon and more than 220 cases were handled by investigators during the resource surge.

This initiative, along with the FBI's broader Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons (MMIP) strategy, emphasizes the FBI’s continued dedication to address the violence impacting indigenous communities.

The FBI is committed to maintaining close collaboration with tribal law enforcement agencies, tribal governments, and community members to build safer communities and protect the rights of all individuals.

Recognizing the importance of a comprehensive approach to combating crime in Indian Country, investigative personnel and victim specialists collectively deployed to tribal areas to examine cases and focus resources on seeking justice for women and children who have been victims of crime.

“The FBI’s efforts in Indian Country in the state of Oregon are ever present. Operation Not Forgotten amplified our existing commitment to the Indigenous communities in our area by serving as a force multiplier to investigate cases of missing women and children in Indian Country,” said Kieran L. Ramsey, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Portland Field Office. “The increased effort resulted in several arrests, including that of a fugitive who had been on the run for years. However, the true measure of success is seeing justice brought to families in conjunction with the FBI’s surge in resources.”

“Operation Not Forgotten reflects the FBI’s relentless and continued

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Ten FBI field offices received dedicated personnel, including Portland, Seattle and Salt Lake City.

Individuals with any relevant information are encouraged to visit tips.fbi.gov to submit an online tip or contact their local FBI office.

Resources: FBI Indian Country Crime https://www.fbi.gov/investigate/violent-crime/indian-country-crime FBI Indian Country in Judicial Districts - https://www.fbi. gov/file-repository/indian-country-in-judicial-districts.pdf/view FBI Victim Services - https:// www.fbi.gov/how-we-can-help-you/ victim-services FBI Indian Country News https://www.fbi.gov/investigate/violent-crime/indian-country-crime/ indian-country-news

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CONFEDERATED UMATILLA JOURNAL • NEWS • NOVEMBER 2023

LIHEAP help announced

WASHINGTON — U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley announced Thursday, Oct. 26, that Oregon was awarded $40.2 million from the federal Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program to help eligible households and tribes pay for energy bills and prevent utility shut-offs.

“These federal funds will help Oregonians already struggling to make the choice between paying for utilities or food,” Wyden said. “Maintaining a warm home in cold weather is crucial, especially for households with young children, older adults and people with disabilities.”

Merkley said many Oregon families live paycheck-to-paycheck and struggle to pay monthly bills. “The assistance from the LIHEAP program will keep the homes of Oregonians warm this winter and help ease the financial burden of rising utility costs,” he said.

A black bear sighting was twice reported in the Mission Community during October. The bear had been rummaging through waste bins. FILE PHOTO

ODFW says, be 'BearWise' this season MISSION, Ore. — Fall means it’s “fattening up” season for black bears before denning for the winter. While natural food sources are plentiful this year, bears don’t turn down free food.

Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife is getting reports of black bears raiding garbage cans and backyard chicken feed bins. Biologists encourage residents, particularly those living in the wildland-urban interface, to be Bear-Wise:

ple. The best way to keep bears and people safe is to prevent bears from getting these food rewards.

- Secure chicken feed and other livestock feed.

AVOID EYE CONTACT: Don’t make eye contact with the bear.

- Put garbage cans out just before pick-up.

DON’T RUN: It may encourage the bear to chase you.

- Keep pet food indoors.

FIGHT BACK: In the unlikely event you are attacked, fight back, shout, be aggressive, use rocks, sticks and hands.

- Remove bird feeders.

- Clean up fruit under fruit trees.

- Keep BBQ grills clean or in garage.

- Never intentionally feed bears.

Once bears find a taste for garbage, pet food and other human food sources, they can quickly become habituated and a safety risk to peo-

If you encounter a bear: STOP: Never approach a bear at any time for any reason. If you see bear cubs, leave the area.

GIVE IT SPACE: Give any bear you encounter a way to escape.

STAY CALM: Do not run or make sudden movements. Face the bear and slowly back away.

Report non-emergency bear activity on the reservation by calling the CTUIR Wildlife program at 541429-7282.

Dial 911 if there is an immediate threat to human health and safety.

Administered through the Administration for Children and Families’ Office of Community Services within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the LIHEAP funding helps low-income households pay home heating and cooling bills, prevent energy shut-offs, restore services, make minor energy-related home repairs and weatherize homes to make them more energy efficient.

Of the $40.2 million, LIHEAP is funding $38.4million to the state, with $639,111 going to tribes. More than $1.1 million comes from the U.S. Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. “The LIHEAP program is absolutely critical for many low-income Warm Springs residents who face extremely hot summers and cold winters. We are deeply appreciative for this federal assistance for our tribal membership,” Jonathan Smith, Tribal Council chairman of the Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation of Oregon, said.

To apply, visit energyhelp.us or call the National Energy Assistance Referral hotline toll-free at 1-866-674-6327.

CTUIR gets bump in air quality funding MISSION, Ore. — The Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation have secured a portion of federal funds for air quality monitoring that will be shared with Klamath County.

U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley announced in an October release the CTUIR would be receiving $451,250 in Environmental Protection Agency funding.

“These critical investments will be used to help ensure folks in Klamath County and on the Confederated Tribes of Umatilla Indian Reservation have the support and innovation to better monitor and improve air quality,” said Sen. Merkley. “Air pollution often goes unnoticed, but can contribute greatly to chronic health conditions. This funding will help improve health outcomes and quality of life for thousands of Oregonians.”

Mason Murphy, CTUIR's Energy and Environmental Science Program Manager said the funds represent a small increase to their usual air quality funding, and every dollar is put to use.

“This is important to us because we know what is in our air can end up in our water, land, foods, and people. We are happy to have the additional resources to improve our air monitoring abilities,” he said.

According to Murphy, these forthcoming funds will be used to revise their burn management plan and continue the implementation of burn permits.

“We are also developing Quality Assurance Project Plans for new monitors and revising plans for existing air monitors,” Murphy added.

EESP manages a network of air monitors that the community can use to improve access to healthy air when exercising treaty rights in usual and accustomed areas.

Scan and subscribe to the CUJ

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NOVEMBER 2023 • NEWS • CONFEDERATED UMATILLA JOURNAL

DIVIDENDS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

“We altogether found a way to improve the welfare of each and every tribal member during these times of difficulty and uncertainty,” he said. “I believe this is how our tribal government should work and aligns with the spirit of our 1949 Constitution.”

If quickly approved by the federal government, Dan Hester, a longtime contract attorney who works on behalf of the tribe, said it could implement its amended Gaming Revenue Allocation Plan in time to make the first 2024 payment, which is scheduled for February, using the new specifications.

The revenue sharing formula was last adjusted about 15 years ago, and the change would be a major shift in how the tribe dispenses Wildhorse Resort & Casino gaming revenue to tribal members.

Under the new plan, tribal member payments would be drawn from Wildhorse’s overall revenue, which includes sources like the golf course and hotel income, among others, and not just gaming revenue like the previous dividend, or per-capita, payment system did.

It would also boost quarterly payments from 20% under the previous plan, to up to a quarter of the revenue.

While the exact percentage every quarter could fluctuate slightly, depending on factors like projected impacts to tribal programs, as CTUIR Executive Director Don Sampson previously told the CUJ, tribal members regardless will receive much larger payments compared to the previous policy.

That’s because the payouts won’t be taxed anymore. Hester said that means payments will likely be 15% to 25% more than previous ones, on top of the revenue sharing percentage increase.

To qualify for the tax-free payments, tribal members will need to sign a one-page document attesting that the money has been spent on a long list of allowable purchases that includes many everyday expenses.

No other proof, like receipts, will be required. The simple process is required so the tribe can assure the federal government that tribal members, as a whole, are correctly spending the money, Sampson previously said.

Spending must be tracked because the new allocation system moves away from the old per-capita dividend model and instead would fall under the Tribal General Welfare Ex-

clusion Act of 2014, which permits tax-free distributions if they’re used on expenses that meet the “general welfare needs” of the tribe, according to the resolution.

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Tribal members who choose not to go through that certification step will need to complete a Form 1099 when filing federal income taxes to calculate how much they would owe in taxes.

The new quarterly allocation plan would also revise how parents and guardians can spend the money given to minors, giving them greater access to those benefits to better meet minors’ needs.

Parents and guardians would now be able to access $250 of each minor’s quarterly payment, compared to $125 under the previous Gaming Revenue Allocation Plan, Hester said. The remaining amount would still be placed in an account for minors until they turn 18.

CTUIR staff presented the proposal to the General Council on Oct. 19. The General Council approved the tribe’s report on the proposal, suggesting no changes, before being adopted by the BOT Oct. 30.

The General Council vote was unanimous, according to Watchman and General Council Secretary Shawna Gavin.

Watchman said he was relieved that, after a months-long process, General Council members appeared to be pleased with the tribe’s presentation.

Hester said he will soon submit the amended plan to the federal government. It then has 60 days to approve, deny or recommend changes to the proposal.

A looming government shutdown, however, threatens to delay its response to the CTUIR proposal and how soon the tribe could begin paying members using the new plan, he said. Congress has until Nov. 17 to pass legislation to fund the government.

The BOT is tentatively scheduled to determine 2024 payout levels at its Nov. 13 meeting.

Since the new GRAP strategy will be a major policy shift, Watchman said he thinks tribal members would benefit from an outreach campaign to ensure they understand the new system and its requirements.

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LISTENING CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

Sheoships, secretary of the group.

The listening session was co-organized by the Department of Children and Family Services.

“We worked quite a while trying to narrow the questions down,” Sheoships said. “That was hard because everyone has issues they want to bring forward.”

While she said she wasn’t completely “satisfied on all fronts,” with every response to their questions, she said it nonetheless was successful and gave elders “an idea of who was working on what.”

Here are the five questions and a summary of the answers BOT or CTUIR staff provided for each: 1. As elders are mostly retired and living off limited income, paying rising rent costs for the remainder of their lives is not ideal. How can CTUIR elders work toward and/ or maintain home ownership goals under the tribe’s various codes, laws and programs – zoning and inheritance codes, the land buy back-back program and others?

On the federal land buy-back

program: Tribal leaders spent nearly 50 minutes responding to questions about fractionated land, allotments, and federal land buy-back programs.

While there have been some unintended consequences and displeasure over the outcome for some tribal members, it is a federal program that the tribe has little control over, Brigham said.

She said the tribe has raised many of the elders’ concerns with the Bureau of Indian Affairs. And as another round is taking place, Brigham said the tribe is trying to ensure the BIA addresses concerns from the first round.

To resolve some of the negative outcomes, Brigham said the tribe wants to establish a land trade program so the tribe could give tribal members unfractionated land in exchange for their fractionated parcels to allow tribal members more freedom to do things like build a house on their land.

But the tribe faces hurdles at the federal level that need to be addressed first, so establishing a trade program isn’t imminent, she said.

2. With elders heavily dependent on social security, disability, elder stipends, dividends, retirement plans, etc., what plans or pro-

CONFEDERATED UMATILLA JOURNAL • NEWS • NOVEMBER 2023

jections are being considered to expand financial services/assistance for our members’ elder years?

Financial assistance for elders: Sandra Sampson, BOT Treasurer, discussed changes to the Gaming Revenue Allocation Plan (GRAP), which will make payments that will be considered non-taxable income, and how elders will feel the impact of that change in the form of bigger payments.

BOT member Corinne Sams said the proposed change would also benefit tribal members who receive direct services or receive Social Security income, for example, by allowing them to collect dividend payments without affecting access to direct services or Social Security income.

Sampson also touched on suggestions to increase the elder’s pension fund with the changes to the GRAP, saying that it is a topic leaders could look into.

3. There was an elder survey.

Results indicated low interest in an assisted living center and requested more assistance with wood delivery, yard work help, financial assistance for major home repairs, septic systems, wells, handicapping, and renovations. What department/ program would be a driver for these

coordinated services and how likely is this scenario?

On assisted living center: While many elders may prefer to remain in their own homes instead of an assisted living center or related facility, Yellowhawk Tribal Health Center CEO Aaron Hines said it’s still a priority to build one because there are elders who would benefit from it.

“There is a need,” he said, even though it “may not be a need by all of the elders.”

But Hines assured elders that an assisted living facility wouldn’t “take funds away” from other services they value.

He also mentioned a planned elders and veterans housing development. That development is expected to include nine units for each group when finished, as well as space for services and meeting areas.

Regarding the survey results mentioned in the question, BOT Secretary Sally Kosey addressed low survey participation, saying she heard from several elders who didn’t want to fill out the survey but she pressed elders to participate in the future.

“I said, ‘please fill out the survey because we cannot help you if we don’t know what the needs are,’” she CONTINUED NEXT PAGE

More than 50 years ago a case was filed, United States v. Oregon, to address the rights of the four Columbia River Treaty Tribes rights to fish pursuant to their treaties which were under constant attack by the state. The case was filed in 1968 and remained one of the longest running federal district court cases in history until it was “administratively closed” in 2018 though the implementation remains overseen by the court.

To read up on this important case, see this article: https://lawcommons.lclark.edu/faculty_articles/104/

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NOVEMBER 2023 • NEWS • CONFEDERATED UMATILLA JOURNAL said.

Finding the help: Multiple leaders addressed comments or questions about how many elders struggle with navigating the different places they need to turn to for resources or don’t have clear guidelines about who to contact for their needs, whether that’s DCFS, Yellowhawk or another entity.

Danielle Broncheau, Yellowhawk’s new Public Services Coordinator, said she was hired to do that – to help elders find the resources they need, access services or navigate bureaucracies.

She also mentioned a lack of athome caregivers for elders who want to remain in their home and said she’d like to work towards increasing that number by training local community members to do that work.

require a constitutional amendment, Brigham said, with Sampson adding that any proposed changes would also need General Council input.

4. The elders are very interested in the Enrollment study conducted and how these findings may impact the CTUIR. When will these findings be shared and what process will be used to consider change options, if any?

Elder activities and services: Julie Taylor, Department of Children and Family Services Director, said DCFS’s current elder services coordinator is only a part-time position but expects that the next budget will make it a full-time position. “So that might assist a little bit with some of the services that are needed within DCFS.” Taylor then mentioned monthly meetings at the senior center for elders, senior center services, like meals, and then the process for choosing the annual five trips for elders. In addition, she highlighted other benefits, like movie passes and tokens to use downtown at places like the Pendleton Friday farmer’s market.

She also reminded elders to check and make sure they’ve received their energy assistance checks and to remember that they will be receiving money for Thanksgiving turkeys “or whatever you want to buy.”

Taylor also mentioned elder activity options available through Yellowhawk, like yoga and weaving.

The tribe is currently in the process of completing an enrollment study as well as looking at potential enrollment criteria changes, Brigham said.

She said no decisions or options will be made until the results of that study come back – and that the tribe will share the results and conduct public outreach about the results as the tribe determines how to proceed.

The tribe had 3,197 enrolled members, according to data shared with attendees.

“Once we get that study, we will definitely share it with the tribal members because this is going to impact all of us,” Brigham said. “We want our children and our children’s children to be able to say, ‘we are enrolled CTUIR.’” Any enrollment changes would

5. Current elder services are provided through Yellowhawk and Dept. of Children and Family Services. What are the plans and projections for a new senior activity center or consolidated programs, if any?

A new senior center: The tribe knows that the current center needs to be replaced, Brigham said.

She said that the tribe has tried to address that need for a while but doesn’t have any firm plans regarding a new center at the moment.

Still, Brigham said the tribe will continue to “explore funding opportunities” to “get this done as soon as we can.”

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CONFEDERATED UMATILLA JOURNAL • NEWS • NOVEMBER 2023

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Increase in daycare tuition rates too drastic Dear CTUIR Members, We are asking for your support and attendance to the Special General Council Meeting scheduled for Thursday, November 9th at 2:00pm. I would like the Board of Trustees to address the extreme rate increase for the Átaw Miyánašma Learning Center (AMLC) (AKA Tribal Daycare).

In August 2023, families received notice that our daycare tuition rates would be increasing quite drastically. Our son Elijah turned one in September, so I was anticipating his rate decreasing as he advanced out of the Infant Room. I was surprised to find that his rate would be going from $667 to $1,190. That is a 78.4% increase or an increase of $523! Our son Julian is two.

His rate changed from $667 to $1,083.

That is a 62.4% increase or an increase of $416! Even after factoring in the multiple children discount, we are expected to come up with an additional $779 per month for childcare.

We cannot afford this increase. Solutions that we have considered are one of

Together we can discover more cures On September 17, 2023, I had the honor of representing Oregon on Capitol Hill.

Along with roughly 600 of my fellow American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) volunteers from across the country, I traveled to Washington, DC., to urge lawmakers to make cancer a national priority.

Together, we called on Congress to support lifesaving policies that help people prevent and treat cancer. We asked legislators for their support in increasing federal funding for cancer research and prevention, and to support legislation that would waive out-of-pocket costs for individuals with the highest risk of prostate cancer/ create a pathway for Medicare to cover new multi-cancer early detection tests once they are approved by the FDA and proven effective.

I had the opportunity to sit down with Representative Cliff Bentz and tell him that cancer isn’t partisan —it touches every community. I also let him know that rural areas including the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation and many others across the country rely on congress to support legislation. The Burns Paiute Tribe, The Warm Springs Tribe, The Klamath Tribe, are also represented in congress by Rep. Bentz. The Cow Creek Band of Umpqua is also represented

by Rep. Bentz and Rep. Hoyle. Rep. Hoyle

us quit work to care for the children at home, one or both of us get a second job to increase our income, or to seek childcare elsewhere. We both love our jobs and don’t want to quit. For one or both of us to get a second job, that takes away our time to be a family in the evenings and weekends. If we were to seek childcare elsewhere, we would be removing our children from their peers, teachers, community and culture they love, then most likely struggle with finding a safe provider that is accepting children for the days and hours needed.

Our goal for this meeting is to collaboratively come up with solutions for daycare to be an affordable and safe resource for our community and keep families in the workforce.

Your support means the world to us and the families that depend on this tribal service. If you’re able, we are asking that you attend the Special General Council Meeting either in person or via Zoom on Thursday, November 9th at 2:00pm.

Thank you, Denise Wickert & Julian “JD” Gone III, parents to Julian IV & Elijah has already co-sponsored the MCED. Rep Bentz has much respect for the CTUIR. I am requesting the General Council and the Board of Trustees ask that Rep. Bentz co-sponsor the The Nancy Gardner Sewell Medicare Multi-Cancer Early Detection Screening Coverage Act that would ensure Medicare recipients don’t face unacceptable delays in accessing these new tests once they are FDA-approved and proven effective With about 1,670 people dying from cancer daily, our lawmakers must take legislative action on these crucial issues.

Congress should seize the opportunity to pass critical, bipartisan legislation to help save lives and end cancer as we know it, for everyone.

Just before leaving for Washington DC, I was informed that my son’s high school friend had lost a leg due to a cancer. This young man who lives in Pendleton was waiting for results on a lung scan. He has young children. Cancer does not discriminate, it attacks all ages, races, everyone.

I encourage you to jo in us and give us a stronger and louder voice in the fight against cancer. Visit fightcancer.org to be connected to people like me in your community. Together we can discover more cures.

Karen Malcolm, Pendleton, OR Volunteer, American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network and National Lead Advocate award recipient 2023

Watchman addresses expansion of alcohol sales on the UIR

T’ac leeheype oykalo himiyuume kaa laawtiwama (good day relatives and friends).

At the Elders’ listening session held on October 20, 2023, at Wildhorse, Mr. Richard Sam asked a question about the Board’s recent decision to expand alcohol sales on the Umatilla Reservation… specifically at Arrowhead Truck Plaza.

Mr. Sam stated he was unaware of an online survey, nor the results of. This surprised me, as I thought General Council had done a thorough job of advertising, then gathering member Lindsey X. Watchman votes (352 total) and comments (979).

My next charge was to package our polled sentiments, then pass the ball back to the BOT to decide. That to date has occurred.

However, I realized at that moment I had not reported the results to the full membership. I assumed the 100+ members who did attend the October 20th 2022 GC meeting, would spread the news via the good ‘ol moccasin telegraph. It did not. Thus, I must apologize to each of you who have similar sentiments of not being fully informed, for this oversight.

In September 2005, the People by referendum narrowly voted in favor of allowing alcohol sales at Wildhorse properties, thus losing our “dry rez” status. A liquor code was approved, and a set amount of $105,000 a year was to be deposited into a Yellowhawk Substance Abuse Fund, specifically to design an A&D program with treatment and prevention services.

In 2010, the BOT decided itself to start using a percentage (5%) of total sales instead of a set dollar limit. For the 2024 budget, the amount is projected to be north of $167,000. These funds will support the sober transitional house, horse equine program, as well as $30,000 for the BAAD and other youth / family tournaments throughout the year.

Thus, any expansion of alcohol sales today would also increase the amount sent to Yellowhawk.

The 13-question, 8-minute survey was open for seven weeks spanning two General Council meetings, with a final voting opportunity just before closing the polls. The results were then provided LIVE during the October 20, 2022 session.

Respondents could remain anonymous, and separately voted (yes or no) for each location: Arrowhead, Mission Market and Tamástslikt Cultural Institute. A comment box was provided so members could share why they voted so. Over 1,000 written comments were submitted, both for and against expansion, and how the funds should be spent. All comments were sent to the BOT for their consideration. The final results were:

In closing, alcohol is a sensitive and divisive topic for our community, especially with its overwhelmingly [negative] impacts over the years on the health, safety and wellness of every single Tribal Member.

As your current General Council Chairman, it is my responsibility to ensure you are fully engaged and well-informed. Thank you Mr. Sam (whom I respect) for bringing my imprudence to attention, and I apologize for not providing this information to the full membership sooner.

Please feel free to reach out to me at (541) 314-3488 or contact Secretary Shawna Shillal-Gavin for council transcripts, poll results and/or to view member comments.

Yox kalo, Lindsey X. Watchman, General Council Chair

NOVEMBER 2023 • NEWS • CONFEDERATED UMATILLA JOURNAL

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CONFEDERATED UMATILLA JOURNAL • NEWS • NOVEMBER 2023

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CTUIR Board of Trustees Minutes •September 25, 2023 BOT PRESENT: Kat Brigham, BOT Chair; Aaron Ashle y, Vice-C hair; Sally Kosey, Secretary; Toby Patrick, Member; Boots Pond, Member; Lisa Ganuelas,Member; Corinne Sams, Member and Lindsey Watchman, General Council Chairman. Sandy Sampson, BOT Treasurer on travel. Quorum present.

Old Business: Polled Action No. 23-049 Subject: Letter to Mr. Rodmum, Executive Director of White House Council on Native Americans Affairs (WHCNAA) on measures the US can take regarding: Tribal Treaty Rights, reserved rights, and other rights MOTION: Sally Kosey moves to ratify Official Polled Action No. 23-049.

Boots Pond seconds. Discussion. Question. Motion carries. 7-0-0 Next Resolution 23-078: Topic: MOA for BPA McNary Paterson TTAP Project. RESOLVED, that the Board of Trustees hereby approves the attached Memorandum of Agreement among the Confederated Tribes, Bonneville Power Administration, the Washington Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation, and the Oregon State Historic Preservation Officer and authorizes its Chair to execute it on behalf of the Confederated Tribes and to take such further action and execute other documents, if any, that are necessary to carry out the purposes of the Memorandum of Agreement and this Resolution; MOTION: Lindsey Watchman moves to adopt Resolution 23-078 Corrine Sams seconds. Discussion. Question. Motion carries 7-0-0.

Resolution 23-079 Topic: Memorandum of Agreement for the Benton County Red Mountain Telecommunications Tower Facility TCNS#238074, RESOLVED, that the Board of Trustees hereby approves the attached Memorandum of Agreement among the Confederated Tribes, the Federal Communications Commission, the Washington Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation, and the City of Richland on behalf Benton County Emergency Services and authorizes its Chair to execute it on behalf of the Confederated Tribes and to take such further action and execute other documents, if any, that are necessary to carry out the purposes of the Memorandum of Agreement and this Resolution; MOTION: Boots Pond moves to adopt Resolution 23-079. Lisa Ganuelas seconds.

Discussion. Question. Motion carries 7-0-0.

Resolution 23-080 Topic: Workforce Development Department Interim Office Renovations and Improvements. RESOLVED, that the Board of Trustees hereby approves the proposed interior building renovations of $85,000, exterior building renovations of $75,000, and computer and information technology equipment and installation of $100,000 for a total of $260,000, AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Board of Trustees hereby authorizes the amount outlined in Exhibit 1 of $260,000 for the building #131 improvements not to exceed $195,000 of American Rescue Plan Act funds leftover from the Wellness Center Construction and $65,000 of Capital Improvement Funds, AND BE IT FURTHER, RESOLVED, that

NOVEMBER 2023 • NEWS • CONFEDERATED UMATILLA JOURNAL

September 25 continued the Board of Trustees directs the Office of Executive Director to review other sources of funding to be used in place of the American Rescue Plan Act Funds such as the Tribal Vocational Rehabilitation Program for approximately $130,000, Bureau of Indian Affairs Regional carry-over funding, and other such grant sources as available. MOTION: Corinne Sams moves to adopt Resolution 23-080 as amended. Sally Kosey seconds.

Discussion. Question. Motion carries 6 for- (Corinne Sams, Sally Kosey, Lisa Ganuelas, Boots Pond, Aaron Ashley and Toby Patrick) - 0 against - 1 abstaining (Lindsey Watchman).

Other Board Action Items: None BOT Travel or External Meeting Reports- Deferred BOT Leave and Travel Request: Boots Pond, Polled Leave 9/22 from 1 to 4 PM. Corinne Sams (4):Polled leave 9/18 from 2:30-4 Personal leave 10/ 6 from 7:30 AM-4 PM

Travel 10/11-12 from 10 AM-8 PM Portland, OR US V OR Tribal Caucus.

Travel 9/27-29 from 11 AM-4 PM Seattle, WA Keynote Speaker at WA Water Resources Conference.

Kat Brigham, travel to POX 10/1819 for Indigenous Leadership Awards.

Lindsey Watchman (2): Personal leave 9/27 Personal leave October 11 all day.

Lisa Ganuelas, Polled leave 9/11 all day.

Sally Kosey: Personal leave 10/20, 10/27, 11/3, 11/9, 11/17, 11/20, 11/22 all from 7:30-4:00 PM Sandy Sampson (2) Polled leave 9/20 from 1-4 PM Polled leave 9/21 from 10-11:30 AM Travel 9/23-27 from 8 AM-5 PM Seattle, WA Progressive Act Toby Patrick, Polled leave 9/22 all day. MOTION: Boots Pond moves to ratify leave request and travel requests. Lisa Ganuelas seconds.

Discussion. Question. Motion carries 6-0-0.

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CONFEDERATED UMATILLA JOURNAL • NEWS • NOVEMBER 2023

CTUIR Board of Trustees Minutes • October 2, 2023 BOT PRESENT: Kat Brigham, BOT Chair; Aaron Ashley, Vice-Chair; Sally Kosey, Secretary; Toby Patrick, Member; Boots Pond, Member; Lisa Ganuelas, Member; Corinne Sams, Member and Lindsey Watchman, General Council Chairman.

Sandra Sampson, Treasurer on travel status. Quorum present.

Old Business: Polled Action: No. 23-051 Subject: ATNI Sponsorship.

MOTION: Corinne Sams moves to ratify Polled Action 23-051 with amendment to amount being $2,500. Boots Pond seconds. Discussion. Question. Motion carries 7-0-0.

New Business Proposed Resolutions: 23-081 Topic: 2023 Forest Management Deductions Expenditures Plans, RESOLVED, that the Board of Trustees hereby approves the 2023 Forest Management Deductions Expenditure Plan, attached as Exhibit 1, and authorizes the reimbursement of these funds into Tribal accounts so that they will be available for expenditure by the Department of Natural Resources, Range, Agriculture and Forestry Program. MOTION: Boots

Pond moves to adopt Resolution 23-081. Corinne Sams seconds. Discussion. Question. Motion carries 7-0-0.

Resolution 23-082: Topic: Environmental Health and Safety Mitigation Plans, RESOLVED, that the Board of Trustees appropriates the amounts in Exhibit 1C from the Contingency Fund to facilitate the implementation of mitigation plans for certain properties with Environmental Health and Safety Violations which will include agreements for remaining in compliance with the solid waste section of Environmental Health and Safety Code in exchange for assistance with cleanups; MOTION: Boots Pond moves to adopt Resolution 23-082.

Corinne Sams seconds. Discussion.

Question. Motion carries 7-0-0.

Resolution 23-083: Topic: Sanitary Deficiency System Priorities, RESOLVED, that the Board of Trustees hereby approves the Sanitary Deficiency System Priorities list for submission to the Indian Health Service for the Fiscal Year 2024, attached as Exhibit 1; AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Board of

Trustees authorizes its Public Works Department to submit this resolution and Exhibit 1 to the Indian Health Service Yakima Field Office engineer as support documentation for the Fiscal Year 2024 priorities, AND BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that the Board of Trustees hereby authorizes it's Chair and Executive Director to execute documents and take further action as necessary to carry out the purpose of this Resolution; MOTION: Boots Pond moves to adopt Resolution 23-083.

Aaron Ashley seconds. Discussion.

Question. Motion carries 6 for (Boots Pond, Aaron Ashley, Lindsey Watchman, Sally Kosey, Toby Patrick and Corinne Sams) - 0 against - 1 abstaining (Lisa Ganuelas).

Resolution 23-084: Topic: Horse Heaven Clean Energy Center Confidential Mitigation Agreement; RESOLVED, that the Board of Trustees hereby approves the attached Confidential Mitigation Agreement between the Confederated Tribes and Horse Heaven Wind Farm, LLC and authorizes its Chair to execute it on behalf of the Confederated Tribes and to take such further ac-

tion and execute other documents, if any, that are necessary to carry out the purposes of the Confidential Mitigation Agreement and this Resolution; MOTION: Corinne Sams moves to adopt Resolution 23-084.

Lisa Ganuelas seconds. Discussion.

Question. Motion carries 7-0-0.

Resolution 23-085: Topic: Renewal 477 Program Plan; RESOLVED, that the Board of Trustees hereby approves the 477 Program Plan attached to this Resolution at Exhibit 1 and authorizes its Executive Director to submit the 477 Program Plan, or one containing substantially similar terms, for Federal approval as may be required by applicable law, and to take such further action and execute documents that may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this Resolution; AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Board of Trustees authorizes the Executive Director to submit future 477 Program Plans so long as they contain substantially similar terms to the 477 Program Plan for FY2024-2026, for Federal approval as may be required by applicable law, and to take such further action

17

NOVEMBER 2023 • NEWS • CONFEDERATED UMATILLA JOURNAL

October 2 continued and execute documents that may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this Resolution; MOTION: Corinne Sams moves to adopt Resolution 23-085. Boots Pond seconds. Discussion. Question. Motion carries 7-0-0.

Resolution 23-086: Topic: Real Estate Contract of Sale for Wagner Property; RESOLVED, that the Board of Trustees hereby approves the purchase of the property owned by Paula Wagner (Wagner Property) pursuant to the terms set forth in the letter attached to this Resolution as Exhibit IC; AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Board of Trustees authorizes its Chair to execute a Real Estate Contract of Sale for the purchase of the Wagner Property provided that the Contract terms are consistent with the terms in the attached letter, and to take such further action and execute documents that may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this Resolution; AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Board of Trustees hereby appropriates from the Land Acquisition Fund the amount set forth in the attached letter to pay the purchase

price for the Wagner Property and related expenses associated with the closing of the Real Estate Contract of Sale transaction; AND BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that the Board of Trustees directs that the Department of Economic Development shall (a) manage the Wagner Property, (b) file the application to transfer the Wagner Property into trust as soon as practical, and (c) use all revenues generated by the assigned Conservation Reserve Program contracts for the Wagner Property to pay any taxes or operation and maintenance expenses associated with the Wagner Property; MOTION: Aaron Ashley moves to adopt Resolution 23-086 as amended to add timeline of quarterly reports. Lindsey Watchman seconds. Discussion. Question.

Motion carries 7-0-0.

Other Board Action Items: Commission & Committee Update by Sally Kosey, BOT Secretary.

Terms Expiring: Brandon Treloar, Fish and Wildlife Commission term ends November 5, 2023. Term letter will be sent October 2, 2023.

Aaron Jackson, Land Acquisition Committee term ends November

6, 2023. Joann Malamaleumu, Tiicham Conservation District term ends November 29, 2023. Louisa Allman and John Turner, Wildhorse Foundation term ends November 29, 2023. MOTION: Sally Kosey moves to remove Matilda Hoisington as the Alternative Member of Land Protection Planning Commission for failure to take her oath of office since appointed on June 12, 2023, and readvertise position for October. Boots Pond seconds. Discussion. Question. Motion carries 6 for (Sally Kosey, Boots Pond, Lisa Ganuelas, Toby Patrick and Corinne Sams)-0 against- I abstaining (Lindsey Watchman) MOTION: Aaron Ashley moves to advertise for the following positions, Toby Patrick seconds. Discussion. Question. Motion carries 7-0-0.

1 position for Fish and Wildlife Commission: 1 position for Land Acquisition Committee 1 position (alt) for Land Protection Planning Commission 1 position for Tiicham Conservation District 1 position for Wildhorse Founda-

tion.

Will advertise the following positions on the public notice: 1 for CTUIR Culture Coalition, to fill a remaining term ending May 3, 2024, meets as needed.

1 for Election Commission, to fill a remaining term ending March 21, 2026.

1 for Enrollment, meets the 2nd Thursday or as needed at 2:30 PM. 1 for Fish & Wildlife Commission, meets 2nd and 4th Tuesdays at 9:00 AM. 1 for Health Commission, meets 2nd and 4th Tuesdays at 3:30 PM at Yellowhawk.

1 for Land Acquisition Committee, meets 1st and 3rd Tuesdays at 9:00 AM at NOC. 1 Alternate Position for Land Protection Planning Commission meets 2nd and 4th Tuesdays at 9:00 AM. 1 for Tiicham Conservation District, meets 2nd and 4th Tuesdays 1-2:30 PM at NOC. 2 for TERO Committee, to fill two remaining terms ending November of 2023, meets 1st and 3rd Tuesday at 1:30 PM. 1 for Wildhorse Foundation, to fill two 2 year terms, meets Quarterly.

18

CONFEDERATED UMATILLA JOURNAL • NEWS • NOVEMBER 2023 Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation

46411 Timine Way | Pendleton, OR 97801

General Council

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

General Council Draft Agenda Nov. 16, 2023 - 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 - October 19, 2023; November 4, 2023

6.

Old Business

7.

New Business

a. General Council Chair ANnual Report

Lindsey X. Watchman, General Council Chairman

b. Housing Rental Income Uses Marcus Luke II, Housing Department Director

8.

Open Mic 9.

Announcements/Notes 10.

Adjournment Only enrolled CTUIR Tribal Members permitted to attend. Contact GC Secretary Shawna Gavin at shawnagavin@ctuir.org for zoom meeting ID & passcode

October 2 continued Applications due Tues. Oct. 17 by 4 PM and a BOT work session is scheduled for Thurs. Oct. 19 at 8:30 AM to review applications.

Appointments will be made Mon. Oct. 30.

BOT Travel or External Meeting Reports: Corinne Sams, 9/5-6 to Troutdale re: meeting with NGS's on Strategic partnering for Columbia/Snake restoration efforts.

Corinne Sams, 9/9-14 to Washington, DC re: CRITFC delegation.

Kat Brigham (10 reports): 7/25-26, Portland for 6 Sovereigns meeting.

8/14-16, Seven Feathers Casino for LCIS meeting. 8/9, Walla Walla to give presentation to WEDA. 8/18, Zoom meeting with NPTEC Chair Wheeler about a Tribal Summit.

8/21, Zoom ATNI Executive Board meeting.

8/24, WRC Traditions for breakfast meeting with Se. Merkley.

8/24, Zoom meeting WHCNA.

9/11, even Feathers Casino for 9 OR Tribes meeting. 9/17-31, Great Wolf Lodge for ATNI Convention.

9/25, Zoom re: IRS prevailing wage and apprenticeship. Kat declared gifts received at conferences. MOTION: Sally Kosey moves to approve 12 travel reports. Boots Pond seconds. Discussion. Question. Motion carries 7-0-0.

BOT Leave and Travel Request: Aaron Ashley, personal leave on 9/22 all day.

Aaron Ashley, personal leave 9/28 from 1 to 4 PM. Kat Brigham polled personal leave from 2-4 PM on 9/26. Sally Kosey, personnel leave all day on 10/12.

Sally Kosey, personal leave all day on9/27.

Toby Patrick, polled personal; leave from 11 AM to 4 PM on 9/29 MOTION: Aaron Ashley moves to approve leave requests. Corinne Sams seconds. Discussion. Question. Motion carries 7-0-0.

19

NOVEMBER 2023 • NEWS • CONFEDERATED UMATILLA JOURNAL

CTUIR Board of Trustees Minutes • October 16, 2023 BOT PRESENT: Kat Brigham, BOT Chair; Aaron Ashley, Vice-Chair; Sandra Sampson, Treasurer; Sally Kosey, Secretary; Lisa Ganuelas, Member (via Zoom); Toby Patrick, Member; Boots Pond, Member; Corinne Sams, Member and Lindsey Watchman, General Council Chairman. Full quorum present.

Old Business: Polled Action: Polled Action No. 23-050 Subject: Support Letter to Wells Fargo Bank. MOTION: Lindsey Watchman moves to ratify Polled Action 23050. Boots Pond seconds. Discussion. Question. Motion carries 7 for (Lindsey Watchman, Boots Pond, Lisa Ganuelas, Sally Kosey, Toby Patrick and Sandra Sampson – 0 against - 1 (Aaron Ashley).

Polled Action No. 23-051 Subject: ATNI sponsorship was ratified at the Oct 2 BOT Meeting.

[This was approved at the 10/2 BOT Meeting].

Polled Action No. 23-052 Subject: Letter to Cayuse Holding LLC Board of Director Chair regarding defaults from Wells Fargo Bank.

MOTION: Boots Pond moves

to ratify Polled Action 23-052.

Corinne Sams seconds. Discussion.

Question. Motion carries 7 for (Boots Pond, Corinne Sams, Lindsey Watchman, Aaron Ashley, Toby Patrick, and Sandra Sampson – 0 against, 1 abstaining (Lisa Ganuelas).

Polled Action No. 23-053 Subject: Letter supporting historic opportunity to save NW Salmon.

MOTION: Corinne Sams moves to ratify Polled Action 23-053. Aaron Ashley seconds. Discussion. Question. Motion carries 8-0-0.

New Business: Proposed Resolutions: Next resolution number is 23-087: None Other Board Action Items: None BOT Leave and Travel Repots: Lisa Ganuelas, Aug. 8-9, Zoom on The Settlement of Indian Reserved Water Rights.

Sally Kosey, 9/17-22 attended ATNI Convention at Portland.

Sandra Sampson, 10/2-3 attended OHP Board meeting Retreat at Bend.

Toby Patrick, meet and greet with

Sen. Anderson at Glenden Beach.

MOTION: Sally Kosey moves to approve the four travel reports.

Lisa Ganuelas seconds. Discussion.

Question. Motion carries 8-0-0.

BOT Leave and Travel or Outside Meeting Request: Aaron Ashley, personal leave on 11/14 and birthday leave on 11/15.

Aaron Ashley, travel 10/31 to 11/3 to attend Rise Up NW In Unity at Tulalip, WA - rescinded request.

Boots Pond, polled personal leave 10/13 from 1-4 PM. Boots Pond, polled personal leave 10/10 from 1-4 PM. Corrine Sams polled personal leave 10/4 from 2-4 PM. Kat Brigham, polled personal leave 10/10 1-4 PM. Kat Brigham, polled personal leave 10/11 7:30-8 AM. Kat Brigham, travel 10/29 dept at 1 PM to ret. 1 PM on 11/1 at Lucky Eagle Casino Resort to attend WA Accord meeting Lindsey Watchman, personal leave 10/13 from 2-4 PM. Lindsey Watchman, polled travel to Ashland to attend SOU event paid by host.

Lisa Ganuelas, personal leave 10/26-27.

Lisa Ganuelas, polled personal leave on 10/13.

Sandra Sampson (3): Personal leave, 10/26 dept. 1 PM and all day 10/27.

Virtual meeting, SGAG Title 4 Amendments Implementation Work Group,11/6 from 10 AM to 2 PM Virtual meeting, SGAC Title 4 Amendments Implementation Work Group, 11/21 at 6 am & 11/23 @ 2PM MOTION: Boots Pond moves to approve and ratify the 13 leave requests. Sally Kosey seconds. Discussion. Question. Motion carries 8-0-0.

Scan the QR with your smart phone camera to see the Board of Trustees work calendar

20

CONFEDERATED UMATILLA JOURNAL • NEWS • NOVEMBER 2023

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NOVEMBER 2023 • COMMUNITY & SPORTS • CONFEDERATED UMATILLA JOURNAL Confederated Umatilla Journal

VOLUME 31 • ISSUE 11

SECTION B TERO program provides skilled trades training for tribal members, PAGE 13

COMMUNITY & SPORTS

The monthly newspaper of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation

Inaugural CTUIR career fair deemed a success

By LISA SNELL Editor

Annie Smith, representing Blue Mountain Community College, answers questions from area students Thursday, Oct. 12, at the Nixyaawii Governance Center during the tribes’ first career fair.

MISSION, Ore. — It was a hectic morning at the Nixyaawii Governance Center Oct. 12. The rotunda was buzzing with activity as tables were moved into place, covered, and decked with fliers, pamphlets and departmental swag.

Elaborate displays were assembled, chairs were moved and dishes were filled with candy and treats. Slowly, the scrapes, thuds and clanks of assembly gave way to voices chatting, laughing, and asking. The inaugural Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation Career Fair was open for business and area youth were streaming through the front doors.

“I believe that there are programs and departments within the tribe that students and some of our community members just don’t know exist,” Jordan Bronson, Human Resources Generalist and fair organizer, said. “This was an opportunity to showcase our departments, what services they offer, and let people know what type of jobs they actually do.”

Regardless of whether a department had job openings, FAIR CONTINUED PAGE 9

Done with ‘Native inspired’ Fashion show brings real deal to UIR

By CHRIS AADLAND Reporter MISSION, Ore. — Indigenous designers and models hit the runway Oct. 4 on the Umatilla Indian Reservation in an all-Native night of glitz and glamour.

For the second year, the Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians Economic Development Corporation and Nixyaawii Community Financial Services hosted the Northwest Native Fashion Show at Wildhorse Resort & Casino as part of a larger economic development conference.

The night’s demonstration of high fashion was part of the 2023 Northwest Economic Summit, which included several days of presentations, networking opportunities and discussions around topics like increasing regenerative agriculture practices on tribal lands, workforce train-

ing needs, tribal energy development and small business development. The summit started on Tuesday and concluded Friday.

About 300 people attended the event – an economic development tool disguised as a fashion show – to cheer Indigenous models who showed off outfits, jewelry and accessories created by Native designers. Backstage, Indigenous makeup artists and hair stylists ensured the models looked stunning.

Several Native vendors also set up tables to sell their hand-made products, which included jewelry, skin care and essential oil-based products, at the show.

In addition to seeing how traditional Indigenous art could be fashionably incorporated into modern designs, attendees had the opportunity to buy the outfits FASHION CONTINUED PAGE 8

For the second year, the Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians Economic Development Corporation and Nixyaawii Community Financial Services hosted the Northwest Native Fashion Show at Wildhorse Resort & Casino as part of a larger economic development conference. PHOTO BY LEE GAVIN

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CONFEDERATED UMATILLA JOURNAL • COMMUNITY & SPORTS • NOVEMBER 2023

Paradise joins national energy non-profit

By LISA SNELL Editor MISSION, Ore. — The Alliance for Tribal Clean Energy (ATCE), an Indigenous-led nonprofit that supports the self-determined efforts of Native American tribes to transition to a clean energy future, has selected Monica Paradise, a project manager for the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, to join their team of experts in the field of renewable energy. The team offers guidance and support for energy planning, grant writing, project development, financing, legal and tax matters to tribes transitioning away from extractive and exploitive energy systems to a clean and regenerative energy future.

“ATCE recognizes that Native women such as Monica have the ability to be a pivotal point in tribal communities, balancing the knowledge and education to meet the industry standards yet possessing Native values that can further the tribe’s stakeholder engagement for communities’ acceptance of renewable energy,” said David Harper, ATCE Head of Tribal Engagement, in a statement.

Paradise currently serves the CTUIR as a business development and tax project manager. She is responsible for recruit- Monica Paradise ing businesses to the Coyote Business Park, as well as coordinating with several CTUIR departments and programs on the deployment and infrastructure of renewable energy projects to ensure the protection and preservation of valuable cultural resources while building sustainable renewable energy resources.

“The chance to work with ATCE while maintaining my position with the CTUIR aligns well for the tribe. I can go out to other communities and learn about what they are working on, the challenges, and successes. I can also help connect resources to tribes and my own tribe,” she said.

Paradise said she is gratified by the

opportunity to help tribes do what they need to achieve their energy goals and “carve out exactly what that looks like to them.”

“Of course, I have my economic and community development hat on too.

I’m happy tribes get the opportunity to have other funding flowing aside from gaming. This then helps tribes offer more essential services to their communities and appropriate funds to start building reliable and state-of-the-art infrastructure,” she said.

Most of all, she said, she is excited to be the boots on the ground, relaying messages of what she’s experienced and heard from tribal communities to ATCE leadership to take to Washington D.C. “I have always had it in my heart to be a leader and advocate for my people, Native people and Indigenous people. I am supporting each tribe to do exactly what they want and need to achieve their goals. I’m ecstatic,” Paradise said.

ATCE provides assistance to tribes through a curated network of preferred energy service providers and developers who are carefully vetted by a Native-led committee of energy experts.

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Pendleton Schools add Umatilla language signage

By CHRIS AADLAND Reporter PENDLETON, Ore. — Pendleton Early Learning Center visitors, staff and students will now be greeted by two signs affixed to the building’s exterior near the main public entrance: one in English and one in Umatilla.

“Hello Little Bucks” or “Welcome Little Bucks,” the Umatilla sign to the right of the main school sign, translates to in English.

Inside, a large graphic sign affixed to a wall greets those who enter with the silhouette of a former district student and a positive message about “Boys with Braids,” while smaller placards near the entrances of common areas – the cafeteria, library, office, bathrooms – note the room names in English and Umatilla.

The Umatilla language signs at the PELC, which houses the district’s kindergarten and pre-k programs, is part of a larger Pendleton School District project to celebrate the heritage of the district’s Indigenous students and educate other students and the community about the area’s Native history and culture by installing interior and exterior signage at three of its schools.

Sign installation began over the summer, with the project essentially wrapping up on Oct. 23 with the installation of the exterior welcome sign at the PELC. “I would hope that it shows our support for

the Native language, for the local history, for the culture,” Matt Yoshioka, the district’s Director of Curriculum, Instruction & Assessment, said. “But also, hopefully, it inspires some kids, some of our students, to have a desire to learn the language.”

When Washington Elementary School was built, some basic signage in Umatilla to mark the entrance of common areas was included in the construction to be “more welcoming” and “culturally responsive” to its large Indigenous student population, he said.

But Yoshioka said the district has wanted to do more, especially by having more culturally relevant or insightful signs, throughout the district.

So, the district decided to expand that initial small sign project using money from a state grant awarded about a year ago to help Native students and families navigate the public school system, Yoshioka said. The money allowed the district to place interior and exterior signage like the PELC’s at two other schools in the district – Sunridge Middle School and Washington Elementary School.

The district has also bought two more “Boys with Braids” signs that will be placed at McKay Creek Elementary, Sherwood Heights Elementary and Pendleton High School. The silhouette used in the sign’s graphic is of a CTUIR tribal member and former student at Washington Elementary and Sunridge Middle School.

The three schools with Umatilla language signs were chosen because they have the higher percent-

Perry Jennings, of Creative Designs, works on attaching letters to the outside of the Pendleton Early Learning Center on Oct. 23. PHOTO BY CHRIS AADLAND

ages of tribal students in the district, which overall is made up of about 20% Indigenous students, Yoshioka said.

Inside the PELC’s library, on one of the walls, is another one of the project’s outcomes. On the wall, a giant quote -- Miyánašma pawá átaw ayáyat timnáii ku pxwít, which translates to, “All Children are precious with good hearts and minds” in English – is painted in giant letters high up on the wall.

Umatilla Language Master Speaker Mildred Quaempts was responsible for choosing the quote.

She said in a district blog post she chose it because the quote reflected a lesson she was taught by her elders to always tell children to have good SIGNS CONTINUED PAGE 8

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CONFEDERATED UMATILLA JOURNAL • COMMUNITY & SPORTS • NOVEMBER 2023

NOVEMBER 2023 • COMMUNITY & SPORTS • CONFEDERATED UMATILLA JOURNAL

Bryson Redcrane #75

5

Sunhawk Thomas #76

Sports Round Up

By DALLAS DICK

Pendleton Bucks Senior Night The Pendleton Bucks hosted the Baker City Bulldogs to vie for the conference title Friday, Oct. 27, at Round Up stadium. The Bulldogs upset the Bucks 42-34.

The Bucks ranked going into the playoffs, and will play again, Friday, Nov. 3, in Klamath Falls against the No. 7 ranked Mazama Vikings.

Sky Smith #74

NCS hosted Pilot Rock at the Eagle’s Nest Oct. 6

Ella Stewart spikes the ball against the Pilot Rock Rockets Oct 6.

The Round Up City Racers competed in their final cross country meet of the season Oct. 10 in McKay Park.

Showing off their medals from left to right are: Jedi Schimmel, Sis Moses, Aamina Schimmel, Nila Mayfeild, Nicholi Mayfeild, and Thunder BadWarrior. PHOTOS BY DALLAS DICK

6

CONFEDERATED UMATILLA JOURNAL • COMMUNITY & SPORTS • NOVEMBER 2023

Freshman Sun Schimmel leads the pack in the FootRace to Valhalla Cross Country Meet. PHOTO BY SAMMANTHA McCLOUD

Golden Eagles XC top several personal bests

By SAMMANTHA McCLOUD Reporter PENDLETON, Ore. — Nixyaawii’s cross country team wrapped up a rewarding season during the District III Championships at Pendleton Community Park Oct. 27.

“I was extremely excited to see the kids finish the season out at Districts.

Almost every single one of our runners that competed, ran a personal best,” said Head Coach Weyekin Wildbill Sun Schimmel led the Golden Eagles with his fastest race of the season.

Schimmel ran an 18:22.9 - shaving more than a minute off his previous personal record. He placed 19th out of 66 runners. This accomplishment puts Schimmel second on Nixyaawii Community School’s all time 5,000 meter men’s school record.

Schimmel said he has been dreaming of being close to the record, which is held by his older brother Mick Schimmel, and he hopes to keep improving

because he wants to beat his brother’s record next year.

Following Schimmel, was Junior Sacas Wildbill with a new personal best of his own of 19:35.3.

Freshman Wyatt Withers coming off being ill ran 22:01.8 and Junior Ellis Ashley ran a new personal record of 22.16.7.

Ashley improved by more than five minutes since his first race of the season.

Emery McConnell, who ran in the Junior Varsity race, ran a personal best of 24:12, beating his previous best of 27:27.

Two freshman girls ran in the district varsity race, Emma Star-Nez finished with a time of 24:31 and Rosaella Salt finished with a time of 26:16, both new personal records for them.

“This season was highly rewarding, not only for me but for the kids that have been training hard to reach their goals for the season. I’m looking forward for the next season as we’ll have all our runners returning. I believe this could be the start of a bright future for Nixyaawii Cross Country,” Wildbill said.

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NOVEMBER 2023 • COMMUNITY & SPORTS • CONFEDERATED UMATILLA JOURNAL

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CONFEDERATED UMATILLA JOURNAL • COMMUNITY & SPORTS • NOVEMBER 2023

FASHION CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

and accessories from the show and mingle with the participants.

“We’re done with ‘Native-inspired,’” Jacob Wallis, fashion show co-emcee and business services manager for NCFS, said during the event.

Many of the designers and models were from the region and included Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation tribal members and other citizens of

SIGNS

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3

minds, hearts, and to be respectful and honorable. She wanted to let the students know that “children are precious, loved, they are awesome, valued, innocent and they are strong. And I like to hear what they have to say.”

Language class offerings at the PELC and the signage project at the three schools isn’t all the

Columbia Plateau tribes, with some participants and attendees coming from across Indian Country, some from as far away as Arizona and Minnesota.

The theme, “Revolvelution: Innovation through mindful creation and destruction,” provides a clue to why a fashion show was connected to a tribal economic development conference.

The purpose of the show, according to organizers, was to highlight the work of Indigenous designers -who may be doing the work as a side hustle – by recognizing their work, helping them grow their

business, and providing exposure for their creations. This is especially important now as “Native-inspired” products and art often created and sold by non-Native people are growing in popularity, Wallis said.

“We have this pipeline of creatives that just needed a platform and it was as simple as that,” Wallis said.

Wallis, who developed the show alongside Casey Pearlman, the show’s other co-emcee and the director of business development at the Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians Economic Development Corporation, said the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive.

district has done to recognize the area’s Indigenous history and to support its Native students.

Pendleton High School has its own Native language program and the district is working to incorporate more Native American art and lessons in its high school art classes, as well as trying to get another Native artist-created mural and art classes at Sherwood Elementary, Yoshioka said.

In addition, the Walk to Language Program – the Umatilla

language classes – has expanded to first and second grades.

“Our kids understanding the local history and culture is super important,” Yoshioka said.

The district would like to expand its signage project to other schools in the future, Yoshioka said. He also said they’d like to place QR codes next to the installations so people can use their phones to scan the code and pull up videos of the word or phrase being spoken, or other information, like definitions.

UTPD welcomes new officer to UIR

The Umatilla Tribal Police Department (UTPD) welcomes its newest officer, Daniel Foreman.

Foreman was hired as a Police Officer Oct. 16.

He was born in LaGrande but spent most of his life in Pendleton.

He is a graduate of Pendleton High School Officer Daniel Forman where he was involved in many different activities, including athletics, band and Future Farmers of America.

Prior to being hired with the UTPD, Foreman was employed with the Umatilla County Sheriff ’s Office as a Deputy Sheriff in the corrections division. During his time with UCSO, he gained knowledge, experience and insight in law enforcement.

Foreman says he enjoys spending free time with his family as well as training and instructing Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu courses in town.

“I look forward to being able to serve this great community and am beyond thrilled at the opportunity to join this team,” Foreman said.

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FAIR

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

they were given the chance to talk up their programs and share the role they play in the operation of the CTUIR governmental organization.

“I feel we had a really good turnout,” said Teara Farrow Ferman, Cultural Resources Protection Program Manager. “I had a conversation with a younger adult tribal member who asked me what I did for the tribe. I explained the work of the Cultural Resources Protection Program and what I did. She seemed excited to learn and didn’t know the tribe did that type of work.”

That was exactly what Bronson wanted for the fair – a forum for sharing information as well as promoting the various job opportunities that can arise within the tribe.

“That was a huge thing that I stressed to departments, that even if they didn’t have any current job openings, they still have the opportunity to showcase their department and what they do. Like the Department of Natural Resources, for example. I think a lot of people don’t even know that there’s over 12 programs in that department. Some kids seemed to think all they do is work with fish, but there’s much more to it. There are jobs

Jordan Bronson, CTUIR Human Resources Generalist, welcomes students and community members to the inaugural career fair held Thursday, Oct. 12, at the Nixyaawii Governance Center.

from administrative assistant, to biologist, to soil conservation to archaeologists.

So just knowing that level of expertise and the level of service that they give the CTUIR is big,” Bronson said.

Dara Williams Worden, the Confederated Tribes’ Oral History and Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) Assistant, was happy to tell students about training opportunities and encouraged students to apply for the Summer Youth program.

“One of the better questions I was

asked was how I got into this field. So, I explained to them about Salmon Corps and having on the job training. I also suggested that when it comes to filling out their Summer Youth application, they include Cultural Resources and maybe they could get placed with us,” Williams Worden said.

Also on hand was Blue Mountain Community College and Whitman College.

Christina Grace-Thomas, a Pendleton school district teacher, brought two classes of sophomores and seniors through.

“Both of my classes enjoyed the experience. My success 101 class liked the variety of opportunities the tribe had to offer, and my seniors appreciated the colleges present to ask questions. The Unmanned Aircraft System was a hit for both classes,” she said.

Bronson said she is looking forward to making the career fair an annual event and continuing to promote the tribal employment assistance programs that are available.

“Whether it’s gaining education, or receiving that GED or diploma, help with insurance requirements, or just assistance with filling out applications and gathering paperwork - those are services that we provide, and a lot of people don’t know about them,” she said.

“I was extremely happy with the turnout. We had 11 departments and three

9

colleges participate. I love my job, and I’m very passionate about helping our community and our tribal members get jobs. It was just so cool to see the students come around and they were actually engaged and talking. They were so interested in things and they would come up like, ‘Okay, what do you do?’” Bronson said.

“It was nice. You know, it was stressful for everybody. But at the end of the day, it was well worth it.”

CTUIR Human Resources Staffing Manager Jue-Jue Withers-Lyons said she was pleased with the attendance and excited about incorporating the things they learned from this initial experience to create a bigger and better fair next year, and years to come.

“It was an amazing opportunity for our departments, programs, colleges, and universities to showcase and demonstrate to the youth and our community what it is they have to offer. Keep an eye out for information on the 2024 Career Fair,” she said.

To learn more about tribal employment assistance programs, call 541-429-7180 or email HumanResources@ctuir.org.

Scan the QR with your smart phone camera for more information and jobs at the CTUIR.

10

CONFEDERATED UMATILLA JOURNAL • COMMUNITY & SPORTS • NOVEMBER 2023

USDA announces 2024 tribal scholarships, fellowships

Whitman College is hosting the inaugural Pášx̣apa Powwow in partnership with the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR) and Walla Walla Community College. The powwow will bring the beautiful culture of the CTUIR and other local Tribes to campus in a celebration of singing, drumming and dancing.

Saturday, November 18 Sherwood Athletic Center Gymnasium Welcome begins at Noon Grand entries take place at 1 p.m. and 6 p.m.

The Pášx̣apa Powwow is free and open to the public.

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WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Agriculture on Friday, Oct. 20, announced two tribal higher education opportunities to train the next generation of agricultural professionals and strengthen ties with tribal higher education institutions.

According to a USDA release, the USDA 1994 Tribal Scholars Program offers a fast-track career path with USDA, and the Terra Preta do Indio Tribal Faculty Fellowship engages tribal college faculty with USDA resources and research.

The two programs reflect the USDA’s commitment to advance equity and remove barriers to service for tribal nations and encourage tribal workforce development, the release states.

“Tribal land-grant colleges are central to empowering a workforce that better reflects our clients in agriculture, nutrition, food, development — and at USDA,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. “USDA is committed to making USDA programs and services more accessible to tribal colleges and universities and their students and faculty.”

The USDA 1994 Tribal Scholars Program provides full tuition, fees, books, a housing stipend and paid workforce training to any interested and eligible student pursuing degrees in agriculture, food, natural resource sciences, or related academic disciplines at a tribal college or university, the release states. It also states the tuition coverage can follow the student from a two-year associate program at a tribal college or university to a four-year bachelor’s degree program at a TCU or another land-grant institution.

“When the student has completed the scholarship requirements, including a paid internship, USDA may convert the student to a per-

manent USDA employee without further competition,” the release states. “Eligible applicants include graduating high school seniors, fulltime students currently enrolled at a 1994 land-grant tribal college or university, or recent TCU associate degree graduates” For fiscal year 2024, 27 scholarship slots are available at Agriculture Research Service, Farm Service Agency, Farm Production and Conservation, Forest Service, National Institute of Food and Agriculture, and Natural Resources Conservation Service.

The application deadline is Dec. 1.

Visit the USDA 1994 Tribal Scholars Program or email 1994@usda.gov for information.

The Terra Preta do Indio Tribal Faculty Fellowship Program seeks to strengthen TCU research capacity and introduce TCU faculty and staff to USDA programs and services, according to the release.

In June 2024, the faculty fellows will spend a week in Washington, D.C., to meet with USDA program leads, identify areas for collaboration and learn more about USDA resources, the release states. It also states during a second week, the fellows are placed at a USDA research facility that aligns with their academic research interests.

This year’s research collaborations will take place with USDA’s Agricultural Research Service, Forest Service and the National Institute of Food and Agriculture.

The application deadline is Dec. 1.

Scan the QR with your smart phone camera to learn more at the USDA Tribal College Program website.

NOVEMBER 2023 • COMMUNITY & SPORTS • CONFEDERATED UMATILLA JOURNAL

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CTUIR Education Director accepts new challenge at PSU

By LISA SNELL Editor MISSION, Ore. — After serving the tribes for more than 17 years, Modesta Minthorn has left for Portland.

Minthorn, the now former Education Director for the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, recently accepted a flagship position with Portland State University. She joins PSU this month as their inaugural Tribal Liaison.

“I am honored to be chosen for this position,” Minthorn said. “I am excited to begin this new journey at Portland State University and begin building a strong foundation between tribes, tribal communities and PSU.” In Minthorn’s new role, she will be charged with building relationships with tribal nations, communities, and peoples in Oregon and in the greater Pacific Northwest area. According to a PSU statement, she will also be working closely with campus leaders and groups, such as the Indigenous Nations Studies Department and the Institute for Tribal Government.

Together with PSU President Ann Cudd, Minthorn will be looking to “maximize opportunities to engage

Modesta Minthorn

with regional tribes” and herself be a support for the university’s Indigenous students.

“I am proud of the progress we have made as a university community toward fulfilling our responsibility to build authentic relationships with our Indigenous community members and support the thriving of Native students,” Cudd said. “But I also know there is more to be done and we all have much to learn from our tribal neighbors. My hope is that this new position helps PSU continue on this path in celebrating and supporting our Indigenous community.”

Minthorn completed a Master of Arts degree in Linguistics, Phonology and Sahaptian Languages from the University of Oregon in 2005, with a focus on the Umatilla language. She had every intention of coming home to the reservation and working in the language program. But, there wasn’t a job to be had at the time.

“I’ve had a really weird, weird trip with the tribe,” she said laughingly.

The lack of a job opening meant she had to improvise, so her career path wasn’t a conventional one. It began, more or less, with an old basketball injury and a coincidental meeting that effectively deep-sixed her backup plan Peace Corps application and derailed her secondary dream of living on a South Pacific Island.

“I had joined the Peace Corps. I went through all the interviews, everything. It’s a lengthy process to get into the Peace Corps,” Minthorn said.

“I was getting ready to be sent to one of the islands in the South Pacific, to help Natives there with a nonprofit to sell their art. My last step was, I had to come home and get a physical for my knee.”

She was excited not only for the opportunity to volunteer, but to see

the South Pacific. She was also eager to see the remainder of her student loans disappear thanks to the federal Department of Education’s Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program that accepts Peace Corps service as qualifying employment.

“I was waiting for my doctor appointment and I ran into the then Language Program Coordinator. I told them, ‘I’m actually getting ready to leave,’ and they were like, just hold on!” she said with a laugh.

Within two weeks, Minthorn got an email and a call with a proposition.

The CTUIR Language Department had a part-time position to offer, along with the promise of a full-time future.

“Wow, I did go to school for the language. So, I made a commitment to come home. I came home. And that’s how I started with the language program,” she said.

That initial part-time job multiplied into a grant-funded second part-time job, and Minthorn was soon working not only for the CTUIR language program, but also developing curriculum for Nixyaawii Community MINTHORN CONTINUED NEXT PAGE

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MINTHORN CONTINUED FROM PAGE 11

School. However, as is the nature with a grant, it ended, and she needed another job. She landed one with the Family Services Program and worked there for a year before another grant afforded the opportunity for her to return to the Language Department full-time and be part of some big developments.

“We started an immersion classroom then. I was the part-time linguist and was working with Noel Rude, the tribal linguist, when he told me he was planning to retire.

So, he was prepping me. He told me the things he wanted to accomplish before he left. One of them was publishing the Umatilla dictionary, and I told him, I will commit to that,” she said.

The dictionary was published in 2014. Minthorn wrote the forward.

In 2015, she became the program director of the CTUIR Education Department, in spite of wanting to avoid being in management. It wasn’t that she didn’t want to climb the career ladder, she just wanted to do the thing she went to school for – study language.

CONFEDERATED UMATILLA JOURNAL • COMMUNITY & SPORTS • NOVEMBER 2023 “I began to realize, though, as I moved up in the tribe, that at every level, I could do more to help the language. I could do more to help the language teachers and the apprentices. And so that’s how I kind of agreed to be at that supervisory level. It took me away from language, the study of language, and all of that stuff, but at least I’m able to remove obstacles for them so that they can continue their work,” she said. “It’s been a challenge. But it’s also been really kind of satisfying to see when we’re able to succeed, and we’re able to accomplish the things that we set out to accomplish.”

Moving on, Minthorn is looking forward to working with PSU and starting her next chapter.

“I feel like I’ve done enough of what I wanted to accomplish in a career with the tribe, and I think it’s OK to move on right now. There are good people in the Education Department to carry on that work,” she said. “I would love to build something that helped Portland State University really prepare themselves to engage with tribes, understand tribal sovereignty, tribal treaties, and government to government relationships. I can bring that to the table.”

TERO workers Wilbur Oatman and Suzane Bonifer have been working on TERO Constructions Projects for the last several months. Both have been enjoying good working hours and are making great wages.

Oatman, a Umatilla Tribal Member, has been working for Virgil Bates Flagging Company, an Indian Owned Subcontractor to Nelson Construction (Walla Walla, WA) who is the Prime Contractor for the Oregon Department of Transportation’s “Umatilla/Morrow Counties ADA Curbs project” which extends from Milton Freewater to Heppner, Oregon. This $10 million project has provided multiple employment opportunities for over a dozen tribal members and has also provided for Indian Subcontract Opportunities for tribal member owned construction contractors.

Bonifer, a CTUIR member, has been working for Lydig Construction, (Spokane, WA) who is the Prime Contractor for expanding the Wildhorse Casino main building since June of this year. She has been a laborer along with other CTUIR members in this $1 million dollar expansion project, in what has been labeled as “the Back of the House” project. Bonifer has been working in the construction industry for more than 30 years and has helped construct many of the projects here and off of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, including projects ranging from heavy highway and bridge construction to Umatilla Tribal Enterprises buildings and infrastructure.

It is truly good to see some of our most experienced members working on our own buildings and enjoy success as professional construction workers.

- CTUIR Tribal Employment Rights Office Submission

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TERO offers members training in high-demand trades

By CHRIS AADLAND Reporter MISSION, Ore. — As one person steered a small-wheeled loader weighing well over a dozen tons while moving dirt around, another sat at a welding machine, fusing together pieces of metal, while four others looked on during a recent afternoon on the Umatilla Indian Reservation.

Only, it wasn’t an active work site.

They were practicing on expensive and realistic simulators in a corner of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation’s multiuse pandemic preparedness and food pantry building for the day when they might be on a real construction site as a worker contributing to projects, on tribal lands or elsewhere, as the CTUIR Tribal Employment Rights Office hopes the simulator sessions lead to.

The six people present were participants in a new tribal program that started in early October designed to expose tribal members to the numerous skilled trades job opportunities employers and TERO are desperate to fill.

The TERO program, a pre-apprenticeship trades career explo-

ration class, was created to expose tribal members to in-demand and high-paying careers as welders, electricians heavy equipment operators, to name just a few, in addition to helping TERO meet laborer hiring goals – which it has struggled to meet due to a lack of CTUIR-enrolled skilled trades workers – for construction and related projects amid an acute nationwide shortage of workers

in those fields.

“We want to see more of our tribal members capitalize on these opportunities in the construction industry,” said TERO Program Manager John Barkley. “It gets a little frustrating at times to see that there’s such opportunity out there and they’re not being capitalized on.”

Though most of the first 10-person cohort are CTUIR tribal members,

the program is open to all.

The seven-week program is mostly split between classroom instruction, presentations from guest speakers and trade union representatives, and hands-on training, like on the machinery simulators.

The purpose, Barkley said, is to expose participants to the wide range of options in the construction trades – allowing them to find a field that suits them best – and prepare them for the next steps, like joining a union to begin the apprentice training process, if they choose to pursue it. Upon completion, the participants will have a better idea of training requirements, what to expect with each trade and how to succeed in their career.

“There’s viable constructions careers out there that you could enjoy TERO CONTINUED NEXT PAGE CTUIR tribal member Enoch Crane practices his welding technique on a simulator the Tribal Rights Employment Office recently purchased for a trades pre-apprenticeship career exploration class it started in October. Crane, a recent high school graduate interested in pursuing a construction trades career, is one of the first cohort’s 10 participants.

THE SECRECT OF GETTING AHEAD IS GETTING STARTED. CAY-UMA-WA HEADSTART NOW ENROLLING AGES: 3-5 WHERE TO FIND US… HEALTH & DENTAL SCREENING

NIXYAAWII EDUCATION CENTER PHYSICAL ADDRESS 46251 NAXS WINATAS

MAILING ADDRESS Learning Our CULTURE & Language

46411 TIMINE WAY PENDLETON OREGON 97801 CONTACT US

ENGAGING ACTIVITIES

MONDAY- FRIDAY 7:30A.M.-4:00P.M. CALL US @ 541-429-7843/7836 EMAIL :MICKIFABIAN@CTUIR.ORG APPLICATIONS ONLINE @ WWW.CTUIR.ORG

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TERO

CONFEDERATED UMATILLA JOURNAL • COMMUNITY & SPORTS • NOVEMBER 2023

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 13

a good living and also help meet our needs to get people on our projects out here and meet our hiring goals,” he said. “By doing this training, the idea is that, even if a handful of them choose to take this route and pursue the construction business, that to us, is a success.”

Many motivations In the program’s corner of the CTUIR pandemic preparedness building during the cohort’s second week of meeting, the six students said they were aware of the career opportunities in the skilled trades, and the generous pay and benefits that typically accompany the careers. They all said they planned to pursue or were strongly considering it.

Some were drawn to operating heavy equipment, and others were more interested in carpentry, while others had discovered that welding intrigued them. Some had recently graduated from high school or were young adults in search of a career, while others were a few years older and had worked other jobs, like as a security guard or landscaper, but now had children and needed a higher-paying job that could better support a family.

For tribal member Shayrena Johnson, an entry-level job working with building contractors and subcontractors taken to aid her sobriety has led her to participate in the pre-apprenticeship program to gain a better understanding of her options to advance in a skilled trades career.

The construction job, Johnson said, has aided her sobriety by keeping her, and her easily-bored mind, busy. And when she gets home at the end of the day, she’s too tired to do much.

She’s been sober for 18 months now, Johnson said, thanking her sister for suggesting that she take the job. “It just interested me and kept me sober,” she said.

And now she’s hoping the class can help her identify a trade she’d like to pursue and advance in.

“I’m still trying to figure it out, so I want to learn more,” Johnson, 28, said.

Enoch Crane, an 18-year-old tribal member who recently graduated from Nixyaawii Community School, has known that that the trades were likely his best option for a comfortable living. He said he has a few family members who work in the trades and recommended it.

“Almost every trade does well in your pay and all that,” Crane said. “And I didn’t really do that well in school, so college really wasn’t the best option for me.”

He said he had even been receiving recruiting calls from labor unions while still in high school and recently almost joined a union apprenticeship program but didn’t because it would’ve required frequent travel to Portland, and he didn’t have reliable transportation.

Before signing up for the TERO program, Crane said thought he would end up in carpentry, but now said he’s giving more consideration to becoming a welder, thanks to exposure to the work and its tools in the class – and his skill on the welding simulator.

Another CTUIR tribal member, Stockton Hoffman, had tried to get into an apprenticeship

Stockton Hoffman, a 21-year-old tribal member, sharpens his skills operating heavy equipment as part of TERO pre-apprenticeship training program that recently started meeting to help get more tribal members into high-demand and well-paying construction trades jobs and meet TERO hiring targets. Hoffman signed up for the seven-week program to gain more experience and help launch a career in the skilled trades. PHOTOS

BY CHRIS AADLAND

program at Blue Mountain Community College because he knew about the need for workers, could do the work and be interested in it, but was unable because it was full before the TERO program was launched.

The most useful part of the classes for him so far has been the meetings with guest speakers who have shared their experiences working in the trades and tips for success. Hoffman, 21, said he plans to use the pre-apprenticeship program to secure more opportunities for work and training to build up his resume.

“I think they’re taking the right steps,” he said.

“It’s preparing us for the work, the equipment, what we’re going to see and the work we’ll do.”

Diversifying the tribal economy TERO is the tribal government agency that enforces tribal worker obligations and Indian preference requirements on projects, like with the Oregon Department of Transportation and other contractors, on tribal lands and aboriginal lands, and in some cases, within a set area from the reservation’s boundaries. In addition, TERO trains tribal members about various trades in the construction industry, viable career opportunities in construction and can support them as they are getting started.

Barkley said his office has contemplated ways to entice tribal members to pursue careers in the trades through hands-on experiences for several years now.

The lack of tribal members working in the skilled trades has meant that TERO has had to reduce its tribal member hiring requirements for projects and contractors coming to work on the reservation or tribal lands, he said.

A grant allowed TERO to purchase its heavy equipment simulator a couple of years ago, followed by a grant to buy the welding simulator, Barkley said. Then, a state grant, and securing a space for the new equipment, allowed the tribal agency to launch the career exploration program.

The program is modeled after another pre-apprenticeship training program offered by the Tulalip Tribes. Other tribes in the region, like the Nez Perce and Shoshone-Bannock Tribes, also have similar programs, he said, adding that various trade unions – who Barkley said have come to TERO amid the labor shortage hoping there were qualified tribal members who could help fill openings on projects across the region and have been told “we just don’t have the bodies” -- have said they support CTUIR’s efforts.

If any of the first CTUIR pre-apprenticeship class participants ultimately pursue a trades career, they’ll likely earn more than many of their peers, in addition to receiving excellent health and retirement benefits, that will likely allow them to comfortably retire earlier than many, Barkley said.

For example, carpenters make between $30 and $60 an hour, according to Build Oregon, an informational site for those considering a construction trades career hosted by a building contractor trade industry group.

Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters in Oregon on average earn nearly $81,700 a year, while electricians take in about $83,200 a year, according to 2022 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data. The average worker in the state, across all occupations, makes about $62,700 – about 25% less than those two jobs.

Another cycle is planned after the first class concludes, Barkley said, adding that he hopes TERO can receive more grant funding to continue to continue after that.

He hopes the pre-apprenticeship program contributes to at least a few more tribal members working in the construction field or another trade and contributing to projects on tribal lands.

Eventually, Barkley imagines some of those people branching out and start their own contracting business.

“We always talk about creating businesses out here and diversifying our economy, and this is one way to do it,” he said.

NOVEMBER 2023 • COMMUNITY & SPORTS • CONFEDERATED UMATILLA JOURNAL

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We, the Shippentower family: Special family members and friends were asked to help. They supported us in every way possible. We are blessed to have a loving family and caring friends to step up to help Christina and the four kids. The service was a good feeling, helping us start the healing process without our loved one.

When the family and friends sat down to eat dinner, we knew the ladies in the kitchen had done their job. The words came out, the food looked delicious and smelled yummy.

We couldn’t have done all this without you. We are blessed to have family and friends standing beside use. We love you all.

Special thanks to:

Memorial and naming will happen in one year, August 2024.

“Our Cayse, Umatilla, and Walla Walla people.”

Thank you.

Cecil and Alexa Shippentower Christina Jones and Children Patricia and Marvin Burke Pamela Shippentower and Family Connie Shippentower and Family Clifford Shippentower and Family

Armand Minthorn - Robert Wilson- Isiah Welch Marcus Luke - Richard Sams, Jr. Josh Spencer - Victor Bates

Father Mike Fitzpatrick - Cole Treloar - Randy Robinson - Gwen Leonard Michael Ray - Calib Wilson - Jerome Minthorn Kola Shippentower - Aliyah Smartlowit - Hunter McKay John and Alice Bevis Cooks: Sisters of the Longhouse Michael Turner Folsom-Bishop Funeral Chappel Brian and Bev Lafollette Burns Mortuary of Pendleton Flowers from: CTUIR Board of Trustees and Yellowhawk Tribal Health Center

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CONFEDERATED UMATILLA JOURNAL • COMMUNITY & SPORTS • NOVEMBER 2023

C E L E B R A T E

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Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, Family Violence Services, Public Safety Department October 2023

Family Violence Services would like to convey our gratitude for standing in partnership with us to end domestic violence in our community.

Thank you to all who wore purple during our Purple Thursdays all month long, we are grateful for your action to spread awareness to end domestic violence!

Thank you to all who attended the Noon time Presentation of Protection Orders and their Effects on Children held on October 19th, 2023, great discussion and questions were had!

Dear Pendleton Businesses, thank you for displaying United we can end domestic violence ribbon awareness posters during the month of October. We are honored by your commitment!

Blue Hawk Beads OMG Burgers & Brew Unity Collectibles Frazier Office Supply Pendleton Vision Center Community Bank Pendleton Trendsitions Inc. Stapleman Custom Boot Shop

Eastern Oregon Trauma Center Shipping Station State Farm – Linsey Kellogg Sister’s Café Highly Active Zimmerman Hardware Man Cave Barbershop Hamley’s

It was a busy and impactful domestic violence awareness month, and we look forward to your participation next year.

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CONFEDERATED UMATILLA JOURNAL • COMMUNITY & SPORTS • NOVEMBER 2023

WRC OCTOBER

Congratulations to our

Employees of the Month

October Employees of the Month!

Supervisor of the month: Austin Taylor, F&B Food Court “Austin has always shown a willingness and eagerness to learn. He has proven to be an effective leader and has earned the trust and respect of his staff and peers alike. He is willing to step in and take on whatever responsibility has been thrown his way and he has a great attitude!”

- Nominated by Kim Crown

Support Employee of the month: Andrew Kinney, Warehouse/Finance “Andrew is a very hard worker. When you ask for something, he brings it to you as soon as he can. He is always Friendly when he brings stuff to us. It’s hard to work in the cold and the heat he doesn’t complain about it. I don’t work with Him Personally, but I’m glad he is part of the Wildhorse team.”

- Nominated by Tami Hoepfner

Frontline Employee of the month: Bear Allen, Hotel Housekeeping “I enjoy working with Bear. He always shows up ready to work and will eagerly wait for instructions to get the job done. Not to mention his consistent positive attitude, he always laughs at my jokes and does amazing things at his job.“ - Nominated by Jeanetta Wyena

Robb Jones

Cody Biggar

Jesse Brown

Financial Analyst Support Team

Network Support Technician Government Team

Help Desk Agent Commercial Team

NOVEMBER 2023 • COMMUNITY & SPORTS • CONFEDERATED UMATILLA JOURNAL

Department of Education

Preschool Educator II (2 positions)

$45,000/annual DOE/DOQ. Full Time with benefits package.

Covered status (requires background check). Non-Exempt. The Preschool Education II participates in a team approach to implement curriculum activities and program services for children and their families using best practices. The primary responsibility of this position is to assist in ensuring that children’s learning experiences in Cay-UmaWa Head Start meet the program description and comply with Head Start Performance Standards. The position is Open Until Filled.

To apply, please visit our website for the Application at: https://ctuir. org/career-opportunities/ or visit the Office of Human Resources in NGC to pick up an application in person.

For more information or questions, please contact Human Resources at (541)429-7180 or HumanResources@ctuir.org

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CONFEDERATED UMATILLA JOURNAL • COMMUNITY & SPORTS • NOVEMBER 2023

NW Native Economic Summit 2023