Oregon bipartisan duo seek ban on law enforcement masking
SHAANTH NANGUNERI
Oregon Captial Chronicle
An Oregon Republican and Democrat have joined forces to introduce legislation to block immigration officers and other law enforcement covering their faces, despite concerns that the untested idea would invite legal vulnerabilities for the state.
Reps. Cyrus Javadi, R-Tillamook, and Tom Andersen, D-Salem, announced Sunday that they plan to ask voters to amend the Oregon Constitution to ban what the lawmakers call “secret police,” or law enforcement officers wearing face coverings to conceal their identity. The lawmakers are planning to introduce the bill in the 2026 short session with the hopes of placing a constitutional amendment on the ballot for voters later in the year.
Oregon law already considers impersonation of a peace officer a low-level felony. In the wake of 2020’s nationwide racial justice protests, state lawmakers passed legislation in 2021 mandating that local law enforcement like sheriffs and police officers working crowds in large cities must display their first and last name along with their identifying numbers.
Sunday’s measure, however, does not delineate between local, state and federal law enforcement. It requires all officers to wear uniforms with their names and identifying badge numbers, exempting SWAT teams and undercover officers.
Cairnspring Mills breaks ground on site
STAFF REPORTS
MISSION – Officials with the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR) and Cairnspring Mills broke ground on Oct. 1 at the future site of the Blue Mountain Flour Mill.
The CTUIR is leasing nearly 6 acres of trust land at its Coyote Business Park South to Cairnspring Mills to build and operate the Blue Mountain Flour
Mill, states a memorandum of agreement among the CTUIR, Cairnspring Mills and several federal agencies.
According to a story on Morningstar.com, with demand outpacing its Burlington, Washington, mill’s 7 million pounds of annual output, Cairnspring Mills looked beyond the Skagit Valley for its second facility. Built in partnership with the CTUIR, the new mill will
replicate Cairnspring’s smallbatch, European-style stone milling while leveraging advanced technology to expand capacity twelvefold, the story states. Major buyers including Patagonia, leading national bakeries and institutional foodservice partners have already secured significant volume at the new facility, with additional
MILLS CONTINUED PAGE 3
Senators: U.S. complicit in Gaza ethnic cleansing
High on top of a three-story building, peering over the ledge to find the city below in ruins, Oregon Sen. Jeff Merkley did not see a normal war picture as he stared down at what had become of Rafah, Egypt.
“This is a deliberate destruction of every single abode to make it impossible for people to return,” said Merkley. “And this is one of the two main strategies of the Netanyahu government’s ethnic cleansing campaign in Gaza.”
From Aug. 24 to Sept. 1, Sen. Merkley and Maryland Sen. Chris Van Hollen traveled to Israel, the West Bank, the border of Gaza, Jordan and Egypt.
The two senators investigated the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza and found an undeniable truth– the Israeli government is weaponizing food and aid to forcibly remove and ethnically cleanse the Palestinian people in Gaza.
Following their return home, the two released a joint report, “The Netanyahu Government is
Implementing a Plan to Ethnically Cleanse Gaza of Palestinians. America is Complicit. The World Must Stop It.”
The report explains Israel’s tactic in making Gaza unlivable for Palestinians, driving them from Gaza using two methods. One being relentless bombings that they report have damaged “92% of housing units, 94% of the Strip’s hospitals, 92% of schools and university buildings, and 86% of water and sanitation facilities.” Second being the
Pendleton Round-Up 2025 Recap on Page 13 in B Section
DANELI ATILANO The CUJ
CTUIR and Cairnspring Mills officals announced the groundbreaking of the Blue Mountain Flour Mill for Oct. 1. CTUIR
Oregon East Symphony opens Chorale to public for holiday festival
STAFF REPORTS
PENDLETON, Ore. — As it prepares to celebrate its 40th concert season, the Oregon East Symphony is calling on community members to lend their voices to this year’s Holiday Music Festival.
The OES Chorale, a regular feature of the annual celebration, is open to singers of all experience levels. No auditions are required. Rehearsals will begin Oct. 6 and continue Monday evenings at First Presbyterian Church in Pendleton.
“It’s a really beautiful event that always has that sense of community and the spirit of the season,” said Carly Elder, who will serve as the Chorale’s rehearsal conductor. “The Chorale includes singers of many different backgrounds, ages, and levels of experience with classical music, and we’re looking forward to performing in this year’s Holiday Music Festival.”
This year’s program will feature Ralph Vaughan Williams’ Fantasia on Christmas Carols, performed with guest baritone
MILLS
capacity still available as Cairnspring continues to expand its customer base, according to Morningstar.
Morningstar also reported that Cairnspring has secured capital commitments for its new facility from CTUIR, the NoVo Foundation and Terra Regenerative. When Cairnspring was founded, its anchor investors included Patagonia, King Arthur and other missiondriven partners.
“I believe our flour is proof that we can build a food system that honors a triple bottom line of profitability, human health, and environmental sanity,” said Kevin Morse, co-founder & CEO of Cairnspring Mills. “Raising $1 million in under a month shows people want to invest in that future. In a field dominated by tech and AI, being the only food company in the top five nationwide proves this movement is real-and regenerative food belongs at the center of what comes next.”
According to Morningstar, by paying premiums for regeneratively grown grain, Cairnspring helps farmers break free from commodity markets and improve long-term viability. Its supply chain is 100% identitypreserved, fully traceable and adapted to each farm’s microclimate, Morningstar reports.
With a group of Skagit Valley farmers and other partners, Morse formed Cairnspring Mills in 2016. It focuses on ensuring farmers remain financially viable while facing growing urbanization, preserving
Gabriel Elder, along with selections from The Nutcracker by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky.
The Chorale will perform in two concerts: Dec. 13 at Hermiston High School Auditorium and Dec. 14 at Pendleton’s Vert Auditorium.
J.D. Kindle, executive director of the Oregon East Symphony, emphasized that the group is open to all, regardless of musical background.
“You don’t need to be a professional singer—just bring your voice, your enthusiasm, and a willingness to rehearse,” Kindle said. “It’s a wonderful opportunity to make music, meet people, and be part of a cherished community tradition.”
Music scores will be handed out at the first rehearsal or can be picked up at the OES office at 345 SW 4th Street in Pendleton.
More information about the Chorale and the Symphony’s 40th anniversary season is available at www.oregoneastsymphony. org, by emailing info@ oregoneastsymphony.org or calling (541) 276-0320.
agricultural heritage, shortening distances between farmer and customer, building soil health and conserving farmland.
When finished next autumn, the project will produce more than 20 local living wage jobs, spark long-term economic activity and provide forecasted long-term returns for CTUIR as equity owners in Cairnspring, Morningstar states.
Cairnspring Mills is also expected to work with the CTUIR’s Workforce Development and Tribal Employment Rights Office to create training and educational opportunities for tribal members, CTUIR officials said.
The lease, which is for 50 years, has an option for another 25 years. Construction costs are estimated at more than $40 million, which include buying milling equipment, architect and engineering work, project management, building permits, cultural resources, interim interest, financing and legal costs. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Marketing Service has committed funding to construct a grain silo.
The Oregon Department of Agriculture has announced an additional award of more than $755,000 to Cairnspring Mills for the grain milling infrastructure project at Coyote Business Park.
Located just 7 miles east of Pendleton, Oregon at I-84 exit 216, Coyote Business Park has more than 170 acres of commercial and industrial use property available for lease. With a diverse tenant base that includes technology, medical, logistics support services, retail, office buildings, tourism and hospitality. Coyote Business Park has shovel ready sites and easy access to I-84.
weaponization of food through withholding and obstructing the flow of food and aid to control population movement.
Weaponization of Food
Following a 78-day blockade of food and aid from March 2 to May 19, the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification declared a famine taking place in Gaza.
In their report, the senators mention meeting with other representatives of international non-governmental organizations (INGO) who “reported a sevenfold increase in malnutrition since March and projected that over 132,000 children under five may be at risk of death from acute malnutrition by mid-2026.”
Additionally, they were told 30-40% of their patients in Gaza were inflicted with starvation ketoacidosis, where ketones are found in the bloodstream following the body breaking down its own fat and muscle in replacement of food, making the blood become dangerously acidic.
“Two years without school, two years of dodging bombs, two years in which you haven’t had enough to eat, affects brain development,” said Merkley. “This is a war crime.”
Post-blockade the report explains the ways the Israeli government increased the difficulty of food and aid being delivered to Gaza through limiting entry points into the city and
creating deliberate obstacles for aid to enter at the Israeli Port of Ashdod and the Jordan Corridor.
Upon visiting World Food Program (WFP) warehouses at the Israeli Port of Ashdod, the senators learnED that 2,200 containers of food– approximately 40,000 metric tons– were being held at the warehouse.
They note that this would be enough to feed all of Gaza for three weeks, but due to the Israeli government’s changes in screening practices and customs policies, only 20-30 containers a day get sent by the WFP.
The senators then report being given details on the four Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) food distribution sites, three located in southern Gaza with none in northern Gaza. They were told between May 27 and July 31, at least 1,373 Palestinians were killed while trying to obtain food and aid at the GHF sites, mainly
by IDF soldiers opening fire into the crowd of Palestinians.
In a report by Doctors Without Borders (MFS) on their data and testimonies of two MSF health clinics on the ground receiving 1,380 casualties that came from the GHF sites they state, “This is not aid. It is orchestrated killing.”
When Merkley spoke to doctors returning from Gaza he was told, “the moment that one of those sites start to open, they start laying out the body bags…,” said Merkley. “You either don’t rush to get aid and therefore you starve, or you rush to get aid, and you get shot at.”
The United States’ Complicity
Since their first visit in January 2024 to investigate the food crisis in Gaza, Merkley has been advocating the United States stop enabling the starvation of the Palestinian people.
“We are complicit in the United States because we’re providing
a lot of the bombs and the shells and the rifles that are used in this effort,” said Merkley. “So, our support should absolutely end. We should use our close relationship with Israel to say this has to stop.”
The report also recounts an April 7, 2025, Oval Office meeting when President Donald Trump said, “I think [Gaza’s] an incredible piece of important real estate. And I think it’s something that we would be involved in, but having a peace force like the United States there, controlling and owning the Gaza Strip, would be a good thing…”
Additionally, the report further documents that when asked in February 2025 whether his plan envisioned the opportunity for displaced Palestinians to return to Gaza, Trump answered, “No, they wouldn’t because they’re going to have much better housing.”
The report connects these statements to broader right-wing Israeli ambitions, including a leaked 38-page slide deck envisioning the relocation of 2 million Gazans and construction of “AI-powered, smart cities” in their place. “We want Americans to understand that this is what’s going on, that this is at odds with our values,” said Merkley. “And the U.S. should not be providing assistance, economic or offensive military assistance to Israel.”
The full report by Sens. Merkley and Van Hollen can be found at merkley.senate.gov.
U.S. Sens. Jeff Merkley, left, and Chris Van Hollen, right, listen to Major General Khaled Maghawer, governor of North Sinai, during their visit to Egypt's side of the Rafah crossing with Gaza on Aug. 30. MOHAMMED ARAFAT
ABOUT THE CUJ
The Confederated Umatilla Journal (CUJ) was created in 1975 as the official publication of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR), which includes the Cayuse, Umatilla and Walla Walla people. The CUJ is produced monthly by the CTUIR Communications Department.
Publisher: Kaeleen McGuire kaeleenmcguire@ctuir.org
Editor: Daneli Atilano daneliatilano@ctuir.org
Reporter: Vacant
Advertising: M. Moses-Conner cuj@ctuir.org
Contributors:
Kathy Aney
Dallas Dick
Annie Fowler
Lee Gavin
Sammantha McCloud
Wil Phinney
Travis Snell
Aaron Worden
CONTACT US
Confederated Umatilla Journal
46411 Timine Way Pendleton, OR 97801
Email: CUJ@ctuir.org
Phone: 541-429-7005
EMAIL ADVERTISING,
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR & OTHER SUBMISSIONS TO: CUJ@ctuir.org
DEADLINE: 20th of the month prior to publication
The CUJ prints on the first Wednesday of each month and is distributed the first Thursday.
SUBSCRIBE
The CUJ is free to pick up at tribal entities and area businesses. However, a mailed subscription can be purchased for the price of shipping and handling by contacting the CTUIR Finance Department. Call 541-429-7150 or visit the Finance Department in person at Nixyáawii Governance Center, 46411 Timine Way, Pendleton.
One year: $15 • Two years: $28
For more information or daily news, visit the CUJ online at: www.TheCUJ.org
LETTER to EDITOR
The opinions expressed are those of authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the CUJ
Gordon gives support for Shawna Gavin
It has been an honor to serve as the General Council secretary the last two years. It is with great respect and enthusiasm that I write this letter to endorse Shawna Gavin for the position of General Council secretary. Having had the privilege of working with Shawna for over 10 years, I can confidently attest to her unwavering dedication, exceptional organizational skills, and deep commitment to the values and progress of our tribal community through the voices of our General Council.
Shawna has consistently demonstrated an understanding of the responsibilities required
for this role. Her ability to maintain accurate records, facilitate clear communication, and uphold transparency has been nothing short of exemplary. Beyond her technical expertise, Shawna embodies the spirit of collaboration and inclusivity, ensuring that every voice in our community is heard and respected. Her efforts with Zoom now available for our General Council meetings is a great example of this and it has allowed more people to attend meetings.
In addition to her professional qualifications, Shawna is a person of integrity and compassion. She has shown time and again
her willingness to go above and beyond to serve the needs of our people, whether through cultural preservation efforts by sharing her traditional knowledge and the work within the prison system for our incarcerated family members. I wholeheartedly believe that Shawna is the ideal candidate for the position of General Council secretary. I urge you to give her your full support.
Martina Gordon Tribal member
Pasena-Littlesky supports Julie Taylor
My name is Lindsey PasenaLittlesky. I am a resident of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR), a Šináata Scholar, and a senior at Whitman College double majoring in environmental science and politics with a global studies concentration. I served on the CTUIR Youth Council for seven years and continue to serve as a mentor for the next generation of young leaders. I have also worked as a summer intern for two years with the Department of Children and Family Services. But most importantly, I am a Native youth — one of many that Julie Taylor has lifted on her shoulders, helping me to reach my goals and dreams and to discover the leadership within myself.
Julie has spent years guiding and mentoring the CTUIR Youth Council, ensuring that young people like me have opportunities to succeed both on and off the reservation. She doesn’t just talk about investing in youth — she lives it every day, making sure that those who leave for school or work always have a path to bring their
skills and passions back home to strengthen our community. Her leadership is grounded in service. Julie has served on the Board of Trustees before and as the director of the Department of Children and Family Services, where she not only supported our people through food drives, clothing drives, financial aid, advocating for veterans, and elder care, but also wrote grants that brought more opportunities and resources directly to our community. For years, people have leaned on Julie’s leadership because she puts her community first.
The chair of the Board of Trustees holds one of the most important positions in our tribal government. The chair leads the tribe’s governing body, represents CTUIR in governmentto-government relationships, helps set priorities for our people, and ensures that our sovereignty, culture, and community wellbeing are protected. This role requires vision, compassion, and the ability to carry the voices of the people while making difficult
decisions for the future. Julie Taylor has already proven she has these qualities. Her years of service, her deep connection to families and youth, and her ability to bring people together make her the perfect person for this position.
This is why I believe this election is an important moment for all of us, especially for young people in our community. Voting is not only about choosing a leader — it’s also about practicing our responsibility to use our voices and shaping the direction of our future. Julie Taylor has already invested in us, believed in us, and made space for us to lead. Now it is our turn to step up and support her — to make sure our future is in the hands of someone who has always put community first.
Julie Taylor is the right person to serve as chair of the Board of Trustees, and I strongly encourage my peers and all CTUIR members to make your voice heard at the ballot box on Nov. 4th, 2025, between 8am-8pm at the Nixyáawii Governance Center.
Kosey gives supports for Kat Brigham
It is with immense enthusiasm that I recommend Kat Brigham for the position of Chair of the Board of Trustees. My six years of service on the Board provided invaluable opportunities to collaborate with Kat, and I witnessed firsthand her exceptional leadership skills, unwavering commitment to ethical conduct, and insightful strategic thinking.
Her dedication to the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR) is unwavering and deeply impressive. Even beyond her official board duties, Kat remains actively involved in protecting and advancing our treaty rights and sovereignty. This commitment is evidenced by her extensive involvement in national and regional forums, Kat stayed
active with Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians, Kat has been invited to speak at numerous conferences and workshops, sharing her expertise in Columbia Basin ecosystem and fisheries management. Her presentations address critical issues such as water resource sustainability, climate change mitigation, and responsible energy development. Furthermore, her facilitation of teacher training programs underscores her profound dedication to the well-being of our community.
Kat consistently addresses the complex challenges confronting our tribal community, demonstrating a remarkable capacity for innovation and problem-solving. She possesses the vision, extensive experience,
and unwavering dedication to effectively guide the CTUIR toward continued progress and prosperity. Her leadership will be invaluable as we navigate the multifaceted issues impacting our Tribe and strive to realize our full potential. Kat is very transparent, and will share her ideas and concerns with our Tribal Community.
I strongly encourage you to support Kat Brigham for Chair of the Board of Trustees in the election on Nov. 4, 2025. Your vote for Kat will be a vote for continued progress and a brighter future for the CTUIR. Sally Kosey Former Board Secretary/ BOT Member
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JULIE TAYLOR
Chair, Board of Trustees
Experience. Vision. Dedication.
Julie Taylor isn’t just running for Chair of the Board of Trustees—she’s answering a lifelong calling to serve, lead, and uplift the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation.
With more than two decades of service, Julie brings unmatched experience, deep cultural knowledge, and a fierce commitment to our people. Her leadership is rooted in compassion, accountability, and a vision for a stronger, more united future.
Community Commitment
Julie has served on dozens of committees and task forces, from education and health to youth empowerment and community development. Her collaborative spirit and results-driven approach have made a lasting impact across generations.
Recognized Leadership
Julie’s work in the community has earned national recognition, including the prestigious National Indian Child Welfare Association (NICWA) award for her lifelong dedication to Indigenous children and families. Her leadership is defined by cultural connectedness, strategic insight, and a relentless drive to serve.
“Julie has demonstrated outstanding behavior for decades in child welfare practice... always striving to make the next best decision for future generations.” – NICWA
Professional Experience
Director, CTUIR Department of Children and Family Services
Led child welfare operations with integrity and innovation
Built strong partnerships with federal, state, and tribal agencies
Managed budgets, staff, and strategic planning with transparency
Honored by NICWA as the 2024 Individual Champion for Native Children
Board of Trustees – Member at Large (1997–1999, 2011–2012)
Set policy and led priority initiatives for tribal affairs
Chaired key committees including Education and TERO
Fostered collaboration across tribal, county, state, and federal entities
Youth Services & Education Leadership (2001–2007)
Advocated for students and families across three school districts
Developed summer school and recreation programs for 250+ youth
Secured funding and built inclusive educational environments
Education
Master of Social Work – Portland State University
B.S. in Social Science, Minor in Native American Studies – PSU
Associate of Arts – Blue Mountain Community College
Vote Julie Taylor 3 Chair, Board of Trustees
and
Thornhollow Bridge work moving forward as planned
“Clearing, grubbing, site preparation are all complete. The project is moving forward as planned. Shafts have been drilled and concrete poured in the shafts.”
TRAVIS SNELL
CTUIR
MISSION – Work on Thornhollow Bridge is moving forward as planned after a slight delay in June, according to the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT).
Michelle Owen, ODOT Region 5 local agency liaison, said prep work on the bridge construction project was finished in May, but contractors had to wait a short time for a utility company to relocate a pole and transmission line before they could mobilize to the site the week of June 16.
“Clearing, grubbing, site preparation are all complete,” Owen said. “The project is moving forward as planned. Shafts have been drilled and concrete poured in the shafts. The cap over the shafts on Bent 1 (south side of river) has been poured. The cap over the shafts on Bent 2 (north side of river) will be poured the week of Sept. 8.”
Following work on the caps, she said the next major milestone would include setting the 190foot concrete girders for the bridge, installation of the deck reinforcement and then pouring the bridge deck.
“The majority of the bridge work will be completed late fall/early winter,” Owen said. “The final road paving will take place in the spring when asphalt is once again available. The bridge will open early, winter weather permitting. Then [it] will close again when paving takes place in the spring of 2026 and re-open once paving is complete.”
Owen said the contractor HP Civil Inc. of Salem is expected to complete the contract on or before April 30, 2026.
of Mission along Thornhollow Road on the Umatilla Indian Reservation, the bridge was extensively damaged in a February 2020 flood and fully removed in by a Umatilla County contractor 2022. With the road closed because of damage to the bridge, traffic was detoured and will remain so until the bridge and roadway approaches are finished.
The bridge, up until it was damaged by the flood, was considered the closest river crossing for those residing north of the river and in the Thornhollow area. With the bridge gone, residents have had to detour either north or south of the former bridge.
“Community members have regularly brought up the issue in many venues. Its absence has been very disruptive,”
Dani Schulte, CTUIR Planning Department senior planner, said in a previous CUJ story. “There are tribal members on one side of the river with elder care responsibilities on the other side of the river. School bus routes have been affected. The bridge replacement will allow improved operations for all these people, as well as for the up-river residents who regularly travel north toward Athena, Weston, Milton-Freewater and Walla Walla.”
CTUIR officials have advised residents to avoid swimming and fishing in the area until construction is finished next spring.
Overall, the project is budgeted at $5.3 million through ODOT’s Local Bridge Program, which includes design engineering, construction, right-of-way and construction engineering costs. Umatilla County is providing a 10.27% match.
Construction workers work on Thornhollow Bridge on Aug. 18. The bridge is moving forward as scheduled after a slight delay in June because of a utility company needing to move a pole and transmission line. TRAVIS SNELL/CTUIR
Pendleton moves ahead with Roy Raley Park sales plan
BERIT THORSON East Oregonian
PENDLETON – Pendleton City Council voted to move ahead with selling a piece of land to the Pendleton Round-Up Association for the rodeo’s expansion plans.
The unanimous vote during the council’s regular meeting on Sept. 16, means 0.109 acres — less than a tenth the size of a football field — will be taken from Roy Raley Park and used to expand and improve the Round-Up Arena grounds, per a memorandum of understanding between the city and the rodeo association.
The sale will happen later this year after a public hearing process, with construction on the park beginning in 2026 if everything goes to plan. The Round-Up Association, per the memorandum of understanding, will cover the cost to design and rebuild the road and parking area, relocate public utility lines, remove and replace trees, and restore landscaping.
“All plans and work must comply with City specifications and leave the park in ‘as good or better’ final condition,” the agreement says.
A type of sale
While this isn’t a sale in the traditional sense of the word — trading money for the land — the Round-Up Association is paying for changes to the park it anticipates will lead to more money going to the city long-term.
Joseph Hull with McCormack Construction first presented the idea to the council in June. He was hired by the Round-Up Association to explore how to implement a Master Development Plan for the east end of the stadium.
“The considerations (in the memorandum of understanding) are the monetary things we’re giving so that we can gain ownership of the property,” he said. “We all know the RoundUp brings a lot of money to Pendleton and that number will greatly increase now with this development.”
Nancy Kerns, city attorney, worked with Hull to craft an agreement that will “serve all of the needs,” he said. Not only will the plan create Americans with Disabilities Act access, Hull said, it will offer a spot for a hospitality area on that end of the arena. He said the goal is to also provide a “much, much better location for tribal seating,” as well.
Around four people spoke in support of the plans during the meeting, according to Mayor McKennon McDonald.
“The council had concerns about the impact to the park and the impact to trees, impact to parking,” she said. “I think, ultimately, after hearing the public input in those presentations, that the council felt comfortable moving forward because they felt the benefits outweighed the minor changes that would occur in the park.”
Impact on Roy Raley Park
Hull said he anticipates the project will take place in phases and the long-term plans depend on funding. For now, it starts with project development and the changes to Roy Raley Park that the association has agreed to handle for the city as part of its payment for the property.
The expansion will be between about 11 and 20 feet wide, depending on the area of the park, and 280 feet long. Mostly, it will take away the slanted parking spots on the park’s west side. Round-Up will pave new parking spots near the ice rink on the north side of the park.
“As Round-Up goes, the city of Pendleton goes,” Hull said. “I think if Round-Up is very successful, that brings a certain large amount of success to Pendleton, and I think the opposite is true as well. I think (the) health of both parties is really, really, really important to ongoing success.”
The agreement has the support of the city’s Parks and Recreation Department as well as its Public Works Department. Parks and Recreation Director Liam Hughes said he believes the agreement will be mutually beneficial.
“Roy Raley, in our eyes, is a community event space and that’s really critical when we’re talking about this project,” Hughes said, “because it’s a very small amount of the park that will be taken up but (it) continues the goal that we have
for the park, which is supporting those large community events.”
The project will require removing several trees, but the rodeo association will plant new trees to offset the impact.
Additionally, Hughes said at least some of the impacted trees would need to be cut down for health or safety reasons in the next few years, anyway.
“Some of that has been compounded by the lack of Pendleton having a really good tree care program for years,” he said.
Either way, Hughes said, his department is already working on succession plans for the older trees in the park so they don’t all have to be cut down at the same time.
“The (park and the stadium) have always been a partnership,” he said. “I don’t think it’s a big deal for us to support the event and the community in general.”
McDonald said the next step is a public hearing process to declare the property surplus prior to finalizing the sale.
“We welcome people to come to our meetings and to share their thoughts and concerns about it,” she said. “Anytime there’s a view of something being taken away that can be scary and you might not know how big of a footprint it has, but the new property lines, if you will, showed that the park was almost completely still intact for how people utilize it now.”
Lewis leaves as BOT secretary
STAFF REPORTS
MISSION – After a five-year run as the Board of Trustees (BOT) secretary II, Cami Lewis said goodbye on Sept. 16 to BOT members, co-workers and fellow employees of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR).
Lewis said she began working for the BOT around April 2020 after holding prior CTUIR jobs with the Office of Executive Director and Communications Department. Overall, she said she has spent 16 years working at the Nixyáawii
Governance Center but is now ready for rest and relaxation.
“I’m going on an adventure to enjoy some downtime,” Lewis said. “I may be writing in my down time, exploring old contacts in the city.”
She said although she will miss a few co-workers and knowing the current CTUIR events, she’s happy to be leaving the hectic work environment, citing that her mental health and well-being is vital.
“Life is too short to waste time in frustration,” Lewis said.
New FAFSA form ready by Oct. 1
SHAUNEEN MIRANDA
OREGON CAPITAL CHRONICLE
WASHINGTON — The updated form to apply for federal student aid will launch for all students by Oct. 1, U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon told congressional leaders in a letter the last week of August.
The department began testing in early August for the 202627 Free Application for Federal Student Aid — better known as FAFSA — to address any bugs or technical issues before opening it up to everyone in the fall.
The agency signaled earlier this year that the form would open up to the general public by Oct. 1, the typical opening date for the annual form that’s now congressionally mandated.
The department noted that for the 2026-27 FAFSA, 2,435 forms were started, 1,372 were submitted and 1,347 had been processed, as of Aug. 25.
McMahon’s letter to lawmakers on Aug. 26 followed the botched rollout of the 2024-25 FAFSA, which faced several highly publicized hiccups during then-President Joe Biden’s administration’s attempts to implement a makeover after Congress passed the FAFSA Simplification Act in 2020.
The rollout of the following 2025-26 form, still under the Biden administration, took a staggered approach that included several
rounds of testing and gradually increased the number of people able to complete the form.
Though that form debuted earlier than the 2024-25 application, the full rollout still came nearly two months later than the usual Oct. 1 date.
“Under President Trump’s leadership, our team has prioritized technical competence and expertise, which has led to the earliest testing launch of the FAFSA form in history,” McMahon said in a statement Wednesday.
“The Biden Administration failed the FAFSA rollout two years ago, leaving millions of American students and families without clear answers or a path forward in their educational journey,” she said. “Congress gave us a mandate to improve the form and deliver it on time for students, families, and institutions of higher education — and I am proud to certify that the form will launch on time this fall.”
McMahon’s letter to the chairs and ranking members of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions and the House Committee on Education and Workforce follows a law signed by Biden last December that ensures the FAFSA rolls out by Oct. 1 each year.
The law also requires the Education secretary to notify Congress by Sept. 1 annually on whether the department will meet that Oct. 1 deadline. –oregoncapitalchronicle.com
VOTE: LAVON HERRERA-BOT CHAIRMAN 2025
Born in Lawton, Oklahoma. I graduated from Kamiah High School. Attended the University of IdahoKinesology. Lewis-Clark State College-Education. BMCC-Criminology Justice/Political Science. I am still earning my degrees and I find myself always wanting to keep learning. I was in a car wreck in 2023 before my disability, I was working where I could find a job and will work to enforce tribal jobs and casino jobs to the people again.
I will work on strengthening our community by finding solutions to help our housing situations and why we are losing our rights to our homes and jobs. I want to find more class electives in our school which will lead to a challenging future and great educational goals. Let’s keep our cultural activities strong and proud. I plan on ‘caping the elections’ to the “members at large” so more people can feel they can stand and make a difference also!
Enrolled Walla Walla Tribal Member.
Board of Trustees (BOT) Secretary II Cami Lewis (sitting right) enjoys a group photo with those helping her celebrate her last day on the job on Sept. 16 at the Nixyáawii Governance Center. Sitting next to Lewis is BOT Executive Assistant Helen Morrison. Standing from left to right are Deputy Executive Director Chanda Yates, BOT Member at Large Corinne Sams, Tribal Attorneys Garrett Brown and Annie Brown and BOT Member at Large Lisa Ganuelas. TRAVIS SNELL/CTUIR
V O T E V O T E
DAVID WOLF, JR. for Board of Trustees Vice Chair
DEDICATION INTEGRITY PEOPLE-DRIVEN
A tribal member aiming to empower the people without any compromise!
@reallygreatsite
ELECT
N KATHRYN “KAT ” BRIGHAM
NOVEMBER 4, 2025
TRIBAL ELECTIONS
A Proven Tribal Leader
Responsible
Accountable
Speaks up for CTUIR
Future planner Hard Worker
EOU, CTUIR Offering Umatilla Language Classes for College Credit
STAFF REPORTS
MISSION – Eastern Oregon University and the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation are partnering to offer online Umatilla language classes for college credit, aiming to attract and retain Native American students.
Through a memorandum of agreement between EOU and CTUIR, Mildred Quaempts, a Umatilla master speaker in the CTUIR Education Department, is teaching Beginning Umatilla I in
fall 2025 and Beginning Umatilla II in winter 2026. Each course is worth four college credits.
“I am honored to have been asked to teach the Beginning Umatilla class in collaboration with Eastern Oregon University,” Quaempts said. “I am one of five remaining fluent Umatilla language speakers on the Umatilla Indian Reservation.”
Classes are held via Zoom on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4:30 to 6:10 p.m. and are open to all EOU students with no class size limit. EOU offers five tuition
waivers each term for CTUIR community members who register through the CTUIR Higher Education Program. Waivers are awarded on a first-come, firstserved basis, with preference for enrolled CTUIR members.
Beginning Umatilla I began Sept. 23, and students have until Oct. 17 to register. The registration deadline for Beginning Umatilla II is Jan. 30.
Participants must have access to a laptop, tablet, smartphone or other device, plus basic computer skills and the ability to use Zoom.
Quaempts emphasized the importance of preserving the Umatilla language, which she said connects people to culture, beliefs, traditions and First Foods — including salmon, roots, berries and elk.
“Understanding our location and heritage, especially with our partnerships with CTUIR, is vitally important to EOU,” said Pepper Huxoll, EOU Native American program coordinator.
For more information or to register, email LynetteMinthorn@ ctuir.org or call 541-429-7819.
CTUIR to build 3 transitional/temporary housing units
MISSION – Officials with the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation’s (CTUIR) Housing Department say they have started the process for building three cottage-style dwellings that will serve as transitional/temporary housing for tribal members.
Located on a half-acre lot along Mission Highway near Four Corners, Housing officials said they are using the last of the department’s federal COVID-19 funds under the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) to construct the cottages.
According to a Housing document outlining the project, two dwellings will be 480 square
feet each with attached carports while the third unit will consist of 612 square feet and a carport. The units will include utilities (water, sewer, electric in lieu of gas), fiber, appliances, patio space and additional storage, the document states.
Housing Director Marcus Luke said the cottages’ use would be for the department’s usual Maintenance and Resident Services.
“Under Resident Services, when a client becomes a tenant, that tenant puts in their 30-day notice wherever they are currently living,” he said. “After they move here, we’ll use a unit for their transition to become a tenant until their unit is rent ready. They have already been approved by all
requirements to get into housing.”
Under Maintenance, Luke said when a unit needs a remodel, tenants can transition to one of the new cottage-style dwellings so that workers can have full access until the remodel is finished.
“The cottages are a maximum fit for that lot size,” Luke said. “They will be accommodating and comfortable for short-term use.”
He added that Housing worked with CTUIR’s Planning Department, Department of Economic & Community Development, Wenaha Group, Umatilla Tribal Fire Department, Cultural Resources Protection Program and Finance Department to develop the transitional/ temporary housing with the final
approval coming from the U.S. Housing and Urban Development and Board of Trustees.
“In the past, we’ve had issues of CTUIR members trying to move home but have no place to go until a unit is open,” Luke said. “They put their notice in but have no place to stay until then. Same way with working on existing units, at times we’ve put them in a motel or other unit but not enough time to get units updated, so this will help transition temporarily.”
According to Housing officials, construction is expected to be complete next spring with Housing finalizing rental policies in the summer. Units are expected to become available next fall.
$15M awarded for new Mill Creek Dam fish ladder
STAFF REPORTS
WALLA WALLA, Wash. –
According to the Columbia Basin Bulletin, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Walla Walla District has awarded a $15 million construction contract to SyblonReid Co. to build a new fish ladder at the Mill Creek Diversion Dam in Walla Walla.
The current fish ladder at the diversion dam, built in 1982, no longer meets the standards set by the National Marine Fisheries Service for successful fish passage – raising concerns for steelhead, Chinook salmon and bull trout returning to spawn in Mill Creek, states a Columbia Basin Bulletin story.
The story states the fish ladder will feature improved attraction flow and passage design, significantly reducing the time fish spend navigating the diversion dam and improving access to critical spawning habitat in upper Mill Creek.
In addition, the project includes improvements to the dam’s downstream stilling basin, a bypass channel for juvenile fish traveling downstream and bypass gates for flushing sediment past the dam, according to the story.
The project requires replacing a small section of the earthen portion of the diversion dam on the Rooks Park (north) side for the upstream end of the new ladder, as well as replacing a section
fishes through the MCFCP and into upper Mill Creek where they will have access to ideal spawning and rearing habitat.
“This will be especially important for not only Endangered Species Act-listed mid-Columbia steelhead and bull trout but also reintroduced spring Chinook and resident fish, all of which are important First Foods of the CTUIR. Overall this is a tremendous effort and something the CTUIR is extremely excited to see,” he said.
Construction is scheduled to take place between now and the fall of 2027. Site preparation work, such as surveying and staging area preparation will begin in September.
of the levee in Rooks Park on the downstream end, the story states. It also states the project will pave the way for future fish identification, counting and passive integrated transponder or PIT tag facilities, allowing for better monitoring and management of fish populations.
“This project is an exciting opportunity to continue to build on the efforts within the Walla Walla Basin towards restoring healthy and abundant populations of native fish,” said Jerimiah Bonifer, Fisheries Program manager for the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR). “The CTUIR has worked closely with the
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to address the impacts the Mill Creek Flood Control Project, or MCFCP, presents to our culturally important resources.
The new fish ladder at Bennington Dam coincides well with the CTUIR proposed USACE Continued Authorities Program 206 Umatilla Mill Creek Aquatic Ecosystem Restoration project that is improving fish passage at 63 grade control sills immediately below Bennington Dam as well as fish passage projects being planned further downstream by the Tri-State Steelheaders.”
Bonifer said the combination of these projects will provide better passage conditions for native
Closure notifications will be issued in advance of any on-site work impacting public access.
According to the story, to ensure continued flood risk management and minimize impacts to fish, in-water work will be carefully phased.
“Upon completion, the new fish ladder will not only benefit fish populations but also will enhance USACE’s ability to manage flows during flood events, improving both fish passage and flood risk reduction for the Walla Walla Valley. This project represents a significant investment in both environmental stewardship and community safety,” said the USACE in a press release.
A rendering show’s a new fish ladder at the Mill Creek Diversion Dam in Walla Walla, Washington. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Walla Walla District has awarded $15 million for its construction. U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS
Don Sampson – Vice Chairman of General Council
A Voice for Sovereignty. A Vision for the Future.
Proven leadership in tribal governance and national advocacy – we need strong leadership and an articulate voice to protect our rights during this Trump administration Champion for salmon restoration and environmental justice
Defender of treaty rights and tribal sovereignty
Committed to youth, education, and cultural revitalization
Visionary for clean energy and sustainable development and economic prosperity
Experience:
▪ Executive Director of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation of Oregon for 10 years (2021-2024 & 2003- 2010) .
▪ Climate Change Project Director for the Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians, a consortium of 57- tribes in the Pacific Northwest.
▪ One of 15 Indigenous representatives from North America at the Paris Climate Accords (COP21) and a top ten national finalist for the American Climate Leadership Award.
▪ Executive Director of the Institute of Tribal Government (2012 -2017) at Portland State University.
▪ Board of Trustees Chairman (1994-1997) and Vice Chairman General Council
▪ Executive Director of the Columbia River Inter - Tribal Fish Commission from 19972003.
▪ President and Board Member, Native American Fish & Wildlife Society (1993 -1997)
▪ B.S. in Fisheries Management from the University of Idaho.
Oregon releases 2025 Integrated Water Resource Strategy
STAFF REPORTS
SALEM – Addressing Oregon’s water challenges is an all-hands endeavor – Oregonians are best served when agencies are working toward common goals.
Those goals are articulated in the 2025 Integrated Water Resources Strategy (IWRS).
In early September, the Oregon Water Resources Commission (OWRC) adopted the 2025 IWRS, a roadmap for agencies interacting with water to address these issues head-on through coordinated action. To view the plan online, visit //owrd.info/iwrs.
The IWRS lays out key actions that fit within three priority areas:
•Act with urgency to protect instream and out-of-stream uses,
•Assist the state and communities to prepare for water scarcity, and
•Adapt to water scarcity by stretching our water supplies.
“It is incumbent upon all of us to embrace creative, new solutions when it comes to water management and take strong action to enhance the resilience of our natural lands and communities,” Gov. Tina Kotek said. “The actions laid out in this strategy are critical to achieving our shared goals and advancing water security for all Oregonians.”
This is the third iteration of the IWRS, with the first version being released in 2012. Prior versions have inspired improvements in water resource data collection,
management, planning and water project funding.
“Everyone needs cold, clean, and abundant water,” said Ivan Gall, Oregon Water Resources Department director. “As communities grapple with an era of water challenges, we must think differently and act urgently. This strategy strongly supports enhanced data collection, helping us better understand how much water is available, assess water quality, and determine the needs of people and ecosystems most affected by water challenges.”
A key improvement in the 2025 IWRS is clear prioritization of actions, helping agencies with limited resources identify the most promising pathways to progress. It also puts climate change front and center, with concrete actions to help Oregonians mitigate and
adapt.
The IWRS incorporates feedback from diverse voices across Oregon. Residents of all 36 counties offered opinions and concerns, including surveys available in nine languages and hosting numerous community conversations.
Tribal sovereign nations in Oregon were invited to provide their expertise and experience, and the IWRS reflects the priorities the inter-agency team heard throughout the process.
“The Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR) are very pleased with the updated 2025 Oregon Integrated Water Resources Strategy,” said Anton Chiono, CTUIR Habitat Conservation Project leader. “This roadmap for the future of Oregon’s water management builds upon
a strong foundation and is the product of years of thoughtful public input and the tireless dedication of Water Resources Department staff. While the path ahead is challenging, the IWRS will help guide the way to a future that protects our precious water resources for both Oregon’s ecosystems and all the people who depend upon them.”
Two rounds of public comment helped shape the final document, incorporating input from tribes, communities, organizations and water users who will be instrumental in the IWRS’ success.
“The Oregon Association of Conservation Districts believes that the IWRS is truly an excellent document that lays out the full range of actions we must take to make sure that our limited water resources serve the full range of beneficial uses as best possible,” said Stan Dean, chair of the advocacy committee for the Oregon Association of Conservation Districts. “Kudos to all who contributed to development of the IWRS. The biggest challenge moving forward will be finding sufficient funding and resources to take the actions that we need to take.”
At OWRD, next steps include developing a work plan with partner agencies to begin taking action on IWRS recommendations. The agency will continue to offer opportunities to weigh in as these plans take shape.
Oregon recently released its 2025 Oregon Integrated Water Resources Strategy as a roadmap for agencies interacting with water to address these issues head-on through coordinated action. LEE GAVIN/CTUIR
MASK
The lawmakers say that wearing masks, as Immigrations and Customs Enforcement agents have done at recent raids, erodes trust in government, with no recourse for identifying agents conducting arrests or detainments.
“This isn’t just a thing against Democrats. This is a thing against everybody in our state, Democrats, Republicans, your political affiliation makes no difference, and no administration, by whatever stripe they are, should ever be doing this stuff,” Andersen told the Capital Chronicle.
“I don’t think there’s any disagreements that there will be challenges,” he added. “We’ll have to litigate that.”
ICE has argued during the Trump administration’s mass crackdown on illegal immigration that its officers need to mask in order to do their jobs and avoid harassment. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security reported a 830% increase in assaults toward officers in July, saying agents’ family members were doxed and targeted in the Portland area.
The agency’s leadership has stood by allowing officers to mask despite growing criticism from immigration activists and law enforcement watchdogs.
The Oregon proposal would likely increase civil liabilities for law enforcement, a softer approach than taken by state
“This is a thing against everybody in our state, Democrats, Republicans, your political affiliation makes no difference, and no administration, by whatever stripe they are, should ever be doing this stuff.”
legislatures in California, Michigan, Tennessee and New York, which are currently considering making masking for law enforcement a misdemeanor.
U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden, an Oregon Democrat, introduced federal legislation in July prohibiting immigration enforcement officers from using face coverings and establishing an internal disciplinary process for violations.
“Battling these authoritarian acts by Donald Trump and his minions in our communities demands pushback on every level,” Wyden said in a statement.
“I’m gratified to see these two Oregon legislators spotlighting this issue at the state level with a bipartisan lens that reflects the best of the Oregon Way.”
But legal experts are debating the viability of the state-level measures, and whether states’ right to ensure the welfare and safety of their citizens can override the U.S. Constitution.
The Constitution’s supremacy clause ensures federal law takes precedence over state law.
Other more legally viable options for states include allowing local law enforcement to verify federal agent identities or conditioning cooperation upon not wearing masks, according to Noah Chauvin, an associate
eprofessor of law at the University of Oklahoma College of Law. Oregon’s sanctuary law already prohibits state and local law enforcement from helping enforce federal immigration law without a court order.
“If it makes it a crime or otherwise prohibits federal law enforcement from wearing masks when doing their normal operations, then that’s going to have supremacy clause problems, because it’s going to be a direct regulation of the manner in which the federal government is pursuing its mission,” Chauvin said.
Andersen said he was willing to consider making changes to state law and cooperation with federal authorities as a potential alternative but stressed the importance of challenging the Trump administration’s immigration policy.
In Beaverton, for instance, masked ICE agents apprehended a father outside of his children’s school in late July, aligning with a recent shift from longstanding federal policy preventing immigration enforcement in churches, schools and hospitals.
“We need to be aware of the atrocities that are happening in our country, and we need to stand up against it,” Andersen said. “This is the first set on a slippery
slope, and the less we resist and stand up, the more the bullies will take over.”
The homeland security department did not immediately respond to requests for comment about the legislation. In a June post on X responding to a similar bill in California, the agency called the effort “despicable.”
“While ICE officers are being assaulted by rioters, a sanctuary politician is trying to outlaw officers wearing masks to protect themselves from being doxed and targeted by known and suspected terrorist sympathizers,” the department wrote.
How the agency may respond to the proposed bill if it were passed remains a question.
Chauvin said the U.S. Attorney’s Office could remand state cases involving federal employees to federal court, moving to dismiss them on the grounds of preventing conflicts through the supremacy clause.
“Conceivably, you could see the federal government, if this were enacted, challenging in court,” he said. “I think, more likely, they would just ignore it.”
Constitutional amendments in Oregon require majority votes in both the House and Senate to receive a public vote on the ballot. If the legislature passes Javadi and Andersen’s proposal in the 2026 short session, it will be referred to voters on the 2026 general election ballot. It would require a simple majority of voters to pass. – oregoncapitalchronicle. com
American revolution And Tribal Sovereignty
Oregon, Washington, California form alliance to protect vaccine access
AMELIA TEMPLETON
Oregon Public Broadcasting
The democratic governors of Oregon, Washington and California are forming a new public health partnership aimed at preserving access to vaccines.
The partnership, called the Western Health Alliance, will develop its own immunization guidelines “informed by respected national medical organizations,” according to a press release Wednesday from Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek, Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson and California Gov. Gavin Newsom.
“The CDC has become a political tool that increasingly peddles ideology instead of science, ideology that will lead to severe health consequences. California, Oregon, and Washington will not allow the people of our states to be put at risk,” the governors said in a joint prepared statement.
Their announcement comes after a week of chaos at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
In late August, the White House fired CDC Director Susan Monarez, who was appointed by President Trump, after she refused to approve vaccine policies preferred by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Several of the agency’s top career scientists also resigned in protest. On Sept. 1, nine former directors of the CDC, who worked under both Republicans and Democrats, condemned Kennedy’s leadership of the agency in an op-ed in The New York Times.
Kennedy, a longtime antivaccine activist, responded with an op-ed of his own in the Wall Street Journal, saying he’s “restoring the public’s trust in the CDC” and vaccine science broadly by eliminating bias and conflicts of interest.
“Vaccines are among the most powerful tools in modern medicine; they have indisputably saved millions of lives,” Dr. Sejal Hathi, head of the Oregon Health Authority, said in the announcement. “But when guidance about their
use becomes inconsistent or politicized, it undermines public trust at precisely the moment we need it most.”
In August, the FDA approved the new round of COVID-19 vaccines, but limited their availability to only those who are considered high-risk.
The CDC’s advisory committee on immunization practices is set to meet this month to discuss recommendations for who should get the shot, providing needed guidance to pharmacists across the country.
Earlier this summer, Kennedy removed all 17 members from the advisory committee and has replaced them with members who have criticized vaccines and spread misinformation about them.
On Sept. 1, President Donald Trump suggested on his social media website Truth Social that drugmakers like Pfizer should prove to the public that COVID-19 vaccines were effective because controversy was affecting the CDC.
In a press release, Pfizer included a link to a presentation from May on its vaccine efficacy.
The alliance’s formation is not the first time West Coast states have partnered on public
health endeavors. In 2020, the three formed the “Western States Pact” to review federal vaccine recommendations and coordinate pandemic restrictions. Oregon, Washington and California were three of the final states to lift their mask mandates.
The states also have a history in responding to national health care policy changes. As legal cases that threatened abortion medication moved through the
“The CDC has become a political tool that increasingly peddles ideology instead of science, ideology that will lead to severe health consequences.”
courts, the states all developed their own stockpiles of the drugs, mifepristone and misoprostol.
Tensions between the states and the Trump administration have been rising in other areas over the past month as well.
The president has frequently said he wanted to see more immigration enforcement in so-called sanctuary states like Oregon and Washington after a notable presence in California.
Newsom has also taken to mocking President Trump on social media in recent days.
The three Democratic governors offered few specifics on Sept. 3 as to how they hope the Western Health Alliance could influence which vaccines will be available in their states.
The Food and Drug Administration is tasked with approving new vaccines, and state legislatures generally determine which vaccines are required for school attendance.
One possibility would be bulk vaccine purchasing agreements, with more than 50 million people living in the three states combined.
Syringes are prepared for the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine at a clinic in Lubbock, Texas, on Feb. 26, 2025. MARY CONLON/AP
Kotek signs pro-consumer bills to support Oregon families
New laws protect Oregonians from medical debt, hidden fees and unfair car-buying practices.
STAFF REPORTS
SALEM – On Sept. 15, Gov. Tina Kotek commemorated the signing of three bills that protect Oregon families struggling to make ends meet.
The bills address issues around medical debt, online transactions and car purchases. Kotek was joined by lawmakers, consumer advocates and community leaders to celebrate passage of Senate Bill 605, Senate Bill 430 and House Bill 3178.
“From easing the stress of medical debt to making sure there are no surprise fees with online purchases to helping families clearly understand the terms of buying a car, these new bills give Oregonians more peace of mind, fairness and transparency they need for a more secure future,” Kotek said.
“As chair of the House Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection as well as a chief sponsor of all three bills, I am thrilled that we passed such sweeping legislation to create a more equitable marketplace for Oregonians,” State Rep. Nathan Sosa (D-Hillsboro) said.
Senate Bill 605 – Ending Medical Debt Credit Reporting
The bill prohibits medical debt
“…these new bills give Oregonians more peace of mind, fairness and transparency they need for a more secure future.”
from appearing on consumer credit reports, protecting Oregonians from long-term financial harm due to unexpected health care expenses. Oregon joins other states taking action to ensure medical crises don’t damage credit histories.
“Penalizing someone’s credit score because they got sick or injured doesn’t help them pay off their bill. It only makes it harder to recover,” State Sen. Wlnsvey Campos (D-Aloha) said.
“Signing this bill into law marks a huge win and relief for the thousands of Oregonians who file for bankruptcy annually due to medical debt.”
“This isn’t just a technical change in policy, it’s about giving people their lives back,” Daysi Bedolla Sotelo, Advocacy and Policy Strategist for the Oregon Health Equity Alliance, said. “In the last two years alone, nearly one in three Oregonians has taken on medical debt. By removing this burden from credit reports, we give people a fair chance to rebuild their credit, find safe housing, secure employment and move toward lasting financial stability.”
Senate Bill 430 – No Hidden Online Fees
The bill bans online sellers from hiding mandatory fees in
CULTURAL INSTITUTE
FREE FIRST FRIDAY!
FREE admission all day at Tamástslikt Cultural Institute.
October 3, 10am-5pm
FREE admission all day. Dine inside at Kinship Cafe or order take-out. Enjoy Indian Tacos ($10.50) and Frybread ($5) from 11am-2pm. Shop the Museum Store for unique and exclusive products. Visit our colorful beadwork exhibit, Pride in Patriotism: Fred L. Mitchell Collection of Patriot Beadwork.
advertised prices. Companies must now include all required fees upfront so Oregonians know exactly what they’ll pay before completing a purchase.
House Bill 3178 – Auto Loan Fairness and Transparency
The bill requires car dealers to provide plain-language disclosures in Oregon’s top six spoken languages outlining consumer rights during purchases. Dealers now have 10 days instead of 14 to finalize auto loans and must notify consumers within two days if their purchase contract is voided.
“HB 3178 provides transparency, fairness and peace of mind during a major purchase,” Nansi Lopez, Policy Director for Centro Cultural’s Latino Policy Council, said. “This bill puts power back into the hands of consumers. Together, we are building a more equitable marketplace that works for all Oregonians.”
These reforms ensure that all Oregon consumers, regardless of language or income, are treated fairly and with dignity. All three laws will take effect in 2026.
“The freedom to make informed financial decisions that are right for us and our families should be a given.
When faced with big purchases or tough times, all of us deserve to have our rights and our futures protected,” Chris Coughlin, federal policy director for Oregon Consumer Justice, said. “These bills help us create a more just and equitable Oregon where people come first. Thank you to the legislative champions who shepherded these bills, to Governor Kotek for signing them, and especially to the Oregonians who shared their stories.”
Pepsi Primetime @ the Museum ARCHEOLOGY DAY
Saturday, October 4
Free admission!
From 10am-1pm: Flint knapping demo and Atlatl demo.
At 2pm: Discussion led by Dr. Rachel A. Horowitz, Assistant Professor, Dept. of Anthropology, at Washington State University, on stone tool production and what it tells us about past economies. crafting, and trading of Mesoamerica.
Pepsi Primetime @ the Museum DOUBLE MATIN É E
Saturday, October 18
Free admission!
First movie begins at 1:00 pm:
These Sacred Hills - FilmFreeway
Second movie beginning at approx. 3:00 pm: Big Medicine: York Outdoors
Pepsi Primetime @ the Museum HAND DRUM OPEN MIC
Saturday, October 25 4pm
If you are a hand drum singer/performer or are practicing to become one, come share your songs and enjoy the performance of others. Free admission and open to the public!
Museum Store
TAMÁSTSLIKT SOUVENIRS!
Pick up some fun logo items featuring Tamástslikt Cultural institute and other Tamástslikt events and exhibits. Then shop for fall apparel, beautiful hand made beadwork, blankets, Pendleton beach towels, and more!
Gov. Tina Kotek
Crane, Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR) Education Department director, helps hold a check signifying a $1,500 donation to the department from
CTUIR Education Department receives Moda Health donation
STAFF REPORTS
PENDLETON – As part of Moda Health and the Portland Trail Blazers’ Rip City Rally, the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation’s (CTUIR) Education Department received a $1,500 donation from Moda Health on Sept. 17 in Pendleton.
CTUIR Education Director Jaimie Crane said the department would use the funds for the After School Education Program (ASEP), which supports tribal families and CTUIR employees by providing care to their children in kindergarten through third grade.
According to the CTUIR website, ASEP enhances children’s growth and development; improves emergent literacy, numeracy and language skills through various activities; plans activities with a goal of improving students’ general cognitive skills, gross and fine motor skills; social behavior; emotional well-being and physical health.
“The donation is just a direct contribution that supports our goal to support children during the important hours between 3 p.m. and 7 p.m.,” Crane said. “These may seem like just a few hours, but they are a meaningful time in a child’s day. During this time, CTUIR ASEP staff focus on building strong, caring
relationships while creating a safe and engaging learning environment that nurtures each child’s health and well-being.”
Crane participated in a ceremonial check presentation at the Rip City Rally in Roy Raley Park. The rally was part of the Moda Health and Trail Blazers partnership tour around Oregon to showcase healthy and active living as well as provide activities for kids, youth basketball PE takeovers and on-court youth basketball activities.
She said Moda Health selects youth-focused nonprofit organizations to partner with each tour stop, specifically schools and organizations that provide afterschool programming.
“We are honored that CTUIR ASEP was selected to receive this support,” Crane said. “This contribution is more than a financial donation – it reflects a meaningful commitment to the health, well-being and future success of our youth. We deeply value partners who invest in the next generation and help strengthen our community.”
She added, “Our community has a deep love for basketball and the Trail Blazers, so it was especially exciting to see them bring their spotlight to Pendleton with a focus on creating fun and meaningful activities for our kids.”
Jaimie
Moda Health on Sept. 17 as park of the insurance company and Portland Trail Blazers’ Rip City Rally in Pendleton. COURTESY
Each year in October, we celebrate National Cooperative Month with you, our members, as an opportunity to thank you for being a part of our cooperative. Please join us at one or all of our member appreciation events across our service territory for
Jockeys at Indian
KATHY ANEY
Oregon Public Broadcasting
PENDLETON – Tyler Peasley hugged his horse tightly with his legs as it danced at the start line.
This was the first heat of the Indian Relay Races at the Pendleton Round-Up. At the sound of a horn, the four mounted competitors bolted from the line and sprinted around the first curve.
Relay Races
The jockeys rode without saddles or stirrups, relying on nerve and athleticism as they thundered past the grandstand and around the second curve. The thoroughbreds’ hooves jackhammered the dirt track, igniting tiny dust explosions.
The event is a relay, but not in the usual sense. Instead of a baton, the jockey is passed between three horses.
burn up the track at Round-Up
After one lap, riders headed to a pitstop area where teammates awaited with fresh mounts. Each jockey vaulted from one horse, took a running start and leaped onto the back of another. One more lap and they repeated the process.
It was pure adrenaline.
In the end, Peasley, a Colville Tribe member who rides for the Omak Express team, cruised
easily across the finish line, his competition eating his dusty wake.
Some aficionados consider Indian relay racing the original extreme sport — high-octane competition featuring top-notch horsemanship and speedy, spirited horses.
This wild, fast-paced event has
CTUIR hosts Carbon & Culture Symposium
Carbon sequestration initiatives are being funded but they don’t include CTUIR’s First Foods habitats.
STAFF REPORTS
COVE, Ore. – The Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR) hosted a symposium Sept. 29 to Oct. 1 to develop a regional consensus in response to carbon sequestration projects impacting First Foods habitats.
“Carbon sequestration initiatives are being funded in the Pacific Northwest, and CTUIR’s First Foods habitats and the working lands that can support them are being left behind,” said CTUIR Climate Adaption Planner Colleen Sanders. “This Carbon & Culture Symposium invited tribal knowledge keepers, cultural practitioners, land managers, research groups and academics to discuss opportunities and options to increase recognition and funding of vegetation and soil carbon sequestration performed by our living ecosystems.”
The three-day event was held at the Ascension School
“Natural lands and functional ecosystems sequester carbon efficiently and effectively, primarily through vegetation growth and soil
in Cove and featured handson cultural activities provided by Naknuwiłáma Tiičámna (Caretakers of the Land), an Indigenous stewardship nonprofit.
“Natural lands and functional ecosystems sequester carbon efficiently and effectively, primarily through vegetation growth and soil organic carbon,” Sanders said. “Working lands that perform some economic activity, most often agriculture and forestry, are preferred strategies for carbon removal and storage. If managed appropriately, these working lands have the potential to sequester carbon and provide benefits to First Foods through improved land management and habitat availability.”
The CTUIR’s First Foods are those the Cayuse, Walla Walla and Umatilla people cultivate throughout the year such as water, salmon, roots, berries, deer and elk.
The symposium also provided opportunities for tribal knowledge keepers and practitioners to
organic carbon.”
lead conversations about carbon sequestration science, what options are available and how the CTUIR and others can uplift First Foods as an answer to carbon mitigation.
It also included a student poster contest for middle school, high school and college students.
“It is hard to believe that all of this came together with partners, presenters and the student poster contestants. I am so proud of the First Foods Policy Program (FFPP) team, especially Colleen Sanders and Climate Change intern Ermia Butler,” Althea Huesties-Wolf, CTUIR Hanford Policy analyst and acting FFPP manager. “I hope this event can be mimicked again in another rural Eastern Oregon community in the future. I think rural people deserve to be a part of decisions, especially when it is our land and resources that are being drilled, extracted, dammed and burrowed to power and connect urban zones, not to mention being the long-term storage to a variety of waste categories from homes
and industry to nuclear clean-up and carbon pollution. I hope our region knows that our mission to protect, preserve and manage the land and resources benefits all those who call this place home and our future generations.”
Held in partnership with the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (ODEQ) as part of the state’s Comprehensive Climate Action Plan, the event was free to attendees with priority given to tribal knowledge keepers, tribal members, academic institutions, K-12 and college students, research partners as well as public and private land managers.
“Presently this symposium has been planned as a singular event,” Sanders said. “We wish we could offer it again in the future, but that would depend on availability of funding to make it happen. We are grateful to the ODEQ for funding this event as part of its community engagement around the state’s EPA Carbon Pollution Reduction Grant Program award. They made it possible for this event to come together.”
Tyler Peasley, of the Omak Express team, leads his heat of the Indian Relay Race on Sept. 10 at the Pendleton Round-Up. KATHY ANEY/OPB
LETTER to EDITOR
The opinions expressed are those of authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the CUJ
Kelly L. George gives thanks
Special thanks to James Hall, UTPD fire chief, and Aaron Nelson, UTPD for helping Dit, Sophie and myself execute a safe burn.
Special thanks to Erika Minthorn for her assistance reserving and planning our dinner.
Special thanks to all who offered love and support during the loss of our brother, husband and friend.
Kelly L. George Tribal member
City of Weston Oregon thanks Wildhorse Foundation
We want to thank Wildhorse Foundation for their ongoing support through a grant for the second quarter 2023-2024 Parks & Recreation for the City of Weston Oregon. This grant allowed us
to paint the park kitchen and to improve signage. We deeply appreciate their patience and assistance while guiding us as we worked on this project and the supporting data.
Kosey supports Gavin
I am writing to enthusiastically endorse Jill Marie Gavin for the Board of Trustees Member at Large election on Nov. 4, 2025. Having had the opportunity to observe Jill Marie’s dedication and capabilities, I am confident she possesses the qualities necessary to effectively serve our community.
Jill Marie is a highly driven and insightful individual with a proven track record of advocacy for tribal rights and governance.
Her passion for our people is evident in her commitment to upholding treaty rights and strengthening our sovereignty. She is deeply invested in the well-being of our elders, youth and the preservation of our cultural heritage through education and
revitalization initiatives.
Jill Marie’s proactive approach ensures she will be a diligent and engaged trustee. She is committed to active participation in board meetings, diligently reporting back to the community on key issues and advocating for the interests of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation. Her strong communication skills will ensure transparency and keep our community informed of ongoing projects and initiatives. I urge you to join me in supporting Jill Marie Gavin. Her dedication, insight, and energy make her an exceptional candidate to serve on the Board of Trustees Member at Large.
Sally Kosey Tribal Member
Richard Dean “Dude” Burke March 26, 1967 – August 10, 2025
Richard Dean Burke, affectionately known as “Dude,” was born in Pendleton, OR, and raised in Athena, OR. He was the son of Margaret and Richard Burke Jr. Growing up, Dude enjoyed working with Bob Johns on his farm. In his early teens, he participated in local rodeos and especially enjoyed bareback riding. As he got older, he became an avid golfer and even won an all-Indian golf tournament in Las Vegas.
Dude enjoyed his dogs, traveling, and spending time outdoors— whether fishing, hunting, or making sure Dit, Patch, and Kelly had wood for the winter. He attended vocational training to become a lineman, a career that took him to Kansas, Arizona, and Washington. He loved his family and friends and embraced life to the fullest.
Richard had the kind of presence you never forgot — a quick wit, a loud and infectious laugh that could fill a room, and a heart that cared deeply for everyone he loved. He had the best sense of humor and a gift for making people feel seen, always calling to check in on friends and family. A true social spirit, Richard loved to travel, meet new people, and share his famous sayings that still bring smiles to those who knew him best.
He loved his wife and children dearly, and together they shared a lifetime of laughter, joy, and unforgettable adventures. Richard’s warmth, humor, and generosity touched the lives of everyone fortunate enough to know him. His laugh will echo in our hearts forever. He is survived by his wife, Rebecca Nila Burke; his children, Makiesha, Megan, and Michael; his daughterin-law, Kim; his granddaughters, Araeya, Nakiah, and “the Bird.” He cherished the family he grew up with and the family he built, holding both with equal love in his heart. He is also survived by his mother, Margaret; his son, Triston and Celeste, granddaughter Luna; his sisters, Marynel Tibbles of Texas, Rebecca Burke, Kelly Burke and Gary George, Julie “Dit” Burke and Junior Bronson, and Michelle “Patch” Burke, all of Pendleton, and Tracy and Scott Nelson of Salem; along with his nieces, Candice and Zach Patrick, Megan George, Sophie Bronson; and nephews, Quincy E. George and Dillon L. George. He was preceded in death by his father, Richard Burke Jr., his sister, Elizabeth A. Burke and his brother Douglas Zunke.
Richard lived fully, loved deeply, and left behind memories that will continue to inspire laughter and love in those who knew him best.
RELAY
kept mesmerized spectators on the edges of their seats for most of the 115-year history of the Pendleton Round-Up. Each September, the rodeo draws upwards of 50,000 people and their animals to one of Eastern Oregon’s most iconic spectacles.
Pendleton Round-Up President Tiah DeGrofft often hears people say Indian Relay Races are their favorite events.
“The athleticism of the riders is mind-blowing,” DeGrofft said. “I’m in awe of them.”
The relay event evolved from a half-mile “Indian Race” listed in the first program of the Pendleton Round-Up in 1910. In 1913, the first actual relay appeared in rodeo programs.
It has been a long series of wild rides. Horses mostly follow the track but occasionally take abrupt left turns onto the arena infield, jumping a low fence and scattering photographers and cowboys.
Much of the chaos happens during the exchanges. Each team includes a rider, catcher and holder. The catcher grabs the first horse while the holder readies the next one.
Abe Grunlose, catcher for the Camp Six team, said nerves of steel are a definite advantage for his role.
“When the horse comes around the corner and comes at you,” he said, “he’s going 35 miles an hour.”
Grunlose separated a couple
“When the horse comes around the corner and comes at you, he’s going 35 miles an hour.”
of ribs a few races back but said getting banged up is worth it when things go right.
“We like the adrenaline rush,” he said. “When you win, it makes you feel pretty good being the badass team.”
Aptly named jockey, Ryder Abrahamson spends the time prior to each race working to remain calm. On Sept. 10, before his team raced the third and last heat of the first day, he languidly played a game of corn hole with a team member to keep his nerves at bay. Abrahamson, 17, loves the competition, excitement and especially the horses. During the school year, he spends time before and after school with his three
thoroughbreds: Brawler, Mufasa and Looker. He feeds them, spends time every day jumping on and off of their backs and just hangs out with them.
To hone his body, he runs 3 or 4 miles each day and plays on the Omak High School football team.
Peasley started riding by accident in 2001 at age 14, when a team needed a rider in a hurry. They asked Peasley and a friend if one of them would fill in. Neither wanted to do it.
“We flipped a coin,” Peasley said, “I lost.”
But he won his first race, and he was hooked.
Ryder Abrahamson, of the Abrahamson team, dismounts his horse on the fly in the exchange zone during the relay. KATHY ANEY/OREGON PUBLIC BROADCASTING
Nixyaawii students travel, grow and learn
SHYLEE BRONCHEAU
NCS New Media
During this summer break, Nixyáawii Community School (NCS) students had the opportunity to go on new adventures in new places—gaining new experiences, knowledge and memories.
Each place was described by students as more fun than the last. These experiences sparked new joy in their lives and offered hands-on opportunities, igniting new passions in the activities they participated in and the places they visited. Their travels ranged from the far north in Alaska to the East Coast in Boston.
The students who visited Boston, Massachusetts, described the trip as an “amazing experience.” They explored many astonishing places, with the most beautiful said to be Hampton Beach, New Hampshire. It gave everyone a nostalgic Seaside feeling and brought people together from across the country.
A highlight was attending a Red Sox game, where they heard the roar of fans from around the nation and proudly showed Golden Eagle support. Another favorite was the Duck Tour, which transitioned from land into water, offering a unique way to tour the city.
The beautiful, sunny weather made the entire trip an unforgettable adventure filled with new memories and stories to
bring home.
Some students experienced magical performances in Ashland, Oregon. They saw two breathtaking musicals— “Waitress” and “Into the Woods.”
The Nixyáawii students were even invited to perform in a scene with the Into the Woods cast in front of nearly 1,500 people.
Although they also visited escape rooms and an aquarium, the musicals stood out as the highlight of the trip, especially the artistry behind each performance. In total, students saw six plays.
The diversity of the art, people and shows made the experience unforgettable. The escape rooms were another student favorite, offering a chance to build problem-solving skills and work through challenges as a Golden Eagle team.
Heading north, the Alaska fishing trip was said to be the best of all. Students learned new fishing techniques and about the marine life of the Pacific, all while enjoying the cool ocean breeze.
The endless sight of rough waters was described as thrilling.
where they learned about native life and the deeper meanings of cultural traditions.
The rest of their time was spent fishing with their guide—whether making big catches or simply enjoying the patience and peace of waiting for a bite. The stunning scenery made this trip a favorite and a perfect fit for those who enjoy the hobby of fishing.
Each of these trips offered valuable lessons for students— whether trying new things with new people or standing confidently in front of a crowd as a team.
These experiences have helped students grow in their own unique ways. NCS is honored to provide these opportunities and deeply appreciates all the donations and sponsorships that made them possible.
Students also visited the Alaska Native Heritage Museum,
Pictured from left to right are Aaron Noisey, Devon Hall-Spencer, Annalise Watchman, Quincy Sams, Ryan Sams, Kash Bronson and Evan Minthorn in Alaska.
Pictured from left to right: Gracie Wilson, Liana Higheagle, Neveah Moore and Sophie Wilson at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. COURTESY PHOTOS
Pictured from left to right; Brody Kenney, Eleanor Kenney, Nicci Harrison, Sophie Wilson and Meadow Nez at the escape room in Ashland, Oregon.
CTUIR hosts elders from Pacific Northwest tribes
The Department of Children and Family Services hosted approximately 700 people for Elders Day.
MISSION – The Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR) honored tribal elders with its annual Elders Day event on Sept. 5 inside the Wildhorse Resort & Casino’s Rivers Event Center.
Julie Taylor, CTUIR Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) director, said the DCFS Elders Group and Nicht-Yow-Way Elders Advisory Group hosted approximately 700 people for the event, which had the theme of “Living Our Legacies with Pride.”
“The Elders Day event in September differs from the CTUIR elders gathering in December,” Taylor said. “The September event is for elders of the Pacific Northwest tribes to come together during Pendleton’s Round-Up & Happy Canyon schedule while the December occasion is for CTUIR elders.”
The gathering started with a continental breakfast at 8 a.m. while listening to the Cayuse Singers and browsing goods from vendors.
At 9:15, Board of Trustees Member at Large Corinne Sams, who served as emcee, opened the ceremony before veterans posted the colors.
The Cayuse Singers then performed the “Flag Honor song,” which was followed by Carina
Vasquez singing the “Umatilla Song.”
The Nicht-Yow-Way Elders Advisory Group was then introduced and honored shortly before the 2025 Happy Canyon Princesses, Korie Spencer and Avery Quaempts, were introduced.
Following the princess was the introductions and honoring of tribal chiefs, elders and veterans, the oldest male and female in attendance and oldest male and female veterans in attendance.
The keynote speaker was Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs member Bruce Jim.
Jim has served as a member of the Fish and Wildlife Committee of Warm Springs and a board
member of the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission. He is involved in restoration and stewardship of wildlife habitat on the Warm Springs Reservation, on Warm Springs ceded lands and elsewhere in the John Day River basin and the high desert of the Columbia River region.
Also featured were CTUIR member and artist Nizhoni Toledo, Oregon Department of Human Services Tribal Affairs Director George B. Lopez and the CTUIR Youth Council.
Prizes were also raffled off to elders throughout the day. The event was open to any member of a federally recognized tribe who is 55 or older.
CTUIR Office of Air Quality
Fall Burn Program Update
Fall Burn Season Expected Opening: Late October 2025
• Need the current 2025 Permit? Scan the QR code below.
• Until opening day, gather tree trimmings, leaves, and untreated wood into small piles to dry.
Burn Decision updated daily during burn season:
• Burn Line – (541) 429-7080
Best Burning Practices
• Only burn dry wood & leaves
• Start your burn with clean, dry paper or cardboard
• Light 4 corners of your burn pile
• Burn clean: Ensure good airflow under the burn pile or barrel
Elders look toward the stage to watch a speaker following breakfast at the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation annual Elders Day on Sept. 5 at the Wildhorse Resort & Casino in Mission. TRAVIS SNELL/CTUIR
Hands across the bridge
SARAH FRANK
Special to the CUJ
PORTLAND — The Medicine Wheel Recovery Center Drummers led the procession onto the I-5 Bridge during the 25th annual Hands Across the Bridge (HAtB) event, held on Labor Day. Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR) General Council Vice Chairman Michael Ray Johnson served as the 2025 Tribal Speaker. He gave thanks to the original caretakers of the land and encouraged participants to seek more than just sobriety, emphasizing the importance of living in balance spiritually, emotionally and mentally.
History of Hands Across the Bridge
Hands Across the Bridge was founded in 2001 by Patty Katz and Louise Wedge in recognition of National Recovery Month. The two stood on Portland’s Burnside Bridge at daybreak to celebrate that they were no longer living under the bridge in addiction, but above it in recovery.
The event later moved to the I-5 Bridge between Portland and Vancouver.
Over the years, HAtB has gained the support of elected officials, faith-based leaders, behavioral health organizations, community partners, and thousands of people in recovery, along with their families and friends.
A Day of Healing and Celebration
The event begins with prayer and guest speakers from 10 to 11:30 a.m. At 11:30, the Drummers lead the walk onto the I-5 Bridge. At noon, hundreds of participants form a human chain and recite the Serenity Prayer.
The event serves as a metaphor for the many still struggling
with addiction. Following the bridge walk, participants gather in Vancouver for HandsFest, a recovery-oriented, family-friendly music festival in the park. Both events are free and open to anyone in recovery, as well as their families, supporters and community members.
Stories of Recovery and Remembrance
In 2015, Katz invited Sarah Frank to join the HAtB Board. Frank, a person in long-term recovery who has not used alcohol or drugs in over 24 years, has served on the board since. She and Sister J’Dean Kalama organize the “Gone But Not Forgotten” booth to honor loved ones lost to addiction.
Before the ceremonial dove release, Frank shared how she has stayed in recovery through times of grief.
CTUIR member Curtis Thompson Jr., a graduate and current employee of Medicine Wheel Treatment Services, participated in the event. Thompson has 20 months of recovery and is also a drummer for Evaristo Antunez’s Wellbriety Drum and Medicine Wheel Drum. Antunez, a Warm Springs member, shared a powerful testimony about brotherhood.
In 2024, Frank and her family traveled to Portland for the event. Her granddaughter, Josephine— whose Indian name was Dancing Star—became ill and later passed away. In her honor, the HAtB Board included a star on the 2025 event T-shirts.
Recovery is for everyone: every person, every family, every community.
Hands Across the Bridge invites all to the next event, to be held Labor Day, Sept. 7, 2026.
For more information, visit https://handsacrossthebridge.org.
Hands Across the Bridge, an organization that supports recovery and raises awareness about addiction, hosted its annual event on Labor Day, Sept. 1, 2025. COURTESY
A crowd of people listen to speeches and perfomances during a past Hands Across the Bridge event.
Washington announced as new Native program director
LEGAL AID SERVICES OF OREGON
Legal Aid Services of Oregon (LASO) recently welcomed Molly Washington (N’dee/Apache) to serve as the next director of the Native American Program, historically known as NAPOLS. Since its inception in 1979, NAPOLS has provided high-quality legal advice and representation to income-eligible Native American community members, organizations and Indian tribes throughout Oregon, covering an array of legal issues including
estate planning, guardianship, expungement, benefits access, tribal sovereignty and more.
Washington brings a breadth of experience to this leadership position, having spent over 16 years as a civil law practicing attorney in both the private and public sectors, as well as experience in nonprofit leadership.
Washington currently serves as the chair of the Native American Youth and Family Center, having served on the board for the past six years, and has worked with many
other Native-led organizations throughout the region. Her approach to her work at NAPOLS is guided by her cultural values which instill responsibility, respect, balance, interconnection, humility, and truth. She is ecstatic about the opportunity to advance and reinvigorate the Native American Program so that it remains responsive to community needs and the shifting legal landscape.
“NAPOLS is a program that has the ability to provide significant legal support to the members of
our Native community who are most in need,” She said. “Our community is resilient, adaptable, creative, strong, and inspiring. Our work is to advocate, to educate, and to empower all of those traits. I am grateful for the opportunity to play a small part in the long legacy of NAPOLS and am honored that its future has been entrusted to our team.”
If you want to learn more about the Native American Program of LASO and its services, go to lasoregon.org/locations/nativeamerican-program/.
36th annual Cay-Uma-Wa Golf Tournament results
Events
Community Activities
Wear Purple
Join us in wearing purple for domestic violence awareness month to show that we believe, support and stand with those impacted by intimate partner violence
Date: 10/1/2025
Candlelight Vigil
To honor those currently experiencing and those healing from intimate partner violence
Location: Mission Market
Date: 10/16/2025
Time: 5:30pm-6:30pm
We will be hosting table ev chance to win a prize!
Yellowhawk
Date: 10/9/2025
Time: 11:30am-2:30pm
Nixyáawii Governance Center
Date: 10/23/2025 Time: 11:30am-2:30pm
Nixyáawi Date: 10/ Time: 11:4
People walking through intimate partner violence often experience being silenced from an abusive partner though coercive control tactics such as isolation, gaslighting, threats, etc This can be compounded when they share their experiences with trusted relatives or professionals who minimize or deny their abuse Take a stand for survivors by believing their experiences and supporting them on their
Breast Cancer For Women 65+: What To Know
STAFF REPORTS
When it comes to their health, men have a (well-deserved) reputation for delaying or simply ignoring important tests and screenings.
But before the ladies take a victory lap, there’s still a large percentage of women forgoing a particularly vital test.
Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicates that 65.6% of women 40 and up reported having a mammogram in the last two years.
While that’s a pretty good number, it also means that roughly a third of women aren’t doing the recommended screening.
If you haven’t had a mammogram lately, there’s no time like the present, as October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
Facts and Figures
If you’ve been meaning to get a test scheduled and have just been putting it off, it’s something you should talk to your doctor about sooner rather than later.
The following figures, courtesy of the National Breast Cancer Foundation (NBCF), illustrate the pervasiveness of the disease:
•1 in 8 women, or approximately 13% of the female population in the U.S., will develop breast cancer in their lifetime.
•It is estimated that in 2024, approximately 30% of all new
female cancer diagnoses will be breast cancer.
•Breast cancer is the most common cancer in American women, except for skin cancers.
•On average, every two minutes a woman is diagnosed with breast cancer in the United States.
•Approximately 15% of women diagnosed have a family history of breast cancer. Those with a first-degree relative (mother, sister, daughter) with breast cancer are nearly twice as likely to develop breast cancer themselves.”
Mammograms and checking in with your physician are vital, especially among women 60 and up, as the average age of women diagnosed with breast cancer is 62.
The Good News
The statistics may paint a sobering picture of the disease, but advances in treatments and early detection can help reduce the worst-case scenarios for those diagnosed with breast cancer.
The NBCF reports that, “Approximately 66% of breast cancer cases are diagnosed at a localized stage, before cancer has spread outside of the breast, when it is easiest to treat.”
They go on to note that, “The 5-year relative survival rate for cancer diagnosed at the localized stage is 99%.”
That’s why regular screenings and mammograms are vital – if breast cancer is caught early enough, doctors have a much
better chance at reducing or preventing its spread.
Even before going to a doctor, women should regularly be checking for lumps, and immediately talking to their physician should they find one.
Risk Factors and Mitigations
Age is one factor that can be a risk factor for developing breast cancer, but there are a variety of other markers that need to be considered, including:
•Having had breast cancer previously
•A family history of breast cancer
•Having dense breasts
•Genetics
In some cases, a breast cancer diagnosis is bad luck or might run in the family. But there are lifestyle interventions that can, if not prevent breast cancer, lower the risk. A few things you can do to improve your chances of staying healthy are:
•Engage in regular exercise
•Maintain a healthy weight
•Reduce alcohol consumption
•Take hormones
It’s important to talk to your doctor about your family history and potential risk factors and of course undergo regular mammograms.
Additionally, any fitness plan should be done in consultation with a physician and tailored your ability and comfort.
Life at McKay Creek Assisted Living
At McKay Creek, our team helps residents in all aspects of their
Women, especially those who are 60 and older, are reminded the importance of regular screenings and mammograms. YELLOWHAWK/ ARCHIVE
wellness to promote health and longevity.
With fitness programs, healthy dining and a focus on life enrichment, residents at McKay Creek are provided with the tools and support to thrive at all stages of life.
For more information about life at McKay Creek Assisted Living, visit our website at mckaycreekal. com, or call us at (541) 276-1987 to schedule a tour.
TUTUILLA PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH EVANGELISTIC
O C TOBER 11TH AND 12TH, 2025
SATURDAY MORNING LITE BREAKFAST 9AM TO 10AM
LUNCH 12:00 NO ON
2:00 PM AUC TION TO STA RT AT THE LOWERY HALL BREAK
6:00PM - 8:00PM WORSHIP AND SONG
SUNDAY MORNING 11:00AM CHURCH SERVICE
NO ON LUNCH TO BE SERVED AT THE LOWERY HALL
END OF SERVICE, THANK YOU ALL FOR ATTENDING, SAFE TR AVEL S HOME
Noisey says officiating helps him in his coaching role
ANNIE FOWLER
The
CUJ
MISSION — Aaron Noisey has spent years on the sidelines as the Nixyáawii Community School boys basketball coach, but this fall you can find him on a different sideline.
Noisey, who also serves as Nixyáawii’s athletic director, has returned to the football field after a four-year hiatus to work games for the Blue Mountain Football Officials Association.
While Noisey helps fill a void during a nationwide shortage of officials, his reasons are also personal.
“One, it helps me stay active,” Noisey said. “Two, it helps me stay connected to youth and the game of football. Three, it gives me a different perspective when I am on the sidelines as a head basketball coach. You see things differently.”
Noisey has officiated games this fall in Milton-Freewater, Athena, Echo, Fossil and other places. At each stop, he said, he learns something new.
“If I could have more coaches like (Echo’s) Thomas VanNice, reffing would be so easy,” Noisey said. “We had a couple of disagreements, but the way he spoke to the officials and his kids, I don’t think any coach has done that good of a job. I try to be calm as a coach. The way Thomas did it, is the way I want to do it. The way he handles himself on the
sidelines is a prime example of how we all should be.”
Former Heppner football coach Greg Grant, former WestonMcEwen coach Kenzie Hansell, and Hermiston coach David Faaeteete are others Noisey said he has learned from.
“Those are three great coaches,” Noisey said. “I wouldn’t have these experiences without them. I studied Grant a bit and his demeanor on the sidelines. I want to take some of the things he did and implement them.
“Same with David Faatetee and Kenzie Hansell,” Noisey continued. “Kenzie coaches the game. He doesn’t worry about calls. He may question a call, but he talks to his kids and moves on. I wouldn’t be able to do those things if I hadn’t been reffing. It has opened up things in my coaching that I wouldn’t have without seeing how they work. How am I talking to the officials? How am I talking to my kids? Reffing helps me maintain that respect for what they do.”
Getting started
Noisey officiated football for five years before taking a break. Now, he’s essentially starting over. Rules change, and officials need to understand the differences between 11-man, 8-man and 6-man football.
Pay can be decent, but first-year officials face dues and registration fees, along with the cost of equipment and uniforms.
“The association has done
a great job of supporting new officials with the things they need and preparing them for the season,” Noisey said. “A lot of fans don’t understand the rules. They have changed in the past four years, and I have had to learn new things. Fans yell at you because you missed a call, but if it doesn’t impact the play, it can be a judgment call.”
Noisey said he and other officials had a run-in with fans during a game in Umatilla. They stayed calm and offered the fans an opportunity.
“I told them if you think we are doing a horrible job, come help us out,” he said. “I am asking people, football, basketball. Come help us out. People will yell at you, that’s part of the gig, but it shouldn’t be accepted.”
Noisey also said fans and coaches can’t see everything.
“The officials are doing the best they can,” he said. “What they see may not be what I see as a coach. The game is fast, you may not see things. There is a different perspectives when you are on the court versus the sidelines.”
Put on the zebra stripes
There is a nationwide shortage of officials in every sport — from football to volleyball and everything in between.
Officials are retiring, and some quit because they’re unwilling to deal with abuse from fans.
“We have some older officials who are trying to retire,” Noisey said. “They have been at it for 30
or 40 years. We need younger officials. I am not young, but younger than them. I can’t believe the coaches they have been on the sidelines with, the games they have seen. Those are memories I want to have. Some kids have gone on to play at the next level, and others have been part of their school’s legacy.”
Hermiston High School and Powder Valley High School offer sports officiating classes, and students are already stepping in to help with middle school, high school junior varsity, and youth football games.
Brad Dunten, whose Powder Valley program is now in its second year, said he has high school athletes who officiate junior varsity games, then suit up and play in the varsity games.
“The school saves $3,000 to $4,000 a year in not having to pay mileage,” Dunten said.
The Powder Valley program also trains basketball officials.
According to a 2022 National Federation of State High School Associations survey, about 50,000 people stopped officiating since the 2018–19 school year — the last one unaffected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Noisey, an enrolled Cherokee Nation tribal member in Oklahoma, said he would also like to see more Native referees.
“There are a few, but I would like to see more representation from the Native population,” he said.
Wanda Exec. Director, Turtle Cove Created a comfortable home and haven for her community, and families in need.
APHOTOSBYTRAVISSNELL/ ARONWORDEN
WESTWARD HO PARADE
DRESS-UP PARADE DRESS-UP PARADE
Sept. 12, 2025
Senior Indian Beauty Pageant
First place: Avery Quaempts
Sept. 11, 2025
Junior Indian Beauty Pageant
First Place: Luka Worden
PHOTOS BY DANELI ATILANO/THE CUJ
Dancing in the Park
PHOTOS BY AARON WORDEN/THE CUJ
PHOTOS BY AARON WORDEN/DALLAS DICK
CTUIR Notice to Purchase
Umatilla Enrolled Members: CTUIR will exercise its Option to Purchase the land interests in the estate listed b elow, pursuant to the CTUIR Inheritance Code. CTUIR’s Option to Purchase is sub ject to Section 1.05(e) Tribal Member Right to Purchase.
In the Matter of the Estate of: Joan Lavon Sammaripa
Probate No: T000187507 Identification No: 101U004503; 101L004503 Tribe: Colville
$ 7,241.07 Total: $ 7,241.07
CTUIR Inheritance Code Section 1.05(E) – Tribal Member Right to Purchase:
Eligibility Requirements: Any member of the Confederated Tribes owning an interest in trust land parcel where the Confederated Tribes has �iled a Notice to Purchase pursuant to Sections 1.05(D)(2), (3) and/or (5) of the Code may purchase such lands in the place of the Confederated Tribes if:
a) The member of the Confederated Tribes owns an interest in the subject trust parcel on the date of death of the decedent;
b) The eligible member of the Confederated Tribes �iles his/her notice of intent to purchase the interest in the subject trust parcel with the Secretary of the Board of Trustees within 30 days after publication of the purchase by the Confederated tribes in the Tribal newspaper; and
c) The eligible member of the Confederated Tribes’ right to purchase under this subsection shall be subject to the requirements that the fair market value of the interest in trust lands as determined by the Secretary [of the Interior] must be paid as et forth in section 1.05(C)(4) of [the] Code, and shall be subject to the rights of the surviving spouse and Indian lineal descendants set forth in section 1.05(C)(2), (3) and (7).
d) The eligible member of the Confederated tribes deposit payment in the amount equal to the fair market value of the subject trust parcel or interests therein, with the BIA Umatilla Agency Superintendent which payment shall be accompanied by the identi�ication of the decedent, the probate case number and trust parcel in questions. The eligible member must make the full payment for the subject trust parcel, or interest within 60 days of �iling its notice of intent to purchase. In such an event, the eligible member shall be authorized to acquire the interest in the subject parcel in the place of the Confederated Tribes.
CTUIR Notice to Purchase
TO: Umatilla Enrolled Members and Ineligible (Non-Member) Heirs of John W. Withers, Jr.:
CTUIR will exercise its Option to Purchase the land interests in the estate listed below, pursuant to the CTUIR Inheritance Code. CTUIR’s Option to Purchase is subject to Sections 1.05(e) – Tribal Member Right to Purchase and 1.06 – Right of Ineligible Heirs to Renounce, which are set forth below.
In the Matter of the Estate of: John W. Withers Jr.
Below Reflects the Purchase of 4/7 Share of Decedent’s Share
Probate No: T000077763
Identification No: 143U002165 Tribe: Umatilla
Total: $ 41,904.76
CTUIR Inheritance Code Section 1.05(E) – Tribal Member Right to Purchase:
Eligibility Requirements: Any member of the Confederated Tribes owning an interest in a trust land parcel where the Confederated Tribes has filed a Notice of Purchase pursuant to Sections 1.05(D)(2), (3) and/or (5) of [the] Code may purchase such lands in the place of the Confederated Tribes if:
a. The member of the Confederated Tribes owns an interest in the subject trust parcel on the date of death of the decedent;
b. The eligible member of the Confederated Tribes files his/her notice of intent to purchase the interest in the subject trust parcel with the Secretary of the Board of Trustees within 30 days after publication of the purchase by the Confederated Tribes in the Tribal newspaper; and
c. The eligible member of the Confederated Tribes’ right to purchase under this subsection shall be subject to the requirements that the fair market value of the interest in trust lands as determined by the Secretary [of the Interior] must be paid as set forth in section 1.05(C)(4) of [the] Code, and shall be subject to the rights of the surviving spouse and Indian lineal descendants set forth in section 1.05(C)(2), (3) and (7).
d. The eligible member of the Confederated Tribes deposits payment in the amount equal to the fair market value of the subject trust parcel, or interest therein, with the BIA Umatilla Agency Superintendent which payment shall be accompanied by the identification of the decedent, the probate case number and trust parcel in question. The eligible member must make the full payment for the subject trust parcel, or interest therein, within 60 days of filing its notice of intent to purchase. In such an event, the eligible member shall be authorized to acquire the interest in the subject parcel in the place of the Confederated Tribes.
Application of Code to Decedent’s Estate: Any eligible member(s) of the Confederated Tribes is hereby notified of their right to purchase decedent’s interests in Allotment 143 C 65 in accordance with the CTUIR Inheritance Code. Note: because there were no co-owners of Allotment 143 C 65-C on the date of Decedent’s death, the Tribal member right to purchase does not apply to those interests
CTUIR Inheritance Code Section 1.06 – Ineligible Heir Right to Renounce: Eligibility Requirements: Any Ineligible Heir shall have the right to renounce his or her descent of trust land within the Umatilla Indian Reservation in favor of a person or persons who are enrolled members of the Confederated Tribes, provided that, in the case of a devise or descent of an undivided interest in a trust parcel with multiple owners, the right to renounce may only be in favor of members of the Confederated Tribes who were co-owners of the subject trust parcel with the decedent.
Application of Code to Decedent’s Estate: Decedent’s Ineligible (Non-CTUIR Member) Heirs are hereby notified of their right to renounce their descent of trust land within the Umatilla Indian Reservation in favor of one or enrolled Tribal members who were co-owners of Allotment 143 C 65 with the Decedent at the time of his death in accordance with the CTUIR Inheritance Code.