The CUJ

07/10/2025

Atilano Named New CUJ Editor

MISSION – The Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation has hired Daneli Atilano as the new editor of its award-winning Confederated Umatilla Journal.

Atilano, who has spent her young career as a journalist serving eastern Oregon communities, started her role on July 1.

“My goal is to honor the purpose and values of the CUJ while helping it grow in ways that serve the community. I want to support accurate, respectful reporting that reflects the voices and experiences of the Cayuse, Walla Walla and Umatilla people,” she said. “I also hope to encourage more community involvement. That includes inviting more local contributions, highlighting youth perspectives and making space for stories that reflect everyday life as well as major events. I plan to expand community engagement and increase accessibility for readers of all ages, while maintaining the respect and integrity that the publication is known for. Above all else, I'm here to listen, learn, and serve.”

Born in Pendleton and raised in Hermiston, Atilano graduated from Hermiston High School in 2019. She then attended Eastern Oregon University (EOU) where she received a bachelor’s degree in English with a minor in business administration. During her junior year at EOU, she joined the student newspaper, The Voice.

“I worked as a student reporter for almost two years before the newspaper lost its funding and was forced to shut down,” Atilano said. “Shortly after I joined the student newspaper I began working as a freelance writer for Go Eastern Oregon Magazine. I worked as a freelance writer for two years. Also, during that time I became a staff writer for the EOU marketing department.”

In her senior year, she worked as a general assignment reporter for the Hermiston Herald before taking a hiatus to care for a family member. She was then hired to lead the CUJ.

As editor, Atilano will oversee operations of the monthly newspaper as well as its daily website and social media — writing and editing local, community-focused news stories, designing and laying out the newspaper, selling advertisements to generate revenue and establishing and maintaining subscriptions.

“I'm infinitely grateful for this opportunity and am excited to work hard as the new CUJ editor,” she said. “It's my second week and I already love working for the CTUIR. Everyone I've met has been very kind and welcoming. The energy of the people here and the environment are unlike anything I've ever experienced. I'm grateful that I get to be a part of an organization that informs, uplifts and gives a voice to a community that deserves to be heard.”

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, preserve and enhance the reserved treaty rights guaranteed under federal law.

KCUW-LP Pendleton
Confederated Umatilla Journal
The CUJ

07/09/2025

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05/28/2025

Register: Events | Nixyaawii Community Financial Services / www.nixyaawii-cdfi.org/events
Event Information:
Time & Location
June 4, 2025, 5:00 PM – 7:30 PM
Pendleton, 46440 K**i Rd A3, Pendleton, OR 97801, USA
Join NCFS Homeownership Services and Adair Homes to learn how you can become a homeowner at Nixyaawii Neighborhood!
NCFS is planning to build 8 homes in 2025 with Adair Homes; 1 of the homes could be yours.
Event starts at 5pm with a presentation by NCFS at 5:30pm. Learn about unique opportunities of working with NCFS to build your home, view Adair Homes floorplans, and ask questions.
Also joining us will be,
• Susan Bower from DECD, with information on how you can acquire a 99-year lease.
• Lora Elliott from Tribal Planning, with information on permitting requirements and Indian Health Services (IHS).
For questions, please contact Pamela Ranslam at [email protected]

05/27/2025

Pendleton boys capture GOL district title

By ANNIE FOWLER

ONTARIO — John Thatcher won two individual events and the Pendleton boys won the team title at the Greater Oregon League Championships on Friday, May 23, at Earl Blackaby Track.
The top two finishers in each event automatically qualify for the 4A State Championships May 30-31 at Hayward Field in Eugene. There are wildcard spots available, but they won’t be awarded until all district meets are completed.
Thatcher won the 200 with a time of 22.64 seconds, then turned in a time of 50.57 to win the 400.
Thatcher then teamed up with Quinn Kennedy, Kael Kennedy and Carter Cary to place second in the 4x100 relay with a time of 43.59. Ontario won the event with a time of 43.55.
In the 4x400 relay, Cary, Kael Kennedy, Jaydon Hoffert and Thatcher placed second second with a time of 3:33.35 — their best of the season.
Cary also placed second in the 300 hurdles with a time of 42.20, 4 seconds behind Baker’s Rasean Jones, who won with an impressive time of 38.21. Cary also was third in the 400 (52.03).
Pendleton’s Jack Reynolds won the 3,000 with a PR of 9:35.47, and was second in the 1,500 with a time of 4:21.62.
Pendleton’s Jaren Yoshioka took home the javelin title with a toss of 154-6.
The Bucks got a double bonus in the pole vault as William Michael won with a height of 12-11.75, and Zeland Gardner was second at 10-4.
Hoffert finished the day for the Bucks with a district title in the triple jump with a leap of 41-5. He also was third in the high jump (5-6.5).
The Bucks compiled 90.5 points to win the team title, with Baker second (78), La Grande third (58.5) and host Ontario fourth (37).
The La Grande girls ran away with the team title with 109 points, with Pendleton second with 69, followed by Baker (60) and Ontario (26).
In the javelin, La Grande’s Aubrey Bisenuis won with a PR of 115-9, while Pendleton’s Nicole Somnis was second (104-4), Nessa Neveau was third (102-5) and Edmonds fourth (99-4).
In the discus, Pendleton’s Nessa Neveau was second (98-4) and Ellery Flerchinger third (94-8).
Pendleton’s Kaitlyn Edmonds punched her ticket to state in the shot put, placing second with a PR of 34-7.5. Teammate Gabrielle Kennedy was fourth at 32-2, and Flerchinger was fifth with a PR of 29-6.25.
Hazel Case did her part for the Bucks, placing second in the 100 hurdles (16.64) and the long jump (16-5.25). Melissa Tune was second in the 800 (2:33.75).
Kayle Smith won the pole vault title for Pendleton with a height of 9-0.5. McKenzie Shelden won the triple jump with a PR of 33-1.25, while Lexie Wilman was second (31-6.25).

2A SPECIAL DISTRICT 4 CHAMPIONSHIPS — Weston-McEwen won five events and earned plenty of points from its third through eighth-place athletes to win the girls district title at Ward Rhoden Stadium in Prineville.
The top two finishers in each event automatically qualify for the 2A State Championships May 29-30 at Hayward Field in Eugene. There are wildcard spots available, but they won’t be awarded until all district meets are completed.
The TigerScots rolled up 145 points, with Addy Hall leading the way.
Hall won the 300 hurdles (48.30) and was second in the 100 hurdles (16.71) and second in the 100 with a PR of 13.19. Kelsey Graham won the 100 hurdles with a PR of 16.64.
Graham, Hall, Charlotte Hansell and Brynn Browie put together a state qualifying 4x100 team, placing second with a time of 51.54.
Hansell picked up a gold medal in the long jump with a PR of 15-2.75, and was second in the triple jump (31-7).
Bree Perkins captured the high jump title with a height of 4-7.75, and Hailey Monroe won the javelin with a PR of 110-5.25. Teammate Delaynee Angell was second with a PR of 99-6.
The Weston-McEwen boys followed the girls’ footsteps, winning the district team title with 142.5 points. Enterprise was second (127.5), with Stanfield third (89), Heppner fifth (50) and Irrigon seventh (29).
Wyatt Parsons won the 100 with a PR of 10.94 — the first time he’s ever gone under 11 seconds. He also was second in the 200 (23.08) and in the long jump (20-10).
Parsons joined Tristan Weseman, Logan Ray and Easton Berry to win the 4x100 relay with a time of 44.02.
Weseman also won the long jump with a PR of 21-0.75, while Berry won the 300 hurdles with a PR of 43.28.
Jace Dunlap won the shot put with a PR of 47-1.5, and teammate Cason Pettyjohn second with a PR of 41-1.75. Dylan Monaco was second in the javelin with a PR of 152-4.
In the distances, David Webb earned a trip to state for the TigerScots in the 3,000, placing second with a PR of 10:20.20.
Webb was tangled up with two other runners at the start of the race and went down, dislocating his shoulder. The race was restarted and he insisted on running. The move earned him a trip to state.

1A SPECIAL DISTRICT 3 CHAMPIONSHIPS — Pilot Rock’s Carter Ford was the standout sprinter on the track during the two-day event at the Deschutes River Athletic Complex in Maupin.
His efforts netted him MVP honors at the district meet.
The speedy senior won the 100 meters Friday with a time of 11.48, just off his PR of 11.41 that he ran in Thursday’s prelims. He ran a PR of 22.95 to win the 200.
Ford also won the 400 meters with a time of 51.93 — one second better than second-place Jayden Havins of Condon.
Ford was third the past two years at district in the 400, just missing out on a trip to state.
“He had a hell of a day,” Pilot Rock coach Tyler Zyph said. “He’s worked harder than any kid I’ve coached. Since he placed third last year, he hasn’t stopped lifting and running. He deserves everything that happened today.”
The top two finishers in each event automatically qualify for the 1A State Championships May 29-30 at Hayward Field in Eugene. There are wildcard spots available, but they won’t be awarded until all district meets are completed.
Horizon Christian ran away with the team title, rolling up 140 points. Condon was a distant second with 68, and South Wasco County was third (65). Griswold tied for sixth with 38 points along with Nixyaawii and Glenwood. Pilot Rock was ninth (37) and Ione was 14th (14).
In the girls meet, Echo scored 130 points for the team title, while Trout Lake was a distant second. Griswold was sixth (57), while Pilot Rock was 10th (20).
Pilot Rock’s Lillie Holman won the discus with a toss of 91-1 and will throw at state.

📸: Kathy Aney

Eastern Oregon Sports Pendleton Track and Field/Cross Country Weston-McEwen High School Pilot Rock Athletics Pendleton High School, Oregon Confederated Umatilla Journal

05/27/2025

MISSING PERSON: Please help find Serina Marie Quintana. If you see this person, or know of any tips, please call the Pendleton Police Department at 541-276-4411

KCUW-LP Pendleton

05/13/2025

Calling all High School or College Graduates Class of 2025, please submit the following information below to [email protected] by May 21, 2025 for the June Edition of the CUJ. 🎓🎉