JULY 2025
NEWS DAILY @ CUJ ONLINE
VOLUME 33 ISSUE 07
THE MONTHLY NEWSPAPER OF THE CONFEDERATED TRIBES OF THE UMATILLA INDIAN RESERVATION
CUJ, CTUIR Communications wins Indigenous Journalists Association awards MISSION – The Confederated Umatilla Journal (CUJ) and Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation’s (CTUIR) Communications Department combined to win five 2025 Indigenous Journalists Association (IJA) awards. Announced on Thursday, June 12, the CUJ won third place for general excellence in the Professional Division II – Print/Online, while CUJ Reporter Chris Aadland took second place in the division’s best news story contest with his story about a derailed CTUIR solar energy development. The CUJ also won third place for best page layout in the Professional Division II – Print/Online. “I’m incredibly proud of the CUJ and Communications team for their talent and commitment to telling important stories. This recognition is well-deserved,” Communications Director and CUJ Publisher Kaeleen McGuire said. “In an industry that continues to face tough challenges, the CUJ has remained committed to informing our community of issues vital to it, and I thank all those who had a hand in growing the publication and enhancing our storytelling abilities.” For a photo of a spring Chinook smolt in someone’s hand that the CUJ published, Communications AV Support Specialist Lee Gavin won second place for best news photo in the Professional Division II – Print/Online. He also took second place in the division’s best multimedia category with a video story about the Pendleton Round-Up & Happy Canyon. “Winning these awards really solidifies my passion for photography and videography,” Gavin said. “When I started here three years ago, I never would have thought my love to create would become a facet in my career and that would bring me to this point.” But he wasn’t the only one in his family to win IJA hardware. His sister and fellow CTUIR member Jill-Marie Gavin, who is the public information specialist for the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission, won four awards. In the Professional Division I – Media, she won second place in the best
multimedia category. And in the Professional Division I – Print/Online, she won second and third places for best news story, as well as third place in the division for best feature photo. With a record 871 entries, IJA will recognize the winners of its 250 awards during its 2025 Indigenous Media Conference Aug. 13-15 at the Isleta Resort and Casino in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The annual awards contest recognizes excellence in reporting by Indigenous and non-Indigenous journalists from across the globe. The Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation is comprised of the Cayuse, Walla Walla and Umatilla Tribes, and formed under the Treaty of 1855 at the Walla Walla Valley, 12 Stat. 945. In 1949, the Tribes adopted a constitutional form of government to protect, Lee Gavin preserve and enhance Chris Aadland the reserved treaty rights guaranteed under federal law..
Yates named new CTUIR deputy executive director MISSION – Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR) officials have announced Chanda K. Aloysius Yates as a new deputy executive director to help manage the CTUIR’s governmental departments. Yates, who holds a master’s degree in business administration, has more than 30 years of experience in health care management and consulting, specializing in Indian Health systems, tribal health organizations and village corporation governance. “I am deeply honored to step into the role of deputy executive director for the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation,” she said. “In this capacity, I look forward to collaborating closely with the executive director, the Board of Trustees and the dedicated staff to strengthen our organizational framework, ensure efficient service delivery and continue advancing the long-term goals of the tribal government. I am committed to upholding the values and priorities of the CTUIR, working strategically to enhance our operations and making meaningful progress for our community and citizens.” Previously, Yates served as a senior advisor at Kauffman and Associates where she contributed to health care research, planning and transformation initiatives. She also was health general manager at Klamath Tribal Health & Family Services where she successfully managed the operations of a $60 million dollar budget and 225-plus staff members. She also served as chief operations officer at OLE Health and vice president at Southcentral Foundation where she directed behavioral health integration and quality Chanda K. Aloysius Yates improvement efforts within Alaska’s Nuka System of
Care. CTUIR Executive Director J.D. Tovey said he selected Yates as one of the tribe’s two deputy executive directors because of her commitment to strategic growth and sustainability. “When considering Chanda’s work history, she has consistently demonstrated expertise in organizational leadership, business development and board governance across health care and business environments,” Tovey said. “She also has a proven track record of successfully managing multimillion-dollar budgets and leading large teams to drive operational excellence and organizational transformation. We are glad to be welcoming her to the CTUIR family.” Yates, an enrolled member of Holy Cross Tribe in Alaska, replaces CTUIR Human Resources Director Kathryn Burke, who served part of 2024 and 2025 as deputy executive director before returning full time to Human Resources. The other executive deputy director position is being held in the interim by Finance Department Director Paul Rabb.
Gatherers Project – full story in section 1B
The “Gatherers Project” book was featured on a float during the CTUIR Treaty Day celebration on June 13.
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