OCTOBER 20 23
OCTOBER 2023 • NEWS •Umatilla CONFEDERATED UMATILLA JOURNAL Confederated Journal
UPCOMING ELECTION SPECIAL SECTION See candidate profiles, voting information inside
NEWS DAILY @ CUJ ONLINE
VOLUME 31 • ISSUE 10
The monthly newspaper of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation
Biden commitment to restore salmon in Columbia Basin a ‘first’ By CHRIS AADLAND Reporter WASHINGTON — The White House on Sept. 27 directed the government to prioritize working to revitalize salmon populations in the Columbia River Basin, a move a tribal leader called the biggest commitment the federal government has made to restoring native fish species facing extinction. Through a memorandum, President Joe Bide ordered federal agencies to “utilize existing authorities and available resources – and assess what additional authorities and resources may be needed” to help restore more than a dozen endangered and threatened fish species in the basin.
Those fish species, like salmon and steelhead, have been “severely depleted” since 1855 due to dam construction, overfishing and population growth in the basin. The degraded ecosystem and lack of salmon and other native species, which are irreplaceable parts of the culture, religion and economy of tribal nations in the region, has “substantially” harmed the ability of tribes to exercise treaty hunting and fishing rights, the White House wrote on Wednesday. Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation Board of Trustees Chair Kat Brigham said the announcement was a huge development because it’s the first time the federal government has committed SALMON CONTINUED PAGE 2
Dividend payments could increase early next year By CHRIS AADLAND Reporter MISSION, Ore. — Tribal leaders are set to begin moving forward on potentially increasing quarterly gaming profit sharing payments to tribal members after completing an analysis on potential impacts. In January, Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation staff began reviewing the Gaming Revenue Allocation Plan and options for increasing the percentage
of gaming income the tribe shares with individual members in the form of dividends, or per-capita payments, after a Board of Trustees member suggested looking into the idea, said CTUIR Executive Director Donald Sampson. Tribal staff have settled on a recommended plan that would bump the tribal member share of dividend payments from 20 percent to up to 25 percent of net Wildhorse Resort PAYMENTS CONTINUED PAGE 2
President Joe Biden signs an Executive Order at his desk. FILE PHOTO
Leaders recall man who ‘led the charge’ By CHRIS AADLAND Reporter MISSION, Ore. — Leslie “les” Minthorn, the longtime tribal leader and dedicated advocate for tribal sovereignty who played a prominent role in spearheading many efforts, like bringing gaming to the reservation, that have transformed the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, died on September 21. He was 89. A prosperous tribal gaming enterprise. A powerful tribal court system with jurisdiction rarely seen in Indian Country. Protected treaty rights. RevitalLeslie “Les” Minthorn ized religious and ceremonial practices. Those are just some of the accomplishments that those who worked with Minthorn – who served stints on the Board of Trustees stretching from the MINTHORN CONTINUED PAGE 3
A Round of Round-Up SEE SECTION B, PAGE 4
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