The Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR) welcomed the Governor of Oregon on Thursday, April 25 Tina Kotek for a visit that will include a ceremonial signing of a bill calling on the states of Oregon and Washington to jointly solve the water problems facing the Walla Walla River.
Kotek started the day at the Nixyáawii Governance Center for an invocation and welcome reception by the Board of Trustees (Board) and CTUIR staff.
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“We are honored by Governor Tina Kotek’s visit to the Umatilla Indian Reservation,” said CTUIR Chairman Gary I. Burke. “Government. Kotek has shown us that she is keeping her promise to learn deeply about each of Oregon’s nine federally recognized tribes so that she and her administration can work more effectively with us as separate, individual sovereign governments. We thank Governor Kotek and her staff for taking the time to learn more about the Confederated Tribes, our tribal sovereignty, our treaty rights and the work we do here in Eastern Oregon and in our traditional use areas.”
Kotek’s visit was part of her pledge to meet with Oregon’s nine federally recognized sovereign tribal nations in 2024.
“Today’s visit with CTUIR was about strengthening our knowledge of the tribe’s unique history,” she said. “The tribe is working on a number of exciting, innovative initiatives and the state of Oregon stands ready to support CTUIR’s good work however we can. I want to thank Chairman Burke, the Board of Trustees and all members of CTUIR for the hospitality they have shown us as we have listened and learned in their communities.”
The welcome was followed by a private meeting with the board to discuss CTUIR priorities and issues, such as housing, energy, broadband expansion, health care, water rights, treaty rights and regenerative agriculture, and to further enhance the partnership between the CTUIR and the state to improve.
After the Yellowhawk tour, the Governor and First Lady traveled to Thorn Hollow Bridge, which collapsed and became unusable during record-breaking flooding on the Umatilla Indian Reservation in 2020. The bridge served as a connection between communities, residents and emergency responders.
With money available to repair the provincial bridge, Kotek told CTUIR officials her office would inquire about the status of the bridge project. “So we should probably check where it definitely lines up,” she said. “We will definitely look into it.”
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