FEBRUARY 2026 | VOLUME 34 ISSUE 2 CONFEDERATED UMATILLA JOURNAL The monthly newspaper of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation | Pendleton, Oregon cuj.ctuir.org
Homeowner warned for dumping on trust land Illegally discarded debris increases flood risk on South Coyote Creek YASSER MARTE AND TRAVIS SNELL The CUJ
MISSION — A homeowner on the Umatilla Indian Reservation illegally dumped construction and personal debris into upper South Coyote Creek on trust land, violating tribal regulations, according to a warning notice from the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR). CTUIR officials issued the warning to homeowner George Diggins on Oct. 21, 2025, after determining he transported materials from the Wildhorse Resort & Casino construction site across his fee land onto trust land near the end of South Market Road. To confirm property lines, tribal officials surveyed the area to confirm property boundaries along an easement road. Diggins lives on fee land east of the stream, while the See DUMPING, Page A13
On the dump site Jan. 8, 2026, piles of debris, including concrete, dirt, logs and paper, stretch about a quarter mile along South Coyote Creek near the end of South Market Road on the Umatilla Reservation in Mission. (Yasser Marte/The CUJ)
BOT approves $373K to battle opiod crisis Funds will support prevention, recovery, treatment programs YASSER MARTE The CUJ
MISSION — The Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR) Board of Trustees (BOT) approved $373,761 in opioid settlement funds to support prevention, treatment and recovery programs in the community. The BOT authorized the funding through Resolution 25-089 on Nov. 24, 2025, adopting the Opioid Settlement Plan and Budget. The funds are designated for opioid abatement efforts aimed at reducing opioid-related harm and will be spent in 2026. To implement the plan, the tribe allocated funding for equipment, training and programs to address the opioid crisis. This includes $32,700 for a TruNarc electronic
“CTUIR will strengthen its response through culturally relevant prevention, treatment and recovery strategies tailored to the community.” — CHANDA YATES, CTUIR deputy executive director
narcotic analysis machine and $21,750 for police training on its use. In addition, $25,000 will fund naloxone distribution in the community as part of prevention efforts. Meanwhile, the Umatilla Tribal Fire Department will receive $110,000 for first responder equipment and protective gear, including ALS monitors, chest compression devices, intubation scopes, Vscan EMS ultrasound equipment, respiratory gear, chemical-resistant gloves, full-body protection and eye protection to support overdose response. Support
services for EMS response, such as peer-to-peer behavioral health groups, will receive $3,625. Funding for prevention and community engagement includes $100,000 for events, conferences and media development by the Department of Children and Family Services; $20,000 for the department’s Basketball Against Alcohol and Drugs program; and $60,686 for Hunting for Sobriety, a cultural prevention activity.
Addressing a public health crisis Chanda Yates, deputy executive director of CTUIR, said the funding addresses a severe public health
Fighting Hunger PAGES A10-11 Hundreds of food bags are set on pallets to be distributed to families Jan. 15, 2026, at the Tutuilla Food Sovereignty Center in Mission. (Yasser Marte/The CUJ)
crisis. While data show smaller numbers for the CTUIR, the community still experiences the effects of the opioid epidemic, including addiction, overdose deaths and strain on families and health care systems. “The funds will support evidencebased programs for opioid use disorder, mental health and substance use treatment,” Yates said. She said the funding also enables culturally appropriate solutions, including Tribal Abatement Strategies that incorporate traditional healing practices and community-based approaches. Yates noted that the funding fills service gaps by supporting behavioral health facilities, naloxone distribution, prevention programs and community engagement initiatives that otherwise might not be funded. Though temporary, she said the See OPIOIDS, Page A17
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