Issuu

October 2026

VOLUME 34 | ISSUE 10 The monthly newspaper of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation Pendleton, Oregon

CUJ

CONFEDERATED UMATILLA JOURNAL

cuj.ctuir.org

Wesley Jones: Still missing

Members of the Jones family gather at Mission Longhouse on Sept. 28 to help raise awareness about the case of missing family member Wesley Jones. From left, front row: Chuck Jones, Paul Jones, Brenda Shippentower, Linda Jones, Janice D. Jones, LynnSue Jones and Gail Shippentower. Back row: Beth Looney, Letitia Sigo, Twila Jones, Dino Jones, Molly Jones and Dixon Jones. (Yasser Marte/The CUJ)

One year after Jones’ disappearance, questions remain unanswered YASSER MARTE The CUJ

MISSION — It has been a year since anyone last saw Wesley Dixon Jones. For his family and friends, Oct. 5, 2025, is a date that has never really passed. “I wake up thinking about him,” Linda Jones, his sister, said. “When he first went missing, I lived almost across the (Umatilla) river from that area, not quite, but very close to it. When I heard he was missing, I’d get up every morning and walk around outside. I’d always expect to see him walking through the field toward the house. And I still do that. I drive out and look toward the river, always expecting him to just pop up, just out for a stroll.” Jones, a member of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR), was 71 when he disappeared. He is the father of four daughters and two sons and one of 14 children in his family. Those closest to him

know him as “Buller.” “When I think of my dad, he’s someone I looked up to and loved dearly,” Molly Jones, his daughter, said. “I miss him a lot.” For a year, the questions have stayed with the people who know Jones: Where did he go? What happened to him? And where is he now? They have searched, waited and held on to the possibility that someone has information that could help explain what happened and help bring him home to his family. Umatilla Tribal Police Department (UTPD) Det. William Morris has spent much of the investigation pursuing those answers. He was assigned to the case two days after Jones went missing. But one question stands above the rest, Morris said: Where is Wesley Jones?

Tracing the vehicle Morris said surveillance video showed Jones on the afternoon of Oct. 5, riding along east Short

Mile Road on the Umatilla Indian Reservation (UIR) at about 3:15 p.m. The footage showed Jones sitting in the passenger seat of his gray 2003 Ford Escape, his elbow resting outside the window as the vehicle traveled down the road. When he was last seen, he was 5 feet, 8 inches tall and weighed about 140 pounds with black hair and brown eyes. He was wearing a blackand-red Tigerscott jacket, a black shirt, black sweatpants and boots. Roughly two hours later, footage shows his vehicle was seen traveling the same road without him inside. For now, UTPD is not disclosing the identity of the person who was driving the vehicle, stating only that he was with a family member. However, Molly told the CUJ the driver was her father’s partner at the time, Dana Harwood. Jones and Harwood had been together since 2006. See MISSING, Page A2

Let’er Buck!

Pendleton Round-Up week highlights — Section B

CTUIR 46411 Timine Way Pendleton, OR 97801

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

CONFEDERATED UMATILLA JOURNAL | October 2026

MISSING

Continued from Page A1

During an interview with the CUJ, Harwood confirmed she was in the car with Jones that day and was the last person to see him. She also said that Matilda, Jones’ daughter, joined her later to search for him. Morris said investigators believe the camera timestamps could have been off by roughly 30 to 40 minutes. But even with that possible discrepancy, he estimated that about 40 to 45 minutes passed between the footage showing Jones traveling in the vehicle on Short Mile and the next footage showing Harwood alone. Morris also estimated the vehicle remained in the area for another two to three hours before leaving without Jones. The timeline, Morris said, involved two separate time estimates. The two- to three-hour period refers to how long the vehicle remained in the area after Jones was no longer seen inside it. The separate 30- to 40-minute estimate refers to the possible difference between the times displayed on the cameras and the actual time. Despite the vehicle’s movements, Jones’ vehicle was later found on his property with a flat tire. While reviewing the footage, Morris noted the vehicle appeared to have been traveling on a low or flat tire. “His [Jones’] vehicle was searched for any evidence or information that would lead to his whereabouts, including blood,” Morris said. “However, it would not be reasonable to collect DNA or fingerprints if we believed those fingerprints or DNA belonged to Wesley Jones or anyone else known to operate the vehicle, as the presence of their DNA or fingerprints would not create any suspicion or develop any relevant leads.” Investigators found no blood evidence in the vehicle, Morris added. As the days passed, Molly said she received conflicting information about where her father might be. She said Harwood told her Jones had been hospitalized and died after his heart failed. Molly said she checked local hospitals and found no record of her father. For Molly, the conflicting accounts added to the uncertainty surrounding her father’s disappearance. Harwood said she remembered returning home and believed they may have had a flat tire, though she was not certain. She then added that Jones told her he was going to walk over to “look at the view.” “I said, ‘Well, don’t be too late. I’m going in the house to start dinner.’ And he said, ‘OK,” Harwood said. Video footage shows Harwood driving back along Short Mile Road without Jones visible in the passenger seat. The footage provided a different account of the couple’s movements than Harwood’s recollection. During that time, cameras captured the vehicle traveling to several locations, including at least one dead-end road, where Harwood turned around and continued. Morris said the driving pattern appeared consistent with someone looking for Jones, though he stressed that he could not say that with certainty. Later that evening, Morris said, the driver returned to the vehicle with another member of Jones’ family. They traveled through the area again and cameras captured their movements before they eventually reported Jones missing after they were unable to locate him.

CUJ ABOUT THE CUJ

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

Twila Jones and Molly Jones take part in a community search for their missing father, Wesley Jones, alongside family and friends on Nov. 1, 2025, along the Umatilla River on the Umatilla Indian Reservation. (Lee Gavin/The CUJ)

Molly said investigators later took Harwood along a road, hoping the route might help her remember where Jones had been dropped off. But Harwood struggled to recall the location, Molly said. Later, Molly said, Harwood told investigators that she was experiencing dementia and that her mental health was declining. When the CUJ asked Harwood about her health, she did not mention dementia or any cognitive condition. She spoke about broken bones she had suffered in the past and repeated some of her statements during the interview. UTPD declined to discuss the person’s health or other private information. Molly said she’s frustrated with what she sees as unanswered questions surrounding the investigation. “I wanted more,” she said. “I want more justice. I want more accountability on the last people who seen my father.”

The search along the river In the days after Jones disappeared, investigators searched portions of the UIR with help from the Umatilla County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue Team. The effort included two canine searches, three aerial drone searches over portions of the Umatilla River and foot searches through the surrounding terrain and rivers. Some property owners in the area allowed investigators to search around their land with dogs. Jones’ family conducted its own searches. Although UTPD did not participate in the familyled searches, Jones’ family kept Morris informed of their efforts. Investigators focused their searches on an area between the bridge over the Umatilla River on Highway 331 and the railroad tracks near Sheoships Lane. Along the eastern portion of the river, a rugged stretch known locally as the Maze, winds through difficult terrain along the railroad track. Locals use the area for hunting and fishing, including Jones, who was known to fish there.

PUBLISHER: Kaeleen McGuire kaeleenmcguire@ctuir.org EDITOR: Yasser Marte yassermarte@ctuir.org REPORTER: Beau Glynn beauglynn@ctuir.org ADVERTISING: M. Moses-Conner cuj@ctuir.org CONTRIBUTORS: Kathy Aney Dallas Dick Annie Fowler Lee Gavin Wil Phinney Travis Snell Aaron Wooden Sammantha McCloud

“I want more justice. I want more accountability on the last people who seen my father.” — Molly Jones

“This is apparently a place where he liked to go fishing along this bank,” Morris said. “We were told he may have been dropped off here to fish and intended to walk home.” The terrain offers few easy paths to the river. A steep, rocky slope and dense bushes and trees make the descent difficult. Anyone trying to reach the river would first have to walk several yards along the train tracks and surrounding canyons before finding a path down to the water. Animal bones — remnants of wildlife killed by cougars, bears and hunters — lie scattered on the rocky hillsides along the river and on the approach to the Maze. Mattresses, blankets and other discarded items are scattered across the area. Morris said investigators developed information that led to extensive follow-up searches. Search and Rescue teams initially concentrated on the area where Jones was believed to have been last seen. “We were told that by the point when search and rescue got involved, Wesley Jones was on foot near the home, going fishing with a fishing pole,” Morris said. Jones’ property on Parr Lane sits about 2 miles west of the Maze. Two trail dogs picked up his scent near each other and one dog alerted on the water. For that reason, searchers focused on the immediate vicinity where Jones was last seen. “If you trace Parr Lane straight up north and you hit the river, that’s about the area where that scent was detected in the water,” Morris said. Because of the river’s flow, search and rescue personnel believed Jones may have been in the water somewhere upstream. Morris said searchers also considered the

20th of the month prior to publication.

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.

The CUJ prints on the first Thursday of each month.

One Year: $15 Two Years: $28

Confederated Umatilla Journal 46411 Timíne Way Pendleton, OR 97801 email: cuj@ctuir.org phone: 541-429-7005 EMAIL ADVERTISING, LETTERS TO THE EDITOR, AND OTHER SUBMISSIONS TO:

cuj@ctuir.org

ADVERTISING DEADLINE:

For more information or daily news, visit the CUJ online at:

cuj.ctuir.org

CONFEDERATED UMATILLA JOURNAL | October 2026 possibility that Jones could have been some distance downstream and conducted searches in that direction. “The main belief at the time that was developed from search and rescue was that the scent was in the water,” Morris said. “There was a trail point just a little bit north of that, on the north side of the river, where the trail went cold.” Morris said investigators considered several possibilities, including that Jones was dropped off near the river and walked south toward it, or that he walked north across the river and was picked up there. The possibility that Jones had entered the river helped define the scope of the search. Instead, the scent and search and rescue’s assessment that Jones may have entered the river upstream kept investigators focused along the water — east toward and beyond the Maze. But investigators still question why he left home that day, Morris said. Whether he planned to go for a drive, go fishing or do something else remains unclear. When addressing the fishing theory, Morris said authorities found no fishing equipment in the areas they searched away from Jones’ home. The surveillance footage also raised questions for Molly. If Jones had gone fishing, she said, she would have expected to see his favorite fishing pole strapped to the top of the car. Taking it with him was part of his routine, she said, making it difficult for her to believe he would have gone fishing without it. Another possibility was that Jones slipped on a rock, fell and struck his head before entering the stream. At the time, however, the water was low enough for rocks to remain visible beneath the surface. The current was also believed to be too weak to carry him a significant distance. But the search offered no definitive answer. What remained was the question that had followed investigators from the beginning: How did Jones get there and where did he go from there? “As the cause of his disappearance remains unknown, we have not ruled out possibilities, including whether his disappearance was accidental or non-accidental,” Morris said. “Foul play will be a consideration until information leads us towards or away from that conclusion.”

Fog of Memories

In the months before Jones disappeared, Molly said he was dealing with two health-related concerns: a serious heart condition and substance abuse. Molly said Jones and Harwood met through their shared struggles with methamphetamines use, which she said was a major concern for her and the family. She said both had struggled with substance abuse before they became partners. Jones and Harwood met in 2006, Molly noted. Molly said she repeatedly tried to help her father when his substance abuse put him in dangerous situations. “I would get so worried about my dad,” she said. “I’d already gone

The map above details areas searched by a search-and-rescue team and points of concern in the search for Wesley Jones. Yellow squares indicate access points along the river, blue circles indicate deeper areas of the river, and red marks the location where investigators found a red bandana. Umatilla Tribal Police Department Det. William Morris said the bandana was later determined not to belong to Jones. (Umatilla Tribal Police Department/Contributed map)

Please call the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation Tribal Police at 541-278-0550 with any information on Jones’ disappearance.

Umatilla Tribal Police Department (UTPD) Det. William Morris refers to a map as he discusses details of the search-and-rescue operation for Wesley Jones on Sept. 28 at the UTPD in Mission. (Yasser Marte/The CUJ)

multiple times into trap houses where he was to, like, kick down their doors and find my dad.” Molly said she had developed an instinct for when something was wrong with her father. Even when Jones left his cellphone behind, she said she could usually find him when she became concerned. “I just had, like, an antenna. Like, I had an intuition,” she said. “My dad didn’t have a phone, but I’d find him.” That history made his disappearance particularly difficult for her to understand. “For me not to be able to find him, it bothers me so much because no matter where he was, when something was going on with him, it’s like I would know and I’d find him,” Molly said. Since the investigation, Harwood has been placed in a care facility. “He was the love of my life,” Harwood said. Harwood said she and Jones spent much of their time together outdoors. They also shared quieter hobbies. “We did a lot of stuff together,” Harwood said. “I did a lot of beadwork and crocheting and he did a lot of fishing.” But when the CUJ asked about

video showing the two of them going for a ride, Harwood said she could not recall where they had gone or what they had been doing. “I don’t recall going anywhere. We could have been going to get groceries. We could have been — I don’t know what it was we were doing,” Harwood said. “I just remember when we came back, I think — I’m not sure — I think we may have had a flat tire, but I’m not positive.” “People just don’t disappear, you know,” Harwood said. “They just don’t disappear normally. And we looked for him and looked for him.”

One year later Linda said the family had lost two brothers in the past six years, a loss that continued to weigh on them. “They’ve died. One died of a heart condition, then my other brother died of his cancer, and now this one.” The seasons have passed. The river rose in the spring and receded toward the end of summer. Still, there are no answers about what happened to Jones that day. On Sept. 28, Jones’ family gathered at the Mission Longhouse for a family portrait. Elders sat in front while younger generations stood behind them, holding posters

of him. Molly and her sister, Twila Jones, stood among them, red handprints painted across their faces — a symbol associated with the Missing and Murdered Indigenous People movement. After the portrait, several family members remained outside, gathered around a photograph of Jones. For Molly, his disappearance is about more than one family. He is an elder and a longtime member of the community — a brother, uncle, father and grandfather — with connections that stretched throughout the tribe. She said that sense of connection is part of why the family continues to call on the community to come together, search for him and share whatever information might help bring him home. Molly recalled what Jones used to say about his childhood name, Káyaynu. Linda added that Jones’ Indian name is Káyaynu Shnù’titámani. “I’d go, ‘What does it mean, Dad?’ He goes, ‘I don’t know.’ He goes, ‘I just think it means I’m a brother to many,’” she said. Molly said that idea reflected the way her father lives. “That’s kind of how he carried himself: to be a good brother to many people. He was very loving, very kind,” she said. “And that’s why we say he’s very loving, very kind, very generous, very understanding.” A year has passed since Jones vanished. The river has continued to move. The seasons have changed. But for Jones’ family, the search has not ended. They are still looking for their brother, their father, their grandfather — their brother to many.

CONFEDERATED UMATILLA JOURNAL | October 2026

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR TRIBES OF THE CONFEDERATED

(541) 429-7521

UMATILLA INDIAN RESERVATION

BrianFullen@ctuir.org

ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH & SAFETY

ctuir.org

46411 Timine Way, Pendleton, OR 97801

Pendleton, Oregon 97801

Food vendors must follow proper permitting process This is a reminder that any person or business planning to sell or serve food on the Reservation needs to contact Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) first and complete the required vendor and food permitting process before being approved to operate at a Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR) facility, parking lot, event or other location on the Umatilla Indian Reservation. Cultural services involving food preparation are normally an area where EHS is hands off. However, we encourage food handler cards to promote food safety, and a quick call to EHS is always helpful if there are questions about what requirements may apply. As the community grows and more events and food sales are taking place, we are seeing vendors come to EHS after they have already been told they can use a facility, kitchen, parking lot or participate in an event. This can create problems if additional food safety, kitchen, food handler or permitting requirements still need to be met, or if the proposed kitchen cannot be used for that purpose. In some cases, vendors have already made plans, purchased supplies or started preparing or selling food. The process needs to start with EHS. Please refer the vendor to the EHS application CTUIR - Planning Permit Applications, Forms & Fees and provide the required information. EHS will review the proposed food operation, determine what requirements apply and coordinate with other departments when needed. This applies to food trucks, temporary vendors, caterers, breakfast and lunch vendors, bazaars, breakfast burrito sales, community events, and other individuals or businesses selling or providing food. Fundraisers and nonprofit activities may have different requirements or fees, but they should still contact EHS before the event. Please do not promise or approve the use of a community kitchen, building, parking lot or other facility for a food vendor before the EHS portion of the process has been addressed. Facility managers and departments determine whether their property is available for use. EHS determines the food safety and permitting requirements for the vendor. For example, the Nixyáawii Community School kitchen is primarily for preparing and serving school meals to students. It is not available as a commercial or community kitchen for outside vendors, public or school fundraisers, public food sales, teaching activities, or private food preparation. Permission to use the school or

SELLING FOOD ON THE UMATILLA INDIAN RESERVATION? START WITH EHS

If you plan to SELL or provide food on the Umatilla Indian Reservation, contact CTUIR Environmental Health & Safety (EHS) before selling, preparing food, or making arrangements to use a facility.

FOOD SALES - THIS INCLUDES: Food trucks, temporary food vendors, caterers, fry bread, breakfast burritos, lunch sales, bazaars, community events, holiday events, fundraisers, school fundraisers, roadside sales, and food prepared from a home or domestic kitchen for sale to the public.

YOU MAY NEED:

A CTUIR Food Vendor Permit, an approved kitchen or food preparation location, and a Food Handler Certificate/Card, depending on your operation.

Permission to use a building, community kitchen, parking lot, event space, or other location does not by itself constitute EHS approval to prepare or sell food. CULTURAL EVENTS - NOT INCLUDED:

Traditional cultural food events and activities are not included in these vendor sales requirements. If unsure whether an activity qualifies, contact EHS and we will help determine what applies.

Contact EHS before purchasing supplies, preparing food for sale, or making final arrangements. We are here to help determine what permits and food safety requirements apply to your operation.

FOOD HANDLER CARD

CTUIR FOOD VENDOR APPLICATION

Complete the Indian Health Service (IHS) Online Food Handler Training. The course is available online and provides a printable Food Handler Certificate after successful completion.

Complete the appropriate CTUIR EHS Food Vendor Application. The CTUIR Permit Applications page provides access to Tribal permit information and applications.

ihs.gov/foodhandler/

SCAN TO START

ctuir.org/features/permit-applications/

QUESTIONS? CONTACT EHS

(541) 429-7521

Brian Fullen - Environmental Health & Safety

BrianFullen@ctuir.org

SCAN TO APPLY

JUNEconstitute 9, 1855 - CAYUSE, AND UMATILLA TRIBESis required before they another Tribal facility TREATY does not EHSWALLA letWALLA, vendors know what approval to prepare or sell food. make commitments, purchase supplies or begin The same applies to other tribal and community preparing food. kitchens. CTUIR employee break rooms are If you wish to authorize a vendor to sell food at for employee use and are not approved for a site that you manage on the reservation, please outside individuals or vendors to prepare food direct them to EHS first so we can help them for sale. This includes insurance and liability with permitting and food handling safety. concerns. The availability of a kitchen does not Thank you for helping us keep the process automatically mean it is approved for vendor consistent throughout the CTUIR departments food preparation. Getting EHS involved at the beginning helps and facilities. prevent confusion and last-minute problems BRIAN FULLEN for vendors, facilities and departments. We can CTUIR Dept. 0f Environmental Health & Safety

Post less. Write more.

The CUJ welcomes letters to the editor. cuj@ctuir.org

CONFEDERATED UMATILLA JOURNAL | October 2026

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

More than a case: A father, brother and friend I don’t know what it’s like to have someone in your family go missing. I can’t pretend to know. I won’t pretend to know. I can only imagine the unanswered questions. The frustration. The panic that comes in waves. The desperation for an investigation to move faster, to find something, anything, that might bring a family closer to an answer. You imagine the place where you will see them again. You hold on to that picture because sometimes hope is the only thing you have left to hold. So you wait. You hang on for a little more. While reporting on the disappearance of Wesley Jones, I have spent time with the people who know him best and with those who have come to know him through the difficult work of trying to find him. The Jones family has been gracious enough to let me into a deeply personal space. Molly and Linda Jones spoke with me about Wesley, not simply as the subject of a missing-person investigation, but as a daughter and brother. They told me about his kindness, his struggles and his grace. It wasn’t easy. I know I would struggle to open that door myself. To let a stranger into the place where fear and hope live side by side. But they did it because they

YASSER MARTE Editor, Confederated Umatilla Journal

need to know what happened. And maybe that is something many of us understand, even if we have never experienced this particular kind of loss. Most of us have someone we worry about. Someone who has struggled. Someone we have loved through difficult seasons. You stay. You hope. You believe that, somehow, they might one day be able to see themselves the way the people who love them see them. There were moments during these conversations when the Jones family laughed. There were moments when they vented. There were moments when they cried. There is another person who has come to know Wesley Jones in a very different way. Umatilla Tribal Police Department Det. William Morris has spent countless hours working this case. He took me into the areas where searches have been conducted. He spoke openly about his concerns, the difficulties of the investigation

and his hope that Wesley will be found. He has put a great deal into this case and so have the people who love Wesley. This will not be the last story we publish about him. In many ways, this is only the beginning. I don’t think there is an easy way to write about a case like this. There is a temptation in journalism to make everything fit. To find the beginning, the middle and the end. To turn a complicated life into a narrative that makes sense by the time the reader reaches the last paragraph. But sometimes there isn’t an ending yet. Sometimes there are just more questions. This is one of those stories. This will not be the last time we write about Wesley Jones. There is more to investigate. There are things we still don’t know. There are parts of the story we cannot report yet. And that’s OK. A newspaper doesn’t always get to provide the ending. Sometimes our job is to keep asking the questions until someone can. I’ve thought a lot about whether a newspaper should be cold and impartial when covering something like this. We should absolutely be careful. We should be honest about what we know and what we don’t. We should not turn someone’s pain into

speculation. But I don’t think being a journalist means leaving our humanity at the door. Compassion is part of why I became a journalist. So is curiosity. So is the belief that telling someone’s story carefully can matter. The Jones family has been generous with their time and with their memories. Det. Morris has been generous with his time and with the work he is doing. I am grateful to both. And I think the least we can do, as a community, is keep paying attention. If you know something, say something. If you’ve seen something that might matter, tell investigators. Don’t assume somebody else already has. Wesley Jones is still someone’s father. Someone’s brother. Someone’s friend. And somewhere, there are people who are still waiting for him. I don’t know what it’s like to be them. But I know we shouldn’t look away. So we keep asking. We keep reporting. We keep his name in front of people. And we keep hoping that somewhere down one of these rivers, along one of these roads, there is an answer waiting for us about Wesley Jones.

LETTERS FROM LEADERSHIP

Mistake on 2025 ballot needs to be addressed Last Nov. 4th, 2025 this was sent out to the General Council in regards to the interpreter position on the last ballot. “CTUIR Voters should have noticed there was no write-in option listed on any ballots for the General Council Interpreter position. This happened because no nominating petitions for this position were received by the Election Commission, and we did not catch the missing writein line until after the absentee ballots were mailed. The Election Commission accepts full responsibility for this oversight and apologizes to voters for the confusion. To be clear, this does not compromise the integrity of the 2025 CTUIR General Election. To ensure this position is still fairly decided by voters, the Commission will set up a separate voting process for all General Council members to vote for the General Council Interpreter. Until a new Interpreter is elected, the current Interpreter will stay in the position, as allowed in Article V, Section 5 of the Constitution and Bylaws.’’ Now, it’s been almost a full year. I do believe the integrity of the 2025 CTUIR General Election has been compromised due to no further action from

BOOTS POND Board of Trustees Vice Chairman

the Election Commission to resolve this situation. There have been no updates since this time either. Our group of General Council officers met earlier this past spring to discuss this issue. Even our “Interim’’ Interpreter Thomas Morning Owl expressed concerns on this. There needs to be action by the Election Commission as they said they would in this Nov. 4, 2025 letter. It puts many avenues at risk with the lack of movement. I hope this letter gets some action going. Doing nothing definitely “compromises’’ this past election and future elections. This situation deserves closure.

Updates to Procedures Code completed Greetings. It’s been a few months since I have provided you all with an update. There are so many positive things that have occurred in this first term of mine as Board of Trustees (BOT) secretary. There are two specific topics I want to share. One is the completion of the updated BOT Procedures Code and the second item is the annual committee/ commission training. In 2012, the BOT adopted a standalone BOT Secretary Procedures Code. The code outlines the procedures the BOT secretary, administrative and support staff use to fulfill the secretary’s role under the constitution. On Aug. 17, the BOT adopted Resolution 2026-048, rescinding the previous BOT Secretary’s Procedures Code. The consolidated code is now published on the CTUIR website under Codes/Statutes/Laws for tribal members and internal staff to review the procedures governing the BOT’s day-to-day business. The update to the code has been a long time coming, and so it’s great to have this work completed and checked off the list as the BOT can move on to other internal procedures. I also

want to recognize the previous BOT secretaries who have also done Board of a lot of work to Trustees contribute to the Secretary final code. The second topic is the annual committee and commission training to be held on Oct. 27 from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Wildhorse Resort & Casino. It’s a great opportunity for committees to come together and learn and brush up on the codes, annual work plans and BOT priorities. There are quite a few committees and commissions with vacancies and I have published the Sept. 28 public notice in the CUJ, online and throughout the community. I will continue to advocate for tribal members to join a committee or commission and contribute to the work in respective sectors of CTUIR. Make sure to check in with one another during the fall and winter months. And I look forward to sharing many more exciting and positive things from the BOT secretary’s office. If there are any questions regarding the upcoming training, minutes, committees or commissions, please do reach out to me at monicaparadise@ ctuir.org

MONICA PARADISE

Your government meets every Monday. Are you paying attention? CTUIR BOARD OF TRUSTEES

CONFEDERATED UMATILLA JOURNAL | October 2026

Christine Drazan waves to attendees while riding in the Westward Ho! Parade on Sept. 18 in downtown Pendleton. Eli Imadali / OPB

Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek shakes hands with Dan Glenn of Pendleton at the VFW Outdoor Cowboy Breakfast on Sept. 18. Eli Imadali / OPB

Wrangling for votes: Candidates for Oregon

governor make political pilgrimage to Round-Up In a close race, both candidates say going to the rodeo is a must ANTONIO SIERRA Oregon Public Broadcast

PENDLETON — Both major candidates for Oregon’s governorship were in Pendleton for the storied Round-Up — but that doesn’t mean they were ready to jump in the saddle. “I’m not a horse rider,” incumbent Democratic Gov. Tina Kotek said Sept. 18. “But maybe one day.” Kotek’s opponent, Republican Christine Drazan, also passed on mounting a steed. “Not for me,” she said. “A lot of people jump in the saddle that maybe shouldn’t.” Equestrian skills can be a huge asset at the Round-Up’s Westward Ho! Parade, an event that requires participants to travel by foot, horseback or wagon wheel as they wind through the city. It’s the capstone of the four-day fall Round-Up, a major national rodeo and regional economic driver that brings upwards of 50,000 people to Eastern Oregon each year. Former Gov. John Kitzhaber rode a horse often enough at Round-Up that it drew the attention of reporters who noted that he looked “very rancher-like on his horse in his trademark jeans.” But years after his tenure ended, Kitzhaber dismissed the idea that riding a horse at the parade gave him any sort of political advantage. “I was mostly terrified,” he said, laughing. The tradition of political candidates and elected officials attending the Round-Up goes back decades, even as the political map has shifted drastically in recent years. While Pendleton and Umatilla County may not be the deciding factor in a hotly contested gubernatorial race, all of the governors — whether current, former or aspiring — said it was still a key moment to connect with rural voters and constituents. “If you’re governor, you’re representing the entire state,” Kitzhaber said. “You’re not just representing those seven or eight counties that you need to win an election.”

‘This is the fricking Pendleton Round-Up’

Pendleton has a long history as a political campaign stop, even outside the confines of Round-Up week. Phillip Houk, a former three-term mayor, said John F. Kennedy, Richard Nixon and Barack

“I think it’s really important for people, particularly from the valley and the metro area, to spend time in these rural communities to understand the world through their perspective.” — Former Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber Obama all stopped through Pendleton on their way to winning the presidency. Houk took it as a good sign that both Kotek and Drazan wanted to continue the tradition of coming out for the Round-Up. “I think that it can make a difference,” he said. “I think if you look at the numbers, I think that they’re close. Every vote’s going to count.” A recent poll showed Drazan, a state senator from Canby, narrowly leading Kotek in a gubernatorial rematch of the 2022 election. If Drazan wins, she would become the first Republican governor to serve Oregon since Vic Atiyeh left office in 1987. While the Round-Up might be a favored campaign stop for candidates, it doesn’t exactly serve as a bellwether for the rest of the state. Kitzhaber was the last Democratic gubernatorial candidate to win Umatilla County, a landslide victory during his first reelection campaign in 1998. Since then, Republicans have dominated Umatilla County and the rest of Eastern Oregon, a trend that Kitzhaber’s 2010 political comeback couldn’t reverse. While Eastern Oregon might be a political stronghold for the GOP, Republican statewide candidates like Drazan still need to compete for votes in the more populous, and Democraticleaning, Willamette Valley. It’s a matter of scale. Drazan handily won Umatilla County while getting blown out in Multnomah County in 2022. But due to the dramatic population differences, Drazan still received four times as many votes in her loss in Multnomah County than she did by winning Umatilla County. Both candidates’ frequent campaign appearances in the Portland area reflect this reality. But both women also argued that attending the Round-Up was more than a detour for them. “This is the fricking Pendleton Round-Up,” said Drazan, wearing a white western shirt, blue jeans and belt-buckle with a glint of turquoise. “This draws the state together. If you talk to

people that are here visiting, they’ve come from all over the state because this is an iconic Oregon experience.” Kotek, her western outfit accessorized by an Oregon belt buckle and beaded necklaces, said she planned to spend some time meeting with U.S. Rep. Cliff Bentz, R-Ontario, while both were in town. “You can have those quick conversations,” she said. “But for me, the most important thing is just hanging out with folks, hearing what they love about the Round-Up.”

Politics in the Round-Up city

The two current gubernatorial candidates may have been in town for the revelry, but examples of the state’s current issues occasionally intruded. As Kotek munched on pancakes at a park as a part of a community breakfast put on by a local chapter of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the musical act hired to soundtrack the event bantered on stage between country songs. He told the audience how he had recently wanted to order a hamburger at a restaurant but had to pass on it after seeing the price. “I was never so disappointed in a salad,” he said. While Kotek chose to watch the parade from the audience rather than participate, organizers set up Drazan with a buggy drawn by two small horses. Drazan’s staging area was right by Pendleton City Hall, where a handful of unhoused people sat on benches behind the crowds gathered for the parade. While both candidates’ policy platforms broadly focus on the same issues — affordability, education and housing among them — Drazan argued that Kotek’s performance over the past four years proved that Oregon needed a course correction. “She is the one that’s made affordability worse,” Drazan said in an interview with OPB. “She’s the one that has put a PUC in place that’s See CANDIDATES, Page A11

CONFEDERATED UMATILLA JOURNAL | October 2026

Oregon mail voting remains unchanged Voters urged to use drop boxes instead of mailing ballots YASSER MARTE The CUJ

SALEM — Oregon elections will proceed as usual in the Nov. 3 election. On Sept. 14, the U.S. Supreme Court declined to allow the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) to implement parts of a new rule governing mail-in voting. The ruling came as President Donald Trump seeks to change how mail-in ballots are handled nationwide. Trump signed Executive Order 14399, titled “Ensuring Citizenship Verification and Integrity in Federal Elections,” on March 31 directing the USPS to establish new standards for federal mail-in ballots, including requirements for ballot envelopes and voter information. The changes could have given the federal government a larger role in how federal mail ballots are processed, an area in which state and local election officials have usually played a central role. On Aug. 24, the Supreme Court lifted an earlier injunction that had blocked implementation of portions of the executive order, concluding the challenge was premature because the USPS had not yet issued a final rule. Three days later, U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani of Boston temporarily blocked USPS from implementing certain portions of its new mail-ballot rule, including requirements concerning ballot envelopes and voter data. The Trump administration then appealed to the Supreme Court on Sept. 3. On Sept. 4, Talwani issued a preliminary injunction blocking USPS from implementing the mandatory portions of the rule for the Nov. 3 election while the litigation continued. In Oregon, Secretary of State Tobias Read urged voters to use ballot drop boxes rather than mail their ballots. Read made the recommendation at a Sept. 8 news conference with Gov. Tina Kotek, U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore.

Oregon 2026 Election: Incumbents and Challengers Oregon voters will choose candidates for several statewide and congressional offices in the Nov. 3, 2026, general election.

GOVERNOR

Incumbent: Tina Kotek (D) Challengers: Christine Drazan (R), Brett Smith (Pacific Green)

U.S. SENATE

Incumbent: Jeff Merkley (D) Challengers: David Brock Smith (R), Gary Dye (Libertarian), Chris Henry (Pacific Green/Progressive)

U.S. HOUSE — OREGON’S SIX DISTRICTS

District 1: Incumbent: Suzanne Bonamici (D) Challengers: Jamil Ahmad (D), Barbara Kahl (R), John Verbeek (R) District 2: Incumbent: Cliff Bentz (R) Challenger: Chris Beck (D) District 3: Incumbent: Maxine Dexter (D) Challengers: Jessica Salas (D), Loran Ayles (R) District 4: Incumbent: Val Hoyle (D) Challengers: Monique DeSpain (R), Justin Filip (Pacific Green), and other candidates

District 5: Incumbent: Janelle Bynum (D) Challengers: Patti Adair (R), Jonathan Lockwood (R) District 6: Incumbent: Andrea Salinas (D) Challengers: David Russ (R), Jason Faler (Independent)

Oregon officials said they were concerned about the potential effects of the federal changes but reassured voters that elections would proceed as usual. “States run elections, not presidents,” Read said. “And the postal service’s job is to deliver the mail, not to decide who gets to vote.” Oregon is one of eight states, including the city of Washington, D.C., that conduct elections entirely by mail. The other states are California, Colorado, Hawaii, Nevada, Utah, Vermont and Washington. Nearly one-third of voters nationwide cast their ballots by mail. Oregon has relied on voting by mail for nearly 30 years. Kotek said Oregon’s elections

should remain free, fair, secure and accessible and that county election officials should be able to administer elections under state law without unnecessary disruption. On Sept. 10, Oregon lawmakers agreed to spend an additional $1.25 million to increase the number of ballot drop boxes across the state. Oregon legislators requested emergency funds to purchase 20 drop boxes and help election officials prepare for an expected increase in voters using them instead of mailing their ballots. Of the requested funding, $154,000 would expand BallotTrax statewide. Currently, five counties use the opt-in service, which provides voters with updates about

their ballots, including when they are sent, received by the county and when their signatures are accepted. The remaining $480,000 would allow counties to send notification cards to inactive voters as part of the state’s effort to keep voter records up to date. For Oregon voters, the state’s voteby-mail system remains unchanged following the Supreme Court ruling on Sept. 14. As officials begin sending ballots for the November election, Read is encouraging voters to verify that election-related mail comes from an official source. In a Sept. 18 press release, Read’s office urged Oregonians to look for the official election mail logo, be cautious of third-party groups that may use outdated or incorrect voter information and verify their registration through the Oregon Votes website. The office also said the most accurate and up-to-date voter registration information is available through local election offices. “We’re already getting reports about misleading mail going out to voters, so I want Oregonians to have the tools to be able to tell fact from fiction,” Read said in the release. “The good news is, it’s pretty simple: If you receive something in the mail about voter registration or your ability to participate in the upcoming election, look for the official election mail logo to verify that it’s from an official source.” The official election mail logo identifies mail authorized by the U.S. Postal Service. It is used on materials such as ballots, voter registration cards and voter reply mail. The logo features an American flag and the words “Official Election Mail” and “Authorized by the U.S. Postal Service.” It may appear in black, blue or red. In Mission, members of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation who do not mail their ballots can drop them off at the Nixyáawii Governance Center drop box on Nov. 3, before 8 p.m. In Pendleton, voters can drop off their ballots at the Umatilla County Courthouse elections office. For more information, Oregonians can visit https:// sos.oregon.gov/elections/pages/ current-election.aspx

CANDIDATES: Republican candidates dominate in Umatilla County Continued from Page A7

allowed utility costs to go through the roof. She’s the one that has driven homelessness through the roof. All of these things are her responsibility as governor of the state of Oregon.” Kotek defended her record, saying her administration’s work in her first term would provide a foundation for further progress in a second. “I’ve never said the job is done, but we are making progress, and I think when people see that, they’re going to support me for another four years,” she told OPB. Kotek has the support of Kelly

Hager. Hager traveled from Medford to attend the Round-Up, a tradition that stretched back to when she was a child and her father would take her. At the community breakfast, Hager shook hands with the governor and introduced Kotek to her own two children. While Hager said she voted for Kotek in 2022 and planned to vote for her again, she declined to say why she was supporting her over Drazan. Drazan’s backers at the RoundUp were less shy. Supporters set up shop in a motel parking lot on the parade route, setting up a tailgate that served bratwursts and bloody

marys. Robin McDevitt was among the tailgaters who cheered as Drazan rolled by on her buggy. Although she splits her time between Idaho and Columbia City, a small Oregonian town north of Portland, McDevitt said she grew up in Dayville in Grant County. She was hopeful that Drazan might be the candidate that broke Democrats’ hold on the governor’s office. “I used to be kind of liberal, and over time, I’ve become more and more conservative, because I can’t support liberal politics,” she said. Former Gov. Kitzhaber said coming out to Pendleton was

about more than earning more votes. By spending time in places like Pendleton, it helped him craft initiatives and policies important to the region. “I think it’s really important for people, particularly from the valley and the metro area, to spend time in these rural communities to understand the world through their perspective,” he said. Kitzhaber is keeping an eye on the race, but he said he isn’t publicly backing either candidate at this time. Although he served as a Democrat for his entire political career, Kitzhaber said he is now registered as a nonaffiliated voter.

CONFEDERATED UMATILLA JOURNAL | October 2026

CTUIR signs MOU with Portland State University TRAVIS SNELL The CUJ

PENDLETON – To improve educational opportunities for Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR) members, Portland State University (PSU) and the CTUIR signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on Sept. 16 outside RoundUp Stadium. In the Tipi Village near the stadium, CTUIR and PSU officials ceremonially signed the MOU, which calls for the tribe and university to strengthen their relationship and improve the quality of reciprocal educational services and opportunities they both provide. “We are thrilled to have this MOU in place with Portland State University because the CTUIR Board of Trustees (BOT) prioritizes education and recognizes the positive impacts collaborations such as these can have, especially since Portland State recognizes the importance of tribal sovereignty,” BOT Chair N. Kathryn Brigham said. “We appreciate the hard work by our Education and Training Committee and Education Department, as well as their PSU partners, to get this MOU approved. Ultimately, we see this benefiting our tribal members who attend or want to attend PSU.” The MOU calls for collaboration on curriculum development for Native American studies; Native American education, recruitment and retention efforts for tribal

Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR) Board of Trustees (BOT) Chair N. Kathryn Brigham watches Portland State University (PSU) President Ann Cudd sign copies of a memorandum of understanding between the CTUIR and PSU on Sept. 16 in the Tipi Village outside the Round-Up Stadium in Pendleton. Also pictured, from left, BOT Secretary Monica Paradise, General Council Vice Chairman Boots Pond, BOT Member Corinne Sams, BOT Vice Chair Aaron Ashley, BOT Treasurer Raymond Huesties and BOT Member Toby Patrick. CTUIR

students at PSU; and research and creative activities that advance the CTUIR and PSU’s shared objectives. It also intends to identify areas of mutual educational, research and creative interest as well as successfully transition CTUIR students into higher education via campus orientation activities,

emphasizing resources to support tribal students and offering summer college prep classes. The MOU calls for identifying tribal staff with expertise to contribute to areas of mutual interest, creating awareness for tribal staff of the opportunities to contribute their expertise,

assisting in information exchanges within mutual-interest areas and enhancing PSU support of Native students when it comes to outreach, admissions, recruitment, retention, financial aid, academic advising and internship opportunities. A major part of these initiatives will stem from the establishment of a 14-member Native American Advisory Board (NAAB), which will include the CTUIR BOT chair or designee, by providing a forum for mutual collaboration and communication, working to enhance education of Native students, educating PSU students about tribes and advancing relationships for resources and program development. To advance its goals, the NAAB shall undertake student service initiatives, access initiatives and integration and training initiatives. Student service initiatives include recruiting and retaining Native students and instructors, providing academic and financial advice to Native students and providing scholarship outreach to Native students. Access initiatives include tribal guidance and feedback on courses and program offering to Native students and applying for joint grant proposals to improve student access and services. Integration and training initiatives include PSU assisting CTUIR with access to technology and training and the CTUIR assisting PSU administration, staff and students with cultural educational opportunities, enrichment and inservice training. “As the president of Portland State University, I’m really excited that we’ve signed an MOU with the Umatilla Tribe. This is the first tribe we’ve signed an MOU with, and it’s a great path-breaking opportunity,” PSU President Ann Cudd said. “We know there are lots of ways we can collaborate to serve the tribe and its students as well as learn many things from the tribe and enhance our offerings and our research.”

CONFEDERATED UMATILLA JOURNAL | October 2026

A10

Long-time CTUIR Planning director retires BEAU GLYNN The CUJ

MISSION — Patty Perry was hired by the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR) in 2007 in the associate planner position. Nearly 20 years later, she has announced her departure from her position as the Planning director. “I just thought it would be unique, because I knew that the tribe here did its own thing, and had a lot of similar goals in mind with preserving the land, the resources and the First Foods that are here,” Perry said. She said it was a special opportunity to work for the CTUIR after coming from a senior planner position with the county, where she was also the president of the union, on the state’s AFSCME executive board and the president of UmatillaMorrow Central Labor Council. Working for the CTUIR in comparison to the county in terms of resources and development for housing, Perry said a lot of the job was more community-centered. “One of the first things when I got hired here that I was assigned to do and to work on was updating the Comprehensive Plan,” she said. “It really gave me an opportunity to understand the whole organization, how it was set up, all of the different departments.” Perry said, after her retirement, she plans on making the move to the Salem area to be closer to

Planning Director and long-term CTUIR employee Patty Perry at her retirement party on Sept. 25 at the Nixyáawii Governance Center. (Beau Glynn/The CUJ)

her family. Her sister, nieces and nephews live there and her son, Jake, is a firefighter in McMinnville. “I’m getting up there in years, and I want to be able to make the move over there,” she said. “So that’s what I’m going to be working toward — clearing out the house, getting

another place over there and then moving in. Then I have a little more support in my old age.” Though she’s retiring from the CTUIR, Perry will still be working with the Oregon State’s Energy Facility Siting Council. She said the CTUIR Board of Trustees wrote a

letter to Gov. Kotek last year which recommended her to the council position, and since she’s been approved, she will travel to monthly on-site meetings at facilities across Oregon. CTUIR Environmental Health and Safety Specialist Brian Fullen recounted the past three years he had spent working with Perry. “Her and I were usually the first people in the building every day, so we always had about a half hour of time to just sit and talk about our job, our day, our family lives and I’m really going to miss that,” Fullen said. “The knowledge she’s going to take with her can never be replaced, she’s been here almost 20 years, she has a built-in computer in her mind.” Following Perry’s retirement, Holly Anderson will be filling in as interim Planning director, she said she’s been working with Perry for nearly 15 years. “She’s a very hard worker and very knowledgeable, she’s acquired a lot of information over the years that she’s been here. They’re some very big shoes to step into,” Anderson said. “She’s very dedicated and she thinks things out, she makes good decisions and has done great at hiring good staff, so we are wellpositioned to carry the planning mission forward.”

CONFEDERATED UMATILLA JOURNAL | October 2026

A11

Elders from Pacific Northwest tribes gather on Sept. 11 for the annual Elders Honor Day Luncheon at Wildhorse Resort & Casino. Travis Snell / The CUJ

DCFS hosts annual Elders Honor Day Luncheon TRAVIS SNELL The CUJ

MISSION – The Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR) hosted more than 600 elders from various tribes for food, fun and fellowship at its annual Elders Honor Day Luncheon on Sept. 11 at the Wildhorse Resort & Casino (WRC). Julie Taylor, CTUIR Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) director, said the luncheon honors tribal elders by hosting a gathering so they can visit friends and relatives as well as meet new people. “Although we live in a small community, there are times when we do not see our relatives as often as we would like to,” Taylor said. “When you attend this event, all you see are smiles and you hear the best laughter ever. It is such good medicine for our elders and our people in general.” According to a previous CUJ story, the luncheon helps fill the void of historical gatherings by Pacific Northwest tribes at Celilo Falls to trade, perform ceremonies and celebrate the season. Taylor said although the luncheon is not a Pendleton Round-Up activity, it normally occurs around the city’s weeklong rodeo because many tribal elders from Oregon and other states come to Pendleton, making it an opportune time to host them. The annual luncheon is open to any federally recognized tribal member who is 55 or older, and an elder can bring one caretaker to the event. Taylor said DCFS, which has hosted the event for the past 14 years, usually serves around 600 people. The luncheon, with a 2026 theme of “Living Our Legacies with Pride,” began with a continental breakfast at 8 a.m. and songs by the Cayuse Singers. Emcee Fred Hill Sr. opened the ceremonies shortly after 9 a.m. with the posting of colors by tribal veterans and a flag honor song by the Cayuse Singers.

The Nicht-Yow-Way Elders Advisory Committee was introduced afterward before giving way to 2026 Happy Canyon Princesses MyaLyn Mills and Manaia Wolf around 10 a.m. Shortly after, the CTUIR tribal chiefs were introduced followed by an honoring of elders and veterans as well as the eldest male/female in attendance and eldest male/female veteran in attendance. Guest speakers Muriel Hoisington, the 2026 Ms. Pášx̣apa, and Lindsey Pasena-Littlesky addressed the audience around 11 a.m. and then lunch was served. Courtney LittleHoop was presented with an award for her artwork for this year’s luncheon poster after lunch with entertainment and closing remarks following. Raffles for prizes were also held intermittently. “It’s really nice that all these elders can get together and see our friends from other reservations. It’s just a nice social thing that we like doing,” June Krise, a 71-year-old member of the Colville Confederated Tribes from Grapeview, Washington, said. “I like to enjoy myself and have fun. I’m 71, so over the years I’ve accumulated a lot of friends and associates, and this is an opportunity to see some of them that I don’t normally see.” Taylor said she wanted to thank not just the elders who attended but those who helped host the event: Nicht-Yow-Way Elders Advisory Committee; CTUIR staff from DCFS, Finance, Communications and Building Our Life Skills Training and Employment Readiness or BOLSTER; WRC event staff; and the elders who contribute at monthly meetings. Along with the Elders Honor Day Luncheon, DCFS also hosts an annual Christmas luncheon for CTUIR elders in December. Taylor said the Christmas event is for CTUIR members specifically, although members of other tribes who live on the Umatilla Indian Reservation do attend.

“When you attend this event, all you see are smiles and you hear the best laughter ever. It is such good medicine for our elders and our people in general.” — Julie Taylor, CTUIR Department of Children and Family Services director

CONFEDERATED UMATILLA JOURNAL | October 2026

A12

The art of living dangerously

Three bullfighters distract a bull as the bullrider makes his escape on Sept. 16 at the Pendleton Round-Up. See more photos of Round-Up action, parades, results and images from Happy Canyon in Section B. Kathy Aney / The CUJ

CTUIR TOWN HALL Join us in person @ Yellowhawk Conference Room Friday, October 23, 2026 10AM-12PM Or on Teams! Meeting ID: 293 367 849 373 854 Passcode: JN2hg7KT

Learn about local pollutants and provide input for the CTUIR Toxics Strategic Plan to improve the health of the First Foods, lands, air, and waters.

Hosted by Department of Natural Resources Energy & Environmental Sciences Program Contact: Negonne Blair, Environmental Toxicologist stephanieblair@ctuir.org

CONFEDERATED UMATILLA JOURNAL | October 2026

A13

BOARD OF TRUSTEES MEETING MINUTES BOT Present: BOT Chair Kat Brigham; Vice-Chair Aaron Ashley; Treasurer Raymond Huesties; Secretary Monica Paradise; Members Toby Patrick; Lisa Ganuelas; Corinne Sams; Sierra Quaempts and General Council Chair Lindsey X. Watchman. Full quorum present. Old Business: Polled letters and motions: Polled Resolutions: Next Resolution Number: 2026042: Polled Resolution 2026-042: Topic: Cooperating Agency MOU Yellowstone National Park Bison Management SEIS. Motion: Raymond Huesties moves to adopt Resolution 2026-042. Corinne Sams seconds. Discussion. Question. Motion carries 7 for (Raymond Huesties, Corinne Sams, Sierra Quaempts, Aaron Ashley, Lindsey X. Watchman, Monica Paradise and Toby Patrick) – 0 against – 1 abstaining (Lisa Ganuelas). Polled Resolution 2026-043: Relief Payments to CTUIR Tribal Members. Motion: Corinne Sams moves to adopt Resolution 2026-043. Lisa Ganuelas seconds. Discussion. Question. Motion carries 8-0-0. Polled Letters and Motions: Next Number 2026-018 Polled Letter 2026-018 nominating Chair Brigham to Department of Secretary’s Tribal Advisory Committee. Motion: Corinne Sams moves to adopt Polled Letter 2026-018. Toby Patrick seconds. Discussion. Question. Motion carries 7 for (Corinne Sams, Toby Patrick, Lisa Ganuelas, Sierra Quaempts, Lindsey X. Watchman, Monica Paradise and Raymond Huesties) – 0 against – 1 abstaining (Aaron Ashley). New Business: Proposed Resolutions: Next resolution number is 2026-044. Resolution No. 2026-044: Topic Saddle Butte Wind Project Mitigation Agreement. RESOLVED, that the Board of Trustees hereby approves the Confidential Mitigation Agreement attached to this Resolution as Exhibit 1C and authorizes its Chair to execute it on behalf of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation and to take such further action and execute other documents, if any, that are necessary to carry out the purposes of the Confidential Mitigation Agreement and this Resolution; AND, that said Resolution has not been modified, amended or repealed and is still in full force and effect.

DATED this August 3, 2026. Motion: Toby Patrick moves to adopt Resolution 2026044. Raymond Huesties seconds. Discussion. Question. Motion carries 7 for (Raymond Huesties, Corinne Sams, Sierra Quaempts, Aaron Ashley, Lindsey X. Watchman, Monica Paradise and Toby Patrick) – 0 against – 1 abstaining (Lisa Ganuelas). Resolution No. 2026-045: Topic Walla Walla Trust Water Right Appeal 26-045. RESOLVED, that the Board of Trustees (BOT) hereby authorizes the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation’s Office of Legal Counsel to file a petition to intervene in the Washington Pollution Control Hearings Board Appeal 26-045 to protect Instream Lease No. S3-31044 and to preserve Washington’s ability to protect water rights instream from Oregon under RCW 90.90.120, and that legal counsel and staff will report regularly to the BOT on this proceeding; AND, that said Resolution has not been modified, amended or repealed and is still in full force and effect. DATED this August 3, 2026 Motion: Toby Patrick moves to adopt Resolution 2026045. Corinne Sams seconds. Discussion. Question. Motion carries 8-0-0 Other BOT Action Items: None. BOT Travel or External Meeting Reports: Chair Kat Brigham, five (5) trip reports: June 30, Zoom meeting re: Legislative Commission on Indian Services (LCIS); July 9-10 to Portland to attend the US Attorney Tribal Summit; July 15 to Walla Walla, WA, to attend Walla Walla District Change of Command; July 15, Zoom meeting re: ATNI Executive Board; July 19, Zoom meeting re: G2G with Washington Department of Commerce on Lower Snake River Dams. Motion: Corinne Sams moves to approve travel reports. Sierra Quaempts seconds. Discussion. Question. Motion Carries 8-0-0. BOT Leave and Travel Requests: Chair Kat Brigham, one request: Personal leave on August 7, 1.5 hours. General Council Chair Lindsey X. Watchman, one request: Polled personal leave on July 29, 1.5 hours. Member Lisa Ganuelas, one request: Polled personal leave on July 28 all day and on July 31, 3 hours.

C U LTU R A L I N S T I TUT E

Museum Store

TAMÁSTSLIKT AUTUMN APPAREL Pick up some warm apparel to prepare for the fall and winter seasons. Or shop the summer clothes and accessories and be ready for 2027!

Kinship Café

Secretary Monica Paradise, one request: Personal leave from August 19 to 28. Member Toby Patrick, one request: Personal leave from August 10 to 14. Motion: Raymond Huesties moves to approve leave requests. Sierra Quaempts seconds. Discussion. Question. Motion carries 8-0-0.

AUGUST 10, 2026 BOT Present: BOT Chair Kat Brigham; Vice-Chair Aaron Ashley; Treasurer Raymond Huesties; Secretary Monica Paradise; Members Lisa Ganuelas; Corinne Sams; Sierra Quaempts and, General Council Chair Lindsey X. Watchman. Member Toby Patrick on personal leave. Quorum present. Old Business: None. New Business: Proposed Resolutions: Next resolution number is 2026-046. Resolution 2026-046: Topic Supplemental Tribal Emergency Assistance & Food Distribution. RESOLVED, that the Board of Trustees (BOT) adopts the updated guidance and income qualifications for Tribal Emergency Assistance attached as Exhibit 1; AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the BOT appropriates the funds identified in Exhibit 2C from the Contingency Fund for these purposes; AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that staff are directed to monitor expenditures, utilization and community need and provide a report and recommendations to the BOT during the development of the Fiscal Year 2027 Budget to determine if these supplemental funds should be continued, modified or discontinued in 2027; AND BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that the BOT does hereby authorize its Executive Director to take such further action as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this Resolution AND, that said Resolution has not been modified, amended or repealed and is still in full force and effect. DATED this August 10, 2026. Motion: Corinne Sams moves to adopt Resolution 2026-046. Sierra Quaempts seconds. Discussion. Question. Motion carries 7-0-0. Other BOT Action Items: None. BOT Travel or External Meeting Reports:

Continued on Page A14

WISSENBACH’S PAINTED INDIANS

New exhibit presented by St. Anthony Hospital and the City of Pendleton Rev. F.C. Wissenbach (1887-1952) was Rector for the Pendleton Episcopal Church of the Redeemer, 1935-1942. His passion for painting was well-known, painting in oil and watercolor. In 1938, local businessman Donald Robinson recruited 12 people to each sponsor a painting. The paintings of the tribal leaders were on display at the Vert Clubroom and were often used as cover art for many Happy Canyon Pageant programs.

Open for lunch 11am-2pm Tuesday through Saturday! Great lunch options, weekly specials, and tasty huckleberry treats!

FREE FIRST FRIDAY!

October 2 10am-5pm

FREE admission all day. Dine inside at Kinship Cafe or order take-out. Enjoy Indian Tacos ($13) and Frybread ($6) from 11am-2pm. Shop the Museum Store for fall apparel! www.tamastslikt.org • 541.429.7700 • 47106 Wildhorse Blvd. Pendleton, OR 97801 Exhibits, Museum Store Open Tues-Sat, 10am-5pm • Kinship Cafe Open Tues-Sat 11am-2pm First Fridays are FREE!

EAT. SHOP. EXPLORE. OCTOBER 2026

AUGUST 3, 2026

CONFEDERATED UMATILLA JOURNAL | October 2026

A14

BOARD OF TRUSTEES MEETING MINUTES Continued from page A13 Chair Kat Brigham, three reports: July 17, meeting at Kennewick, WA to meet with five Washington legislators; July 15, Tri Cities to attend the Washington Economic Development Association Meeting; Zoom meeting on July 30 with Washington Tribal and Legislative Leadership. Member Lisa Ganuelas one report: Grand Coulee, WA to attend the WA Department of Ecology Office of Columbia River Columbia River Policy Advisory Group quarterly meeting. Motion: Corinne Sams moves to approve travel reports. Raymond Huesties seconds. Discussion. Question. Motion carries 7-0-0. BOT Leave and Travel Requests: Chair Kat Brigham, two requests: August 20-21 to Nez Perce to attend the Four Chairs meeting; September 13-17 travel request to Snoqualmie Casino & Resort to attend ATNI Annual Convention. Member Lisa Ganuelas, one request: August 25 from 10-11 a.m., virtual meeting to learn Contracts & Compliance in the A1 Era – What Tribal Nations Need to Know. Member Corinne Sams, two requests: July 18-19 travel request to Chinook Winds to attend Tribal Consultation Taskforce meeting; August 18-21 travel to Portland to attend CRITFC US v. OR meeting. Member Sierra Quaempts, one request: September 6-7 to Portland to attend the Hands Across the Bridge event. Motion: Raymond Huesties moves to approve leave requests. Corinne Sams seconds. Discussion. Question. Motion carries 7-0-0.

AUGUST 17, 2026 BOT Present: Vice-Chair Aaron Ashley; Treasurer Raymond Huesties; Secretary Monica Paradise; Members Lisa Ganuelas; Corinne Sams; Sierra Quaempts and General Council Chair Lindsey X. Watchman. BOT Chair

Kat Brigham on travel. Member Toby Patrick on personal leave. Quorum present. Old Business: None. New Business: Proposed Resolutions: Next resolution number is 2026-047. Resolution 2026-047: Topic Nuclear Policy. RESOLVED, the Board of Trustees (BOT) hereby adopts the Nuclear Policy as a policy to guide staff when strategically engaging with local, state, federal and private entities, and to ensure meaningful Tribal consultation, protect natural and cultural resources and negotiate mitigation from nuclear impacts to Tribal ceded territories, when necessary, whether terrestrial or coming downstream into Tribal waters; AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, the BOT authorizes the Office of the Executive Director (OED) to internally coordinate staff to implement the Nuclear Policy, and to provide resources for such implementation; AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that OED, through the Energy Strategy Team (EST), shall report quarterly to the BOT on all new, existing or proposed nuclear development that could adversely impact the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation’s ceded lands and describe actions that have or are recommended to prevent or mitigate the adverse harms; AND BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that OED, through the EST, shall review the Nuclear Policy every five years from the date of adoption and report any recommended changes to the BOT; AND, that said Resolution has not been modified, amended or repealed and is still in full force and effect. DATED this August 17, 2026. Motion: Raymond Huesties moves to adopt Resolution 2026-047. Corinne Sams seconds. Discussion. Question. Motion carries 6-0-0. Resolution 2026-048: Topic Board of Trustees (BOT) Secretary Procedures. RESOLVED, that the Board of Trustees (BOT) hereby adopts the amendments to the BOT Procedure Code attached hereto as Exhibit 1, which revise and incorporate the BOT Secretary Procedures; AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED,that the BOT hereby rescinds the standalone BOT Secretary Procedures adopted by Resolution 12-029; AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the BOT directs the Office of Legal Counsel to make the amended BOT Procedure Code available on the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation’s public website; AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the

Office of the Executive Director shall ensure that staff are informed and trained as necessary on the revised BOT Secretary Procedures; AND BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that the Office of the Executive Director shall ensure that the BOT Procedure Code is reviewed for potential updates at least every five years AND, that said Resolution has not been modified, amended or repealed and is still in full force and effect. DATED this August 17, 2026. Motion: Corinne Sams moves to adopt Resolution 2026-048. Raymond Huesties seconds. Discussion. Question. Motion carries 6-0-0. Resolution: 2026-049 Topic Protecting the Tribal Flag and Veterans’ Flag. RESOLVED, that the Board of Trustees (BOT) hereby supports the continued renewal of the “Three Horses Over Setting Sun” mark used by Wildhorse Resort and Casino to further increase protections of the Tribal Flag and this design element; AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the BOT hereby directs the Office of the Executive Director (OED) to work with the Office of Legal Counsel (OLC) to finalize all appropriate letters and materials necessary, including Exhibits 1 through 3, to submit the Tribal Flag design elements to the United States Patent and Trademark Office’s Native American Tribal Insignia Database; AND BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that the BOT directs OLC to report back within 120 days regarding any protections available for the Veterans’ Flag under federal law, and to provide a memorandum to OED evaluating utility of a Tribal Trademark Code, should a Data Sovereignty Code not be developed; AND, that said Resolution has not been modified, amended or repealed and is still in full force and effect. DATED this August 17, 2026. Motion: Raymond Huesties moves to adopt Resolution 2026-049 with correction. Lindsey X. Watchman seconds. Discussion. Question. Motion carries 6-0-0. Other BOT Action Items: None. BOT Travel or External Meeting Reports: Chair Kat Brigham, one report: Meeting with Union Pacific Railroad (UPRR) in CTUIR Conference Room. Motion: Corinne Sams moves to approve travel report. Raymond Huesties seconds. Discussion. Question. Motion carries 6-0-0. BOT Leave and Travel Requests: Member Corinne Sams, two requests:

CONFEDERATED UMATILLA JOURNAL | October 2026

A15

BOARD OF TRUSTEES MEETING NOTES Polled personal leave August 13, from 10:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.; Personal leave from August 24 to 28, all week. Chair Kat Brigham, two requests: Cancelled August 19-20 travel; August 18 Zoom meeting with ATNI Executive Board, 8:30-10:30 a.m. GC Chair Lindsey X. Watchman, one request: Polled personal leave August 11 from 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Motion: Raymond Huesties moves to approve leave requests. Corinne Sams seconds. Discussion. Question. Motion carries 6-0-0.

AUGUST 24, 2026 BOT Present: BOT Chair Kat Brigham; Vice-Chair Aaron Ashley; Treasurer Raymond Huesties; Members Toby Patrick; Lisa Ganuelas; Sierra Quaempts and General Council Chair Lindsey X. Watchman. Secretary Monica Paradise and Member Corinne Sams on personal leave. Quorum present. Old Business: Polled Letter 2026-019: Topic Letter in support of the Hood River White Salmon Bridge Replacement Project Motion: Raymond Huesties moves to ratify polled letter 2026-019. Toby Patrick seconds. Discussion. Question. Motion carries 6-0-0. New Business: Proposed Resolutions: Next resolution number is 2026-050 Resolution 2026-050: Topic Transport Equipment Co. Lease Amendment No. 3. RESOLVED, that the Board of Trustees (BOT) hereby approves Lease Amendment No. 3 by and between the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR) and Transport Equipment Co. attached to this Resolution as Exhibit 1C; AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the BOT hereby authorizes its Chair to execute the attached Lease Amendment No. 3, or one containing substantially similar terms; AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the BOT hereby waives the requirement that Transport Equipment Company, Inc. be required to post a performance bond as permitted at 25 CFR 162.434(f); AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the BOT approves of the lease payments that have been negotiated as being in the best interest of the CTUIR and waives the valuation of the Leased Premises as

provided in 25 CFR 162.420(a) and any periodic review for valuation or lease adjustment as provided in 25 CFR 162.428; AND BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that the BOT authorizes its Chair and Executive Director to take further action and to execute documents that may be necessary to carry out the purposes of the Resolution; AND, that said Resolution has not been modified, amended or repealed and is still in full force and effect. DATED this August 24, 2026. Motion: Raymond Huesties moves to adopt Resolution 2026-050. Toby Patrick seconds. Discussion. Question. Motion carries 6-0-0. Resolution 2026-051 Topic: Columbia Development Authority Real Estate Contract of Sale. RESOLVED, that the Board of Trustees (BOT) does hereby approve the attached Amended and Restated Real Estate Contract of Sale and authorizes its Chair or her designee to execute the Contract or one containing substantially similar terms; AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, the BOT authorizes its Executive Director to vote to approve the attached Amended and Restated Real Estate Contract of Sale when it comes up for a vote at the Columbia Development Authority (CDA) Board meeting; AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, the BOT authorizes its Executive Director to complete negotiation of, and to execute, a temporary easement across the Depot land to be conveyed to the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR) to permit the Port of Morrow to access its tract in Morrow County; AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, the BOT hereby makes the following appropriations to pay for the legal and land use costs for the CDA conveyance of Depot lands to the CTUIR: a) appropriates from the Tribal Contingency Fund the amount necessary to pay the legal and land use costs associated with the conveyance of the 4,019 acres of Depot property; and b) appropriates from the CDA payment to the CTUIR of the proceeds from the sale of the land to Cleaver Farms to pay the legal and land use costs for the conveyance of the Demil site; with each appropriation more fully set forth in the Budget attached as Exhibit 2C to this Resolution and that any additional funds that may be needed to close these CDA conveyances shall be subject to BOT’s approval; AND BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, the BOT authorizes its Chair and Executive Director to take such further action, and to execute documents that may be required to carry out the

purposes of this Resolution; AND, that said Resolution has not been modified, amended or repealed and is still in full force and effect. DATED this August 24, 2026. Motion: Raymond Huesties moves to adopt Resolution 2026-051 with corrections. Toby Patrick seconds. Discussion. Question. Motion carries 6-0-0. Other BOT Action Items: None. BOT Travel or External Meeting Reports: Deferred. BOT Leave and Travel Requests: Chair Kat Brigham, two requests: Travel September 28-30 to Salem to attend the LCIS meeting; Travel October 22-24 to Yakima Indian Nation to attend Tribes and Climate Teacher’s Workshop. GC Chair Lindsey X. Watchman, one request: Polled personal leave for August 18. Member Lisa Ganuelas, two requests: Personal leave August 14 from 12-4 p.m.; Polled personal leave August 20 from 8:45-9:45 a.m. Member Sierra Quaempts, one request: Polled personal leave August 21 from 12-4 p.m. Motion: Raymond Huesties moves to approve leave requests. Toby Patrick seconds. Discussion. Question. Motion carries 6-0-0.

AUGUST 31, 2026 BOT Present: Vice-Chair Aaron Ashley; Treasurer Raymond Huesties; Secretary Monica Paradise; Members Corinne Sams; Sierra Quaempts, and General Council Chair Lindsey X. Watchman. Member Lisa Ganuelas on personal leave from 9:00-9:52 am. BOT Chair Kat Brigham on administrative leave. Member Toby Patrick on personal leave. Quorum present. Old Business: None. New Business: Proposed Resolutions: Next resolution number is 2026-052 Resolution 2026-052: Topic Mission Community Water and Sewer Rates 2027-2030. RESOLVED, that the Board of Trustees hereby adopts the Mission Community Water and Sewer Rates 2027 to 2030 attached to this resolution as Exhibit 1C; AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Executive Director shall provide for review and

Continued on Page A16

CONFEDERATED UMATILLA JOURNAL | October 2026

A16

BOARD OF TRUSTEES MEETING MINUTES Continued from page A15 update of the business plan in 2030, and at ten-year intervals thereafter, to assure measurement of the rates necessary to provide for the long-term operation and maintenance of the systems; AND BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that the Executive Director or their authorized designee is authorized to take all actions necessary to implement the updated water and sewer rates effective for Calendar Years 2027 through 2030; AND, that said Resolution has not been modified, amended or repealed and is still in full force and effect. DATED this August 31, 2026. Motion: Raymond Huesties moves to adopt Resolution 2026-052. Lindsey X. Watchman seconds. Discussion. Question. Motion carries 5-0-0. Resolution 2026-053: Topic Approval of Investment of Calan OS Private Credit Fund. RESOLVED, that the Board of Trustees hereby adopts the Mission Water Sewer Business Plan and Water and Sewer Rate Sheet for 2027 through 2030 attached to this resolution as Exhibit 1C and 2 respectively; AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Executive Director shall provide for review and update of the Water Sewer Business Plan in 2030, and at ten-year intervals thereafter, to assure measurement of the rates necessary to provide for the long-term financial requirements and maintenance of the systems; AND BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that the Executive Director or their authorized designee is authorized to take all actions necessary to implement the updated water and sewer rates effective for Calendar Years 2027 through 2030; AND, that said Resolution has not been modified, amended or repealed and is still in full force and effect. DATED this August 31, 2026. Motion: Raymond Huesties moves to adopt Resolution 2026-053. Monica Paradise seconds as corrected.

Discussion. Question. Motion carries 4 for (Raymond Huesties, Monica Paradise, Sierra Quaempts and Corinne Sams) – 0 against – 1abstaining (Lindsey X. Watchman). Other BOT Action Items: Commission/ Committee Update. Economic & Community Development Committee, two-year term, one position advertised. Motion: Raymond Huesties moves to advertise Donald Williams’ position whose term is expiring September 10, 2026. Corinne Sams seconds. Discussion. Question. Motion carries 5-0-0. Education and Training Committee, twoyear term, one position advertised. Motion: Corinne Sams moves to advertise Pamela Shippentower’s position whose term is expiring September 10, 2026. Raymond Huesties seconds. Discussion. Question. Motion carries 5-00. Gaming Commission, four-year term, one position advertised, one application received from Mary Holt. MOTION: Raymond Huesties moves to reappoint Mary Holt by acclamation to the Gaming Commission for a four-year term. Lindsey X. Watchman seconds. Discussion. Question. Motion carries 5-00. Health Commission, three-year staggered terms, one position advertised. Motion: Sierra Quaempts moves to advertise one position to fill a two-year term ending February 9, 2029. Monica Paradise seconds. Discussion. Question. Motion carries 5-0-0. Housing Commission, two-year term, one position advertised. Motion: Lindsey X. Watchman moves to advertise one position to fill a two-year term expiring April 27, 2027. Raymond Huesties seconds. Discussion. Question. Motion carries 5-0-0. Land Acquisition Committee, two-year term.

Motion: Corinne Sams moves to appoint General Council Chair Lindsey X. Watchman to replace Secretary Monica Paradise. Monica Paradise seconds. Discussion. Question. Motion carries 5-00. Law and Order Committee, two-year term, one position advertised. Motion: Corinne Sams moves to advertise for Jiselle Halfmoon’s position that expires September 10, 2026. Raymond Huesties seconds. Discussion. Question. Motion carries 5-0-0. Land Protection Planning Commission, three-year term. one position advertised, two applications received from Pamela Shippentower and Nizhonia Toledo. Action: By secret ballot Nizhonia Toledo was appointed to the Land Protection Commission for a three-year term. BOT Travel or External Meeting Reports: Deferred. BOT Leave and Travel Requests: Member Lisa Ganuelas, three leave requests: Polled personal leave September 11 from 10:30 a.m.to 4 p.m.; Polled personal leave August 27 all day and August 28 for two hours; Polled personal leave August 31 for 9 a.m. Member Sierra Quaempts three leave requests: Personal leave August 18 from 7:20 a.m. to noon; Personal leave August 26; Polled personal leave August 21 from noon to 4 p.m. Member Toby Patrick, one leave request: Polled personal leave August 26 and August 31. Motion: Raymond Huesties moves to approve leave requests. Corinne Sams seconds. Discussion. Question. Motion carries 6-0-0.

Help protect, restore and enhance First Foods – Wíwnu – by participating in a voluntary online survey Please share your insights and experiences!

The CTUIR Department of Natural Resources is gathering information on the effects of climate change on First Foods, with a focus on huckleberry harvest. Your knowledge will directly guide our conservation efforts and help ensure future generations can continue to enjoy huckleberries. Rest assured, all information shared will remain confidential and will only be used internally to support our First Foods mission.

Use the QR code to access the survey. The survey will go live September 2026. If you have any questions, you can contact Rosa Arellanes, First Food Botanist – 541-429-7236, or Cheryl Shippentower, Restoration Ecologist – 541-429-7239

CONFEDERATED UMATILLA JOURNAL | October 2026

A17

MORE FUN. MORE OFTEN! art . people . traditions .

INDIGENOUS

marketplace I N C E L E B R AT I O N O F I N D I G E N O U S P E O P L E S ’ D AY S HO P U N IQ U E N ATIV E JE WE L RY, G IF TS & MOR E

OCT 9

F R I D AY • 4 –7 P M

OCT 10

S AT U R D AY • 1 0 A M – 5 P M R IVE R S E VE N T CEN TER

INDIGENOUS

ARTIST SOCIAL

F R I D AY, O C T O B E R 9 • 4 – 5 p m

C O M P L I M E N TA R Y L I G H T H O R S D ’ O E U V R E S AND REFRESHMENTS

FRE E AND OP E N TO T HE PUBL IC Visit the wildhorse app or wildhorseresort.com for more information. Management reserves all rights to alter, suspend or withdraw promotions/offers at any time.

DOWNLOAD OUR NEW APP!

LEW-7UP-10-2026

OFFER EXPIRES 10-31-2026

LEW-7UP-10-2026

OFFER EXPIRES 10-31-2026

A18

CONFEDERATED UMATILLA JOURNAL | October 2026

DO YOU HAVE A WILL?

Do you need help with estate planning? Does your current Will need to be updated?

WHY IS A WILL IMPORTANT?

A will makes your intentions clear to your heirs. A will can help to ensure your spouse/partner is provided for. A will lets you choose how your estate is distributed (e.g. regalia, home and property) A will can help to avoid a lengthy probate process

THIS IS A FREE SERVICE FOR CTUIR TRIBAL MEMBERS Contact Mary Guss to schedule your confidential appointment. 541-429-7401 or maryguss@hotmail.com

CONFEDERATED UMATILLA JOURNAL | October 2026

A19

CONFEDERATED UMATILLA JOURNAL | October 2026

A20

JACKPOT AMOUNT INCREASES WITH EACH SPIN UNTIL WON! Spin the wheel to win up to $500 CASH or the PROGRESSIVE JACKPOT! FRIDAYS & SATURDAYS • 6–9pm | Drawings every 20 minutes 75 points per entry including Table Games, Keno, Bingo and Poker.

10X ENTRY MULTIPLIER EVERY WEDNESDAY

Club Wild card must be properly inserted and accepted to earn entry multiplier.

$16,000 GRAND PRIZE DRAWING

First place wins $10,000 CASH! FRIDAY, OCTOBER 30 • 9:30pm

FA L L F R E N Z Y

$1,000 Per Game!

Awarded

October 24 & 25

TICKETS ON SALE NOW EXPERIENCE THE WORLD’S WILDEST BINGO PARTY!

CRAZY PRIZES LIP SYNC BATTLES RAVE ROUNDS & MORE! SATURDAY, OCTOBER 31 • 6PM R IV ER S EV ENT C ENT ER

TICKETS ON SALE NOW

EACH TICKET GOOD FOR $5 FREEPLAY!

For more details, visit wildhorseresort.com or the Wildhorse App!

CASINO • HOTEL • GOLF • RV • DINING • FUNPLEX 800.654.9453 • PENDLETON, OR • I-84, EXIT 216 • wildhorseresort.com • Owned and operated by CTUIR Management reserves all rights to alter, suspend or withdraw promotions/offers at any time.

CAT17116-1

October 2026 cuj.ctuir.org

VOLUME 34 | ISSUE 10

CUJ CONFEDERATED UMATILLA JOURNAL

SECTION

Pendleton Round-Up

Matthew Pakootas leads Indian relay racers round the first curve on Sept. 18 at the Pendleton Round-Up.

Bareback rider Orin Larsen, of Manitoba, Canada, rides Dreamsicle on Sept. 18 at the Pendleton Round-Up.

Additional photos and results from the Round-Up, Happy Canyon, Native American Beauty Pageant, Parades and more inside PHOTOS BY KATHY ANEY The CUJ

Marissa Baumgartner, son Wylynn Green and other tribal dancers make their way around the arena grass on Sept. 16.

CONFEDERATED UMATILLA JOURNAL | October 2026

An Indian relay rider mounts a horse during an exchange on Sept. 16.

Saddle bronc rider Kade Bruno, of Challis, Idaho, rides Exciting Bubbles for a score of 85 points on Sept. 16 at the Pendleton Round-Up.

Steer wrestler Trevor Maddox wrestles his steer in 3.3 seconds to win the go-round on Sept. 18.

Bull rider Dakota Hill, of Boswell, Texas, rides Carved in Stone for the required eight seconds for a score of 83.5 on Sept. 16.

PHOTOS BY KATHY ANEY The CUJ

A trick roper performs Sept. 18 during the Westward Ho! Parade in downtown Pendleton.

Pendleton Round-Up Queen Olivia Corbett and her court run around the track during the grand entry Sept. 16 on the first day of the rodeo.

CONFEDERATED UMATILLA JOURNAL | October 2026

Thompson and the art of frybread BEAU GLYNN The CUJ

PENDLETON — Among the ruckus and fanfare of the Pendleton RoundUp, an intoxicating smell permeates Roy Raley Park, drawing rodeo visitors to a tent near the River Walk where Michelle Thompson, owner of MT’s Frybread, shows off her craft. Each year, nearly 50,000 people flock to Pendleton to watch RoundUp, the Happy Canyon Night Show, the Kick-Off Concert and other annual festivities taking place throughout the week. More often than not, most visitors will find themselves at Roy Raley Park looking for a bite. Thompson, a Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR) member, said she started making frybread in her late teens or early 20s, noting that it didn’t start out perfectly. “I made some frisbees, some hockey pucks,” she recounted. “Then I started helping (CTUIR member) Linda Jones at her frybread stand and then broke off from that and started MT’s Frybread.” Thompson estimated she has been operating her stand in Roy Raley Park for about five years, and before that, she was located across the street by The Muffler Shop on Court Avenue. In those days, she said she had help from CTUIR members Linda and Sandy Sampson. “I don’t know how I got a spot in

Michelle Thompson prepares to open before the big rush after the Westward Ho! Parade Sept. 18 at MT’s Frybread, a stand she has been running for more than 20 years.

the park, but I’m trying to keep it,” she said. Over the course of the RoundUp week, Thompson said she goes through 200 to 250 pounds of flour to make her frybread, estimating 25 batches of dough in four days. “It’s fun, but it is a lot of work because not only are you open during the day, but when you close down, you’ve got to clean up and start getting ready for the next day,

get up early and start making your chili for that day,” Thompson said. Outside of Round-Up, Thompson said she also cooks in the Mission Longhouse making frybread dough for the events hosted there. “I enjoy helping out families and dedicating myself to those events, just helping out families that might need my help,” she said. Thompson said she’d been making frybread for 30 to 40 years,

VIDEO BY

LEE GAVIN The CUJ

and visitors can now follow the intoxicating smell to her tent and indulge in what she does best. “So, if you’re down here hanging out at the Round-Up grounds, swing by and grab a piece of frybread, a rez dog or a buffalo burger,” Thompson said. “Let’er buck!”

CONFEDERATED UMATILLA JOURNAL | October 2026

Angelina Buck, 17, of the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation, was named the first-place winner of the American Indian Beauty Contest on Sept. 18 in downtown Pendleton. (Yasser Marte/The CUJ)

Pageants celebrate regalia, tradition The CUJ

PENDLETON — Traditional regalia and beautiful designs took center stage as contestants celebrated their heritage during Round-Up’s Native American beauty contests. The two events, the Junior American Indian Beauty Contest

held Sept. 17 at Roy Raley Park and the American Indian Beauty Contest on Sept. 18 in downtown Pendleton, brought together contestants representing different tribes and generations of cultural traditions. Each piece reflected a connection to family, community and tribal

history. Beautifully woven colors, patterns and beadwork carried cultural meaning, with designs rooted in traditions passed down through generations. The contests offered a vivid display of pride and tradition, with contestants carrying the artistry sewn into the fabric of their communities.

LEFT: Happy Canyon Princess MyaLyn Mills, 18, of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, was named second-place winner of the American Indian Beauty Contest on Sept. 18 in downtown Pendleton. (Yasser Marte/The CUJ)

American Indian Beauty Contest Results FIRST PLACE

Angelina Buck

Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation

SECOND PLACE

MyaLyn Mills

Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation

THIRD PLACE

Dazha Joseph

Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation

Dazha Joseph, 14, of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, is named third-place winner on Sept. 18 at the American Indian Beauty Contest. (Lee Gavin/The CUJ)

CONFEDERATED UMATILLA JOURNAL | October 2026

Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation member Blake Berit Ashley was announced as the winner of the 2026 Junior American Indian Beauty Contest at Roy Raley Park on Sept. 17, the day of her 13th birthday. (Beau Glynn/The CUJ)

CTUIR member Ezmae Louis Hoisington smiles from the stage at Roy Raley Park after being announced as the second-place winner of the Junior American Indian Contest on Sept. 17. (Beau Glynn/The CUJ)

Junior American Indian Beauty Contest Results FIRST PLACE

Blake Berit Ashley

Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR)

SECOND PLACE

Ezmae Louis Hoisington CTUIR

THIRD PLACE

Lillian Wickert CTUIR

BEST DRESSED

Gwen Johnson

Tribal member Lillian Wickert waves from the Roy Raley Park stage in Pendleton on Sept. 17 after being announced as the third-place winner of the annual Junior American Indian Beauty Contest. (Beau Glynn/The CUJ)

CTUIR

Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation member Gwen Johnson was awarded for the most authentic dress at the Junior American Indian Beauty Contest on Sept. 17 at Roy Raley Park. Her dress, made by her mother and grandmother, is more than 50 years old. (Beau Glynn/The CUJ)

Happy 13 th Birthday

Jace Allen Marchand!

Love you past the moon, cowboy! — Mom, Brother, & Mason

CONFEDERATED UMATILLA JOURNAL | October 2026

Behind the curtain at the 110th Happy Canyon BEAU GLYNN The CUJ

PENDLETON — After a day of bullriding, barrel racing and relays, the Pendleton Round-Up’s counterpart comes alive as the sun goes down. Horses and actors make their way to the Happy Canyon grounds to put on the annual Night Show. Celebrating its 110th year, the Happy Canyon Night Show tells the story of the American West in all of its many facets — the days of the Native American tribes, Oregon Trail and arrival of the pioneers and the days that followed. Before the show, as guests are guided to their seats by the volunteer ushers, show participants gather below the grandstands and become their characters. In the makeup room, long-time makeup artists Karen Ashbeck, Ingrid Thamert and Marylyn Blagg paint freckles, war paint and more onto the actors to bring the characters to life. Ashbeck and Thamert have been manning the makeup chairs, tools in hand, for more than 30 years. Blagg, the latest recruit, estimated that she had been volunteering for nearly 10 years. As the artists paint on the characters, the orchestra warmsup and the actors gather. Tribal members walk in through the east gate from the Tipi Village in their regalia, some mounted on horses, some on foot. Below the grandstand, horses, cattle and other wildlife wait for their cue. At the west entrance, Happy Canyon Hall of Fame inductee Aaron Hines sits on horseback, ready to enter the show as the town-crier. This 110th Happy Canyon Night Show season will be the year he and his horse retire from their roles. Carrying on this 110 year tradition, the story does not change, but inspires more stories in itself. As the makeup artists wait for their chairs to be filled, they recount tales of on-set injuries, removed parts of the show and the young children whose faces they used to paint, now grown-up and stubbled. See the behind-the-scenes of the first night of the 110th Happy Canyon Night Show in the gallery below.

ABOVE: Cyrus Conner applies war paint in the mirror on Sept. 16 before the Happy Canyon Night Show begins. LEFT: 2026 Happy Canyon Princesses MyaLyn Mills, left, and Manaia Wolf sit on their horses as they prepare to enter the Happy Canyon grounds at the start of the show. BELOW: Tribal member Josiah Savayah Minthorn gets his makeup applied by long-time Happy Canyon makeup artist Karen Ashbeck.

PHOTOS BY BEAU GLYNN The CUJ

Bobbie Conner sits atop her horse before the start of the 110th year of the Happy Canyon Night Show.

Tribal members make their way from the tipi village to the Happy Canyon Night Show on Sept. 16 to participate in the 110th year of the pageant.

CONFEDERATED UMATILLA JOURNAL | October 2026

Westward Ho! Parade

2026 Happy Canyon Princesses MyaLyn Mills and Manaia Wolf ride in the Westward Ho parade.

PENDLETON — Horses and wagons hit the streets for the Westward Ho! Parade. The Western-themed parade drew thousands of locals and visitors to downtown Pendleton on Sept. 18 for one of the city’s biggest annual traditions. The parade began in front of Pendleton City Hall as hundreds of participants made their way through downtown and toward the Pendleton Round-Up grounds. This year, the procession carried a little extra history. Fifty flags marked the United

Chief Gary Burke rides along the parade route.

States 250th birthday, while former Happy Canyon princesses returned to the parade route to help commemorate the 110th anniversary of the Pendleton Round-Up. Generations of Tribal members, cowboys and cowgirls filled the streets alongside horses, wagons, riders and floats as families, friends and visitors lined the sidewalks. For a few hours, Pendleton’s past and present moved together — one horse, wagon and parade float at a time. Let’er Buck!

PHOTOS BY LEE GAVIN The CUJ

Derek Quaempts and Mother Mildred Quaempts walk together in the Westward Ho! parade.

CONFEDERATED UMATILLA JOURNAL | October 2026

Happy Canyon Princess alumni from over the years share a wagon during the Westward Ho! Parade on Sept. 18 in downtown Pendleton.

Boots Pond walks the Westward Ho! Parade route.

Kelsey Burns and Sky Smith walk together playing hand drums during the Westward Ho! Parade.

Thomas Morning Owl waves to the crowd from one of the wagons loaded with tribal members.

Avery Quaempts waves to the Westward Ho! crowd.

CONFEDERATED UMATILLA JOURNAL | October 2026

B10

Pendleton Round-Up finals SEPT. 19 • PENDLETON ROUND-UP ARENA • PENDLETON, OR.

PENDLETON — By the time the dust settled, the 2026 Pendleton Round-Up finals delivered the kind of championship rodeo that keeps fans coming back year after year. Thousands of spectators gathered Sept. 19 at the Pendleton Round-Up arena for the final day, watching horse and bull riders, ropers and racers put themselves on the line in the arena. It was a day of Western and tribal traditions and hard competition.

2026 PENDLETON ROUND-UP CHAMPIONS: ALL AROUND Haven Meged

Miles City, Montana

BAREBACK RIDING Garrett Shadbolt

Merriman, Nebraska

STEER WRESTLING Logan Kenline

Penrose, Colorado

TEAM ROPING Clay Smith

Kylie Bronson flies around the arena with the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation flag on Sept. 19 during the grand opening of the final day of the Pendleton Round-Up.

Broken Bow, Oklahoma

Coleby Payne

Stephenville, Texas

BREAKAWAY ROPING Jordan Minor

Hermiston, Oregon

SADDLE BRONC Stetson Wright Beaver, Utah

TIE-DOWN ROPING Shad Mayfield,

Clovis, New Mexico

BARREL RACING Katelyn Scott Odessa, Texas

STEER ROPING Taylor Santos

Creston, California

BULL RIDING Grady Young

Leader, Saskatchewan, Canada

INDIAN RELAY

Abrahamson Relay Colville Tribes

Garrett Shadbolt of Merriman, Nebraska, wins the bareback riding competition.

Haven Meged of Miles City, Montana, celebrates his All-Around title while holding his son Wylder Aaron Meged.

Stetson Wright of Beaver, Utah, wins the saddle bronc riding competition with a score of 92.5.

Kamia Dick, a Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation member, waves to the crowd during the ceremonial tribal dancing.

CONFEDERATED UMATILLA JOURNAL | October 2026

B11

ABOVE: Taylor Santos of Creston, California, takes the steer roping title with a time of 37.5 seconds.

The Abrahamson Relay team of the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation wins the Indian Relay championship.

LEFT: Jordan Minor of Hermiston takes a victory lap after winning the breakaway roping competition.

Clay Smith of Broken Bow, Oklahoma, and Coleby Payne of Stephenville, Texas, finish the team roping competition with a time of 5.8 seconds. PHOTOGRAPHER / PUBLICATION

PHOTOS BY YASSER MARTE The CUJ

Shad Mayfield of Clovis, New Mexico, wins the tie-down roping competition.

Grady Young of Leader, Saskatchewan, Canada, takes the bull riding title.

Logan Kenline of Penrose, Colorado, wins the steer wrestling competition.

CONFEDERATED UMATILLA JOURNAL | October 2026

B12

Noisey puts best foot forward for meaningful causes ANNIE FOWLER The CUJ

MISSION — Aaron Noisey is a shy, introverted person, but if there is a cause that is near and dear to him, he will lace up his sneakers and hit the pavement. “Suicide prevention runs, programs for schools — if there is an organization that would like to make a nice donation, it would be welcomed,” Noisey said. “I do these things, not for myself, but to help others, whether it be students or causes. There was a time in my life when I needed help and someone helped me. To me, you get to a point in your life when you want to help others. I like to hear that ‘I made it through today because you helped me.’” Noisey, a teacher, boys basketball coach and athletic director at Nixyaáwii Community School (NCS), and a member of the Cherokee Nation has ran/walked several races over the past few years, raising money for suicide prevention, children’s causes, outdoor preservation and a local child with cancer. “I tell my kids in my class I hate running,” Noisey said. “It’s the least favorite thing I want to do in the

Aaron Noisey ran in the Bridge of the Gods 10K in Cascade Locks. Aaron Noisey /Contributed Photo

morning, but you have to learn to do hard things. Running is hard. I don’t enjoy it. I wasn’t born to run, I learned to do it. I think that’s why I find different causes to support. It helps motivate me. It’s showing the kids just because you may not be good at something or like it, you can still find joy in it. The hardness in doing it brings me joy in doing it.” Noisey, 53, has lost 125 pounds

Aaron Noisey participates in the 2019 Boise Spartan Run to raise money for Anson Fairbanks, a local boy with cancer. Aaron Noisey /Contributed Photo

over the past three years, which has helped him on his journey. “Losing the weight has helped me be more active to be able to do these things,” he said. “I’m very thankful for my group of friends — about 20 people that I know I can depend on. It can be $1 or $50 and they will dig in their wallet to support me.” Noisey participated in a 10K run for suicide prevention Sept. 19, in honor of his brother, Jason, who died in 2022 at 52 years old. “That is near and dear to me,” he said. “I have the people at Yellowhawk (Tribal Health Center) come and talk to my class. They do such a good job with their suicide prevention program.” According to the Centers for Disease Control, in 2024, American Indian and Alaska Native people had one of the highest suicide rates of any racial and ethnic group in the United States. On Oct. 18, Noisey will compete in the Columbia Gorge Marathon & Half Marathon in Hood River. He will be running his first half marathon (13.1 miles) and raising money for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. He is accepting donations to help the cause. “I am a little bit nervous about it,” Noisey admitted. “I feel if I am going to put myself out there and raise money, it gives me extra incentive to train and complete it. It does seem like all I do is ask people for money, but it is all for a good cause.” Noisey found himself in Wallowa on Sept. 26 for a 5K fun run for the Joseph Branch Trail Consortium, which was celebrating completion of a new, approximately 1-mile, ADA-accessible section of the trail. “This one sounded like fun,” Noisey said. “Others, I try to raise money for different things. My wife (Shannon) thinks I’m too busy. She went with me and after my race we went into Joseph. I make sure I give

“I wasn’t born to run, I learned to do it. I think that’s why I find different causes to support. It helps motivate me.” — Aaron Noisey

her time when I do these things, and my dog Yo-Na.” Noisey’s first fundraiser was in 2019, when he competed in the Boise Spartan Run to raise money for Anson Fairbanks, a local child going through cancer treatments. Originally from Oklahoma, Noisey came to the Pendleton area in 2000. “I met Ryan Sams at Haskell University,” he said. “After graduation, he moved back home (Pendleton). He later called and said there was a Head Start position opening. I flew out the week of Round-Up in 2000. I took the job. This is the first year I haven’t done anything during Round-Up.” When he’s not coaching or running for a cause, Noisey puts his efforts into the students at NCS. During the summer, he went with a group of students to Yellowstone National Park for an educational experience. He would like to take the kids back to Alaska this coming summer. Fundraising efforts have already begun. “To be able to take these kids for their first time to Yellowstone and see a herd of 50 buffalo, or go to Alaska and see a young girl catch her first fish, makes it worthwhile,” he said. “I step out of my comfort zone to teach kids that it’s OK to do hard things, and it’s OK to ask for help. Whether it’s to get through their day or go on a once-in-a-lifetime trip.”

CONFEDERATED UMATILLA JOURNAL | October 2026

B13

12th Annual NW Indian Memorial Golf Tournament Results LADIES FLIGHT

1st Low Gross 2nd Low Gross 3rd Low Gross 1st Low Net 2nd Low Net Tie 3rd Low Net

Megan George Marilyn Sheldon Alyssa Lane Kristine Riggers Justine Miles Laurie Ann Cloud MaryAnn Sam

Mission, OR Tulalip, Wa Lummi Nation, WA Clarkston, WA Lapwai, ID Lapwai, ID Victoria Island, BC

145 150 167 146 149 153 153

Wyatt Brook Leighton Pennington Dillon George Paul French

Vancouver, BC Mission, OR Mission, OR Pendleton, OR

Dazon Sigo

Mission, OR

141 147 152 138 147 151

Austin Domebo Mike Bisbee Pepper Morse Aaron Blackburn Frank Reese Jon VanWoerkom

Lapwai, ID Lapwai, ID Anacortes, WA Aberdeen, WA Warm Springs, OR Lapwai, ID

156 169 173 139 146 155

Shannon Wheeler Foster Kenton Randy Friedlander Mitch Gonzales Greg Edwards

Lapwai, ID Carson City, NV Nespelem, WA Boise, ID LaConnor, WA

147 154 160 138 153

LaConnor, WA Toppenish, WA Lummi Nation, WA McCall, ID Aberdeen, WA Wellpinit, WA Lummi Nation, WA

152 153 154 145 146 149 149

Aberdeen, WA Republic, WA Spokane, WA Nespelem, WA Riverside, CA Warm Springs, OR Lapwai, ID

172 173 174 128 143 146 146

CHAMPIONSHIP FLIGHT 1st Low Gross 2nd Low Gross 3rd Low Gross 1st Low Net 2nd Low Net 3rd Low Net

MEN’S FIRST FLIGHT 1st Low Gross 2nd Low Gross 3rd Low Gross 1st Low Net 2nd Low Net 3rd Low Net

SENIOR FLIGHT

1st Low Gross 2nd Low Gross 3rd Low Gross 1st Low Net 2nd Low Net

SUPER SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP FLIGHT 1st Low Gross 2nd Low Gross 3rd Low Gross 1st Low Net 2nd Low Net 3rd Low Net 3rd Low Net

Steve Edwards Chris Inglis Carl Lane JR Inglis Jon Bergstrom Terry Evans Dave Johnson

SUPER SENIOR FIRST FLIGHT 1st Low Gross 2nd Low Gross 3rd Low Gross 1st Low Net 2nd Low Net Tie 3rd Low Net Tie 3rd Low Net

Phillip Blackburn Alan Roberts Turk Holford Jerry Sam Denny Mojado Jerry Sampson Chris Webb

CTUIR Office of Air Quality Fall burn season update

Fall Air Quality Season 2026 • •

Need the current 2026 Permit? Scan the QR code: Daily burn decisions determine Yes or No "burn days"

Burn Decision updated daily during burn season: • Burn Line – (541) 429-7080 • Email - oaq@ctuir.org For Permits, Burn Day info

Best Burning Practices

• Use the appropriate burn permit for your project (Scan QR code for permits) • Only burn dry wood, leaves, natural materials, and/or untreated lumber • Start your burn with clean, dry paper or brown cardboard only • Light 4 corners of your burn pile; propane torches are allowable for ignition • Burn clean: Ensure good airflow under the burn pile or barrel • Slowly add to your hot Burn pile for efficient fuel reduction

CONFEDERATED UMATILLA JOURNAL | October 2026

B14

Title VI hosts Back to School event at NCS BEAU GLYNN The CUJ

MISSION — Students and their parents gathered at the Nixyáawii Community School on Sept. 9 for the Title VI Youth Services Back to School Event to grab some free swag, pick up some school resources and play games as the school year starts. Title VI is a grant-funding and culturally related educational experience for grades k-12, while ensuring that tribal students gain a knowledge and understanding of their communities, languages, histories, traditions and cultures. It also ensures that school staff can provide the students with a culturally effective education. The purpose of Title VI adheres to

federal law to meet the educational and culturally related academic needs of tribal students. The grants are administered by the U.S. Department of Education. The Back to School Event was essentially one of four quarterly meetings Youth Services puts on for the parents of qualifying students, said Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR) Title VI Youth Services Manager Kendall Rosario. “This is kind of to start out the year,” Rosario said. “My staff have four tables here, SEL (social and emotional learning), executive functioning, cultural and academic.” Rosario said those four categories represent what Title VI does for

the students through activities in the schools. Title VI builds a curriculum for Indian educators to provide activities pertaining to each category to each cohort of students — K-5, 6-8 and 9-12. The school districts involved with Title VI Youth Services include Pilot Rock, AthenaWeston and Pendleton. In addition to the Title VI tables supplying information and supplies to parents and students, other facilities were in attendance, including the CTUIR’s Human Resources Department, Blue Mountain Community College (BMCC) and Pendleton Early Learning Center (PELC). Rosario said BMCC’s presence is related to Youth Services’ goal of increasing high school graduation by bringing in college preparation services. PELC’s participation included giving out books for the students. Parents and students who came to the event got to enter into a raffle, play games, receive swag and enjoy a provided Mexican food dinner. The Youth Services’ mission is to provide the support needed by Title VI students and their families to connect to the necessary resources, academic assistance and the opportunity to participate in Indigenous Ways of Knowing. Upcoming events include the Student Voice and Leadership Initiative application deadline on Oct. 2, the following orientation on Oct. 8, a field trip to Discovery Museum on Oct. 15 and a deer processing workshop from Oct. 20-23.

CONFEDERATED UMATILLA JOURNAL | October 2026

B15

Thank You!

The Department of Children & Family Services would like to thank the following sponsors and volunteers that assisted with the 2026 Nicht-Yow-Way CTUIR Elder Day!

You could be the

Lucky Winner Shop now to win a

$300 Gas Gift Card!

• Marie Dick • Melissa Minthorn-Winks • Rae Alstott & Family • Brenda Kemp • Jackie Barkley • Kathryn Munden • Susan Sheoships • Linda Witherrite • Bob McKenzie • Pam Worden • Vivian DeMary • Melinda Alexander • Avery McKay • CTUIR General Council • Walmart • Family Engagement • Shawna Gavin • Michael Ray Johnson • CTUIR Enrollment • Cleo Dick • DECD • Hermiston Desert Lanes • Victor Bates • CTUIR Human Resources • Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs • Happy Canyon • Warm Springs • CTUIR Veterans • Margaret W

• Lisa Williams • Wildhorse Resort & Casino – Gary George • CTUIR Communications • Rosette Andy • Ellen Taylor • Tommy & Shannon Pierre • Derek Quaempts • Nezhoni Toledo • Jacky Minthorn • Tammy Yallup • Cassie Edgewater • Janet Gone • Jolene Soto • BOLSTER • Cathy Thompson • Malissa Minthorn-Winks • LaVon Herrera • Vickey Stare • AdaMae Patrick • Olene Red Bird • Dana Conner • Theo Gone • Gabriella Calvilla • Terry • Mandee Adams • Shirleen Speedis • Mary James • Clarissa Wolfe • Ramona Halcomb

Nix-Yow-Way Elders ADVISORY MEETINGS 9:00 AM

FRIDAYS:

Drawing Monday, November 2 Winner announced on Arrowhead’s Facebook page.

10/2/26 11/6/26 12/4/26

Chairman Michael Johnson, Secretary Louisa Allman, Vice-Chair Malvin Jaimison

Yellowhawk Tribal Health Center Laxsimwit Conference Room (Dates subject to change)

SAVE 5¢ WITH ARROWHEAD’S REWARDS ON THE REZ PROGRAM! Sign up inside Arrowhead Travel Plaza!

MOVIE PASSES

Check our daily gas prices at arrowheadtravelplaza.com

CTUIR ELDER CHRISTMAS DINNER

541.276.8080 • PENDLETON, OR • I - 84, Exit 216

NEXT TO WILDHORSE RESORT & CASINO Must be 18 or older to enter drawing. Management reserves the right to alter, suspend or withdraw offer/promotion at any time. Owned and operated by the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation.

VIRTUAL OPTION: CTUIR-Nicht-Yow-Way Elders Advisory Group

CAT17116-2

WILDHORSE CASINO THURSDAY 12/17/26

4TH QUARTER • OCT-DEC Available for Pick-Up at NGC Veterans Office or will mail upon request while supplies last

FOR MORE INFO: CALL SARAH FRANK AT 541-429-7388 OR EMAIL SARAHFRANK@CTUIR.ORG OR CALL DCFS AT 541-429-7300

B16

CONFEDERATED UMATILLA JOURNAL | October 2026

Monica Paradise: Building for tomorrow JORDAN STEWART

Summer Intern, The CUJ

MISSION — Before she became the secretary for the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Monica Paradise Indian Reservation’s (CTUIR) Board of Trustees (BOT), Monica Paradise had a desire to be a leader in her community that started in high school. “ In high school I was the vice chair of the Youth (Leadership) Council, and then I was president of my class,” Paradise said. “So I’ve always been very interested in organizing events and fundraisers to ensure that we’re able to provide.” Paradise said she took the steps to learn how to get into her current position, taking more leadership courses, learning what the committees and commissions do and how they relate to the BOT. As BOT secretary, Paradise is responsible for records management, ensuring important tribal documents and government business are safely preserved for future generations so they can understand the tribe’s history and see where it has been and where it is headed. Paradise said one of her proudest accomplishments as secretary has been working to modernize the BOT’s records system. “I’ve set a goal to become digital,” Paradise said. She said the BOT has begun digitizing forms and establishing procedures and policies to create a

more efficient records management system. “ That feels really positive, so I want to lay out a structure so that the future secretary can come in and pick up where we left off and have a more set structure,” she said. While she is proud of the progress, Paradise acknowledged change comes with challenges. She said one of the biggest obstacles, navigating a government process, has become more challenging. “I just have to be more patient with the process,” Paradise said. Although she wants the CTUIR’s records system to become fully digital, she emphasized that employees need training and time to adjust to new procedures. She said meaningful change requires patience, collaboration and a willingness to work through bottlenecks without negatively affecting tribal employees. She said what she enjoys most about her role is helping preserve the tribe’s sovereignty by continuing to govern themselves and provide services and opportunities for tribal members close to home. “I feel like I am very proud to know that we are a sovereign nation, and I feel like I’m very rooted in family history and the history of the tribe and the understanding of who we are, Umatilla, Walla Walla and Cayuse people,” Paradise said. “Understanding that we have the ability to govern ourselves as we have done, since time immemorial.”

CONFEDERATED UMATILLA JOURNAL | October 2026

B17

Operation Warm gives out winter gear at NCS BEAU GLYNN The CUJ

MISSION — Layered in piles on the tops of tables throughout the commons area at Nixyáawii Community School (NCS), coats, socks, shoes and backpacks lay in wait for students in need. On Sept. 28, NCS hosted a giveaway in collaboration with Marathon Oil, the Wildhorse Foundation, Operation Warm, the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation’s (CTUIR) Workforce Development Department, Tribal Employment Rights Office (TERO) and Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS). The Operation Warm event, which was funded by Marathon Pipeline in partnership with CTUIR TERO, ensures children from kindergarten to seventh grade are provided with high-quality, new coats to keep them warm through the winter. Though descendants and tribal students were prioritized, coats were provided to all children who attended on a firstcome, first-served basis. Operation Warm is a national nonprofit founded in 1998 to provide warmth, confidence and hope to children in underresourced communities, according to Partnerships Manager Zenia Fillmore. “It gives kids the opportunity to have something that’s brand-new and that’s specifically for them,” she said. The 440 coats made by Operation Warm were bought by Marathon Pipeline, as well as a donation

from the Wildhorse Foundation to provide the shoes that were also included in the giveaway event. “I know a lot of times with families, sometimes they just have to have hand-me-downs that go to younger kids, so it really gives them the opportunity to have something brand-new that’s made just for them,” Fillmore said. “ It also gives them that shopping experience, to be able to come through and pick out whatever color coat they like, whatever pattern they like.” The coats are machine-washable, high-quality, long-lasting, kidapproved and come in various colors and styles. They have waterresistent shells, fleece linings, deep pockets and hoods and come in sizes ranging from 2T to 18 for smaller children and S to XXL for older children. “It also just eases the burden for families as well, to not have to go out and be able to purchase a brandnew coat,” Fillmore said. “They can come, have something that’s free and use that money to spend toward whatever else they might need — food, bills and things like that.” Fillmore said Operation Warm has a wish list for any organizations or schools requesting any number of coats or shoes needed, to make a request, they need to go to operationwarm.org and request resources. If selected off the list, Fillmore said the nonprofit will reach out and the coats and shoes will be shipped directly to the school or organization.

Up to $7,500 : 8.75% APR/OAC* (48mo) $7,501—$10k : 9.00% APR/OAC* (60mo) $10,001—$15k : 10% APR/OAC* (60mo) $15,001—$20k : 10.25% APR/OAC* (60mo)

Rates & terms are subject to change without notice

Marathon Pipeline Analytic Processor Kathyrn Klick, left, speaks to Coordinating Analyst Amanda McClellan at the Coat, Shoes and Socks giveaway at Nixyáawii Community School on Sept. 28. (Beau Glynn/The CUJ)

CONFEDERATED UMATILLA JOURNAL | October 2026

B18

PUBLIC NOTICES

OCTOBER GROCERY SPECIALS Totino’s® Pizza Rolls 7.5 oz

$3.65 Tapatío Ramen Noodles 3.8 oz

$3.00 Spitz® Sunflower Seeds 6 oz

$3.45 Autumn Glow Lotus • 32 oz

Latte • 20 oz Caramel, Pumpkin and Hazelnut with Choice of Milk. Served Hot or Cold.

$4.00

UMATILLA INDIAN RESERVATION Sealed bids for pasture grazing leases on the Umatilla Indian Reservation for not more than a 10-year term beginning January 1, 2027 and expiring Dec. 31, 2036, unless otherwise specified and determined by the Umatilla Agency, will be received at the office of the Superintendent, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Umatilla Agency, P.O. Box 520 or 46807 B Street, Pendleton, OR 97801 until 10:00 A.M. Pacific Standard Time, Nov. 18th, 2026. There will be a public opening and reading of the bids. Following the opening and evaluation of all bids, those items attracting two or more bids will be contacted for oral auction by persons submitting sealed bids only. Bid forms and other pertinent information regarding bidding are available at the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation Range, Ag & Forestry Program Office, Tel: 541-429-7224.

PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE

Harvest Spice

LEASING OF INDIAN TRUST LAND FOR GRAZING

Gold Lotus, Mango, Blood Orange and Peach Flavoring with Choice of 7UP or Water

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Land Protection Planning Commission (LPPC) of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation will hold the following public hearing: Comprehensive Plan Amendment #CP26-001 – Applicant, CTUIR – Tribal Planning Office, 46411 Timíne Way, Pendleton, OR 97801. The application proposes to amend text of the CTUIR 2018 Comprehensive Plan to update 2025 benchmarks identified in Chapter 5, Plan Elements and Chapter 6, Tribal Government. Amendments to the Comprehensive Plan are legislative in nature, requiring a recommendation from the Land Protection Planning Commission to the CTUIR Board of Trustees, which are the final decision makers. Amendments to the Comprehensive Plan may be adopted if found to satisfy the decision criteria listed in Chapter 7 of the CTUIR Comprehensive Plan. The hearing will be held on Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2026, at 9:00 a.m. Individuals may attend the meeting in the Walúula and Wanaqit conference rooms at the Nixyáawii Governance Center, virtually, or by phone. Information on joining the meeting online is available at www.ctuir.org. Participation in the hearing will also be available by phone at 872-242-7793 starting at 9:00 a.m. on the day of the hearing. The meeting ID will be 447 606 598#. Staff reports and other materials related to the hearing will be available at least ten

days in advance. They will be posted online at the link above or may be requested from the Tribal Planning Office by calling 541-2763099. The public is entitled and encouraged to participate in the hearing and submit testimony regarding the request. Written comments may be sent to tpo@ctuir.org or to the Tribal Planning Office at 46411 Timíne Way Pendleton, OR 97801 for receipt by 4:00 p.m. Oct. 26, 2026.

PUBLIC NOTICE

Tribal Members: This notification formally announces that applications are now being accepted from tribal members who wish to serve on the Commission(s)/Committee(s) listed below. Members will receive a $125.00 stipend per meeting once the minutes have been approved and processed on CTUIR paydays. CTUIR is advertising the following positions: 1 Position - Cultural Resources Committee: 1st & 3rd Tuesdays at 1:30 pm 1 Position - Economic & Community Development Committee: 1st & 3rd Tuesdays at 9:00 am 1 Position - Gaming Commission: Every Tuesday at 1:00 pm Every Wednesday at 10:30 am 1 Position- Housing Commission: 1st & 3rd Tuesday at 1:30 pm 2 Positions - Law and Order Committee: 1st & 3rd Tuesdays at 2:00 pm All completed applications are due by 4:00 pm on Friday, Oct. 16 2026. A BOT work session is scheduled for Friday, Oct. 23, 2026, at 8:30 am to reviewapplications. Appointments will be made on Monday, Oct. 26, 2026. Applicants must have access to meet in person, via Teams, or via teleconference with a landline or smartphone. Application-Paper: You may pick up a paper application at the front desk in the Nixyáawii Governance Center rotunda. Please return your paper applications to the front desk or the BOT Secretary’s Office. Application-On-Line: Applications are available online. URL Link to fill out and submit your completed online application(s): ctuir.org/our-government/committeescommissions/committee-and-commissionapplication/ Feel free to reach out if you need assistance with accessing a computer or filling out the application. For questions, please call BOT Secretary Monica Paradise - 541-429-7372 or email monicaparadise@ctuir.org

$4.00

Use your Rewards on the Rez card & SAVE ON FUEL!

ONLINE ORDERING AVAILABLE mymissionmarket.com or

SHOP AND GET POINTS!

Grocery | Deli | Espresso Gas Station | Drive Thru

ORDER ONLINE

Earn points on your Rewards on the Rez card when you shop, then spend points like cash!

GAS NOW AVAILABLE 24/7! Monday–Saturday, 6am–8pm | Sunday, 9am–5pm 46493 Mission Rd. Pendleton, OR 97801 • 541-276-9082

CAT17116-3

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

MOST OF OUR ENERGY IS SPENT HELPING YOU GET THE MOST OUT OF YOURS. We offer resources and cash incentives to reduce your energy costs and generate clean power. Learn more at energytrust.org.

CONFEDERATED UMATILLA JOURNAL | October 2026

B19

CONFEDERATED UMATILLA JOURNAL | October 2026

B20

HOURS MONDAY-THURSDAY 10AM - 7PM FRIDAY & SATURDAY 10AM - 5PM SUNDAY CLOSED

CONTACT INFORMATION ADDRESS: 502 SW DORION AVE PHONE: 541-966-0380 WWW.PENDLETONLIBRARY.COM

MOBILE LIBRARY WILL BE AT THE

COOKBOOK

OCTOBER 10TH 10AM - 1PM AT ROY RALEY PARK

FALL FESTIVAL

WEEKLY FOR

FAMILY LITERACY NIGHT

WEDNESDAYS AT 9AM: READ, RIDE, RUN AT GRECIAN HEIGHTS PARK (MOBILE LIBRARY)

WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 28TH 5PM

THURSDAYS AT 10:15AM: STORY TIME AT THE LIBRARY SATURDAYS AT 11AM: STORY TIME AT THE LIBRARY

MINECRAFT MANIA MONDAY OCTOBER 5TH 5:30PM

FORT BUILDING SCAVENGER HUNT PRIZES

ES GRAD

FAMILIES WILL RECEIVE A FREE BOOK, A READ ALOUD, AND PIZZA DINNER!

KNITTING AT THE

LIBRARY WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 14TH 4:30PM

3-6

B U L C K O O B D E N N A B

ES GRAD 9-12

“THE ABSOLUTLEY TRUE DIARY TUESDAY OF A PART-TIME INDIAN” TH OCTOBER 27 6PM BY SHERMAN ALEXIE

EXPLORING YO CHALLENGED UANG ADULT FICTION W H A HISTO ND/OR BANNE D IN SCIT Y OF BEING HOOLS AND LRIB RARIES.

VIBRANT TEENS EE S PRIDE (BINGO) JUMBO JENGA JUST DANCE (SWITCH) TUESDAY OCTOBER 20TH 5:30PM AGES 13-17

11/5 6PM

SMASH BROS THEMED

PLAY AS CHARACTERS FROM THE LEGEND OF ZELDA SATURDAY OCTOBER 24TH 2:30PM AGES 11-17

PENDLETON FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY’S

ANNUAL BOOK SALE FRIDAY OCTOBER RD SATURDAY OCTOBER 4TH SUNDAY OCTOBER 5TH HELD AT THE PENDLETON REC CENTER LOCATED AT 510 SW DORION AVE