Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation
The Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation are the federally recognized
.When the leaders of the Walla Walla, Cayuse, and Umatilla peoples signed the
The tribes share the
The reservation is also home to about 300 Native Americans enrolled with other Tribes, such as the
History
After ceding their territories, the Umatilla, Walla Walla, and Cayuse relocated to what was called the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla American Indian Reservation (CTUIR). In exchange for ceding most of their territories they received supplies and annuities from the federal government, who then tried to encourage them to take up subsistence farming.[3] Many times the supplies were late in coming or were inadequate for the population.
In 1887, under the Allotment Act, communal land was distributed to households. This and other legislation made it possible for the members to sell their lands but they were preyed on by speculators and swindlers. Gradually the tribe took back communal control of its land and has regained more than 14,000 acres (57 km2) of what was lost.[3]
In addition, in the 20th century tribe pursued a major land claim case against the federal government, saying that the three tribes had traditionally controlled one million more acres of land than they had been compensated for following the 1855 treaty. The Indian Claims Commission awarded the confederated tribes several million dollars in a negotiated settlement. They used some of that money in economic development efforts. They also paid per capita claims to tribal members for another part of it.[3]
Government
The tribe re-established its government in 1949, writing a constitution that provided for the election of members to the General Council. It is governed by a nine-member council, known as the board of trustees who are elected by the General Council. They serve two-year terms and are elected on staggered terms. This Board replaced the rule by hereditary chiefs.[1]
Justice
Pilot Project of VAWA 2013
Since the
The Bureau of Justice along with Tribal Judicial members and the American Probation and Parole Association are working together to come up with effective ways to enhance sentencing on tribal lands. Under the Tribal Law & Order Act of 2010, these groups have made changes to find better ways of achieving justice on the tribal lands. This gives them the authority to provide enhanced sentences and offers a checklist for the tribes to follow in sentencing. It also gives them the options for detention or community correction options for sentencing[6]
Economy
The tribe have been working for nearly three decades since the late twentieth century to restore fish habitats and runs of the Umatilla and Grande Ronde rivers.[7] It is buying back land in watersheds of the Umatilla on its reservation, to preserve habitat.[8]
In the early 1980s, under the tribe's leadership, salmon were reintroduced in the Umatilla River. The tribe, along with the state of Oregon, operate egg-taking, spawning, and other propagation facilities that are helping restore salmon runs. In 1984, the first fall Chinook salmon in some 70 years returned to the Umatilla River.
The Confederated Tribes opened the Wildhorse Resort & Casino, which now has a hotel and seven restaurants, located four miles east of Pendleton. It also has a golf course.[9] The Wildhorse Casino opened in 1995. The revenues generated from gaming have multiplied the tribe's budget by sevenfold, making money available for health, education, housing and economic development. Unemployment on the reservation has been cut by half.[9] Several hundred people work at the resort, and 300 work for the tribe's Cayuse Technologies, which opened in 2006 to provide services in software development, a call center, and word processing.[1]
The CTUIR publishes the monthly newspaper, Confederated Umatilla Journal. It also operates a radio station: KCUW.[1]
Culture and religion
The traditional religion practiced by many tribal members is called Seven Drums (Washat).[1] The Umatilla Reservation has a religion prominent in both past and present culture that is in relation to spirits and energies where things such as health and weather are controlled by spiritually powerful men and woman called "Shamans." One can develop a stronger spirit, therefore, be more embedded within this religion by fasting and spending time with oneself in remote areas.
The confederated tribes established Tamástslikt Cultural Institute, operating in Pendleton, Oregon, as a museum to represent its people.[10] It tells traditional stories of the Natítyat (Indian people), has exhibits of traditional clothing and tools, as well as art and crafts by contemporary people, and exhibits representing the contemporary world.
As an aspect of contemporary culture, basketball is the most popular sport played on the reservation. Kids start playing from a young age, and many families install basketball hoops at their homes. In 2013 the sisters Shoni and Jude Schimmel from CTUIR, students and basketball players at University of Louisville, played in the NCAA's Final Four tournament.[11]
One rich part of past culture was, when one passed in a close-knit tribe, the corpse would be dressed in the nicest clothing that could be afforded and have their faces ornately painted. Some days later they would then be buried with their belongings. People in mourning upon a person's death would dress in unkempt clothing and would cut their hair.
In July 1996, ancient remains of a man were found near
The Confederated Tribes work closely with the
Revitalization of language
The tribe has developed schools and language curricula to teach and preserve its native languages.
Today six language teachers are running programs at the
Notable members of CTUIR
- Kelsey Motanic, the first Umatilla medical doctor, who graduated from the University of New Mexico in the spring of 2017.
- Charles Sams, the director of the National Park Service
- April 2013.[11]
Non-enrolled descendants
- Dan Henderson, a mixed martial artist. His grandmother is enrolled, but his blood quantum of 1/16th is lower than the tribe's required 1/4th minimum.[16]
See also
- List of Native American Tribal Entities in Oregon
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h "About Us". Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Reservation. Retrieved October 19, 2014.
- ^ "History & Culture | Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation". ctuir.org. Retrieved December 13, 2016.
- ^ a b c d "Our History", Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, Official website
- ^ Department of Justice, Tribal Justice and Safety
- ^ Department of Justice, "Justice Department Announces Three Tribes to Implement Special Domestic Violence Criminal Jurisdiction Under VAWA 2013"
- ^ "Tribal Justice and Safety | Department of Justice". www.justice.gov. August 13, 2014. Retrieved December 13, 2016.
- ^ "The Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation | CRITFC". www.critfc.org. Retrieved December 13, 2016.
- ^ a b "Member Tribes", Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission], Official website, accessed September 18, 2013
- ^ a b "Wildhorse Resort & Casino", 500 Nations. (retrieved November 30, 2009)
- ^ Tamástslikt Cultural Institute, Official website
- ^ a b Jamie Francis, "Shoni and Jude Schimmel's accomplishments celebrated in Eastern Oregon" (photos) Archived October 25, 2013, at the Wayback Machine, The Oregonian, April 9 2013, accessed September 18, 2013
- ^ "Ancient One/Kennewick Man" Archived August 5, 2013, at the Wayback Machine, Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, accessed September 18, 2013
- Altamira Press, 2002
- ^ a b Natalie Wheeler, "Tribe fights to keep language alive", The East Oregonian, reprinted in Bend Bulletin, September 17, 2013, accessed September 18, 2013
- ^ "The Language of Nixyáawii". Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation. Retrieved December 29, 2014.
- ^ "Pride Fighting champ has WW heritage" (PDF). Confederated Umatilla Journal. Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation. March 2007. p. 41. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 18, 2008. Retrieved March 22, 2009.
External links
- Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, Official website
- Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission, member tribes include the CTUIR