Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation

Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation
Name	Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation
Established	1855
Location	Umatilla County, Oregon

Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation are a federally recognized tribe in northeastern Oregon composed primarily of members of the Cayuse people, Umatilla people, and Walla Walla people. The reservation, established following mid-19th century treaties, occupies land near the Columbia River and the city of Pendleton, Oregon, and the tribes maintain cultural, political, and economic relationships with regional, federal, and international institutions such as the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the National Park Service, and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

History

The peoples now forming the confederation traditionally inhabited the Columbia Plateau and engaged in seasonal rounds along the Columbia River, the Snake River, and tributaries near places like The Dalles and Celilo Falls. Contact with explorers and traders such as the Lewis and Clark Expedition and the Hudson's Bay Company increased in the early 19th century, followed by disease outbreaks tied to the COVID-19 pandemic—note: historical epidemics include smallpox. Mid-19th century conflicts including the Cayuse War and negotiations resulting in the Treaty of Walla Walla (1855) led to cession of lands and the establishment of a reservation by agents of the United States government and negotiators such as Isaac Stevens. The tribes participated in regional events including the Yakima War and subsequent federal policies like the Indian Reorganization Act and later legal developments exemplified by rulings such as United States v. Washington. Throughout the 20th century, activism connected to organizations like the National Congress of American Indians and movements such as the American Indian Movement influenced governance reforms, cultural revitalization, and legal actions involving the Northwest Power Act and fishery disputes resolved via cases like Missouri v. Holland-era jurisprudence and later decisions affecting tribal fishing rights.

Government and Governance

The confederation operates under a tribal constitution adopted through processes influenced by the Indian Reorganization Act model and maintains a tribal council that interacts with the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the United States Department of the Interior, and state agencies including the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. Elected representatives engage with intertribal bodies such as the Intertribal Council of the Five Civilized Tribes (as a model of intertribal governance), and consultative processes involve entities like the National Indian Gaming Commission when gaming compacts with the State of Oregon are negotiated. The tribal judiciary and administrative offices administer programs funded by federal statutes including the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act and collaborate with regional institutions such as Oregon State University on resource management, environmental planning, and cultural projects.

Culture and Language

Traditional cultural practices derive from the languages and lifeways of the Cayuse people, Umatilla people, and Walla Walla people and include salmon ceremonies associated with Columbia River Salmon and gatherings at historical sites like Celilo Falls and Indian Island (Washington). Language revitalization efforts focus on the Walla Walla language, Umatilla language, and related Plateau languages within the Sahaptian languages family, employing curricula modeled after programs at institutions such as the School for Advanced Research and partnerships with universities including University of Oregon and Portland State University. Cultural institutions such as tribal museums, archival collaborations with the Smithsonian Institution, and projects funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities support preservation of material culture, beadwork, basketry, and oral histories that connect to regional figures and events like Chief Joseph, the Nez Perce War, and classical anthropological work by Edward S. Curtis.

Economy and Enterprises

The confederated tribes operate enterprises spanning natural resources, hospitality, and commerce, including tribal fisheries regulated under precedents like United States v. Oregon and energy projects intersecting with agencies such as the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. Economic development includes tribal casinos subject to the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, partnerships with corporations such as regional timber firms and utilities like Bonneville Power Administration, and ventures in agribusiness and renewable energy with investors and regulators like U.S. Department of Energy. Tourism tied to cultural heritage leverages proximity to Pendleton Round-Up, the Oregon Trail, and attractions such as the Umatilla County Historical Museum, while federal grants from agencies like the Economic Development Administration and philanthropic foundations support entrepreneurship and infrastructure.

Land and Reservation

The reservation lies in Umatilla County, Oregon near Pendleton, Oregon, encompassing lands acquired and modified through treaties like the Treaty of Walla Walla (1855) and subsequent legislation and court decisions affecting allotment and land status, including the Dawes Act era allotments and later consolidations under acts influenced by the Indian Reorganization Act. Natural features include access to tributaries of the Columbia River and landscapes within the Blue Mountains ecological region; land management integrates conservation practices compatible with programs from the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, the Bureau of Land Management, and regional watershed councils. Land trust work and acquisitions sometimes utilize mechanisms promoted by the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act and collaborations with preservation groups such as the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

Education and Health Services

Educational services for tribal members coordinate with the Umatilla County School District, tribally run programs, and higher-education partnerships with institutions such as Blue Mountain Community College, Eastern Oregon University, and Oregon State University through scholarship programs administered under the Bureau of Indian Education framework and federal laws like the Higher Education Act. Health services are provided via the tribal health clinic and the Indian Health Service, addressing issues including behavioral health and chronic disease with support from programs funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and grants from agencies like the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration; collaborations extend to regional hospitals such as St. Anthony Hospital (Pendleton) and public health departments.

Contemporary Issues and Legal Affairs

Contemporary legal and policy matters include treaty rights litigation, fisheries management disputes prominent in cases like United States v. Oregon, natural resource negotiations involving the Bonneville Power Administration and the Army Corps of Engineers, and federal-tribal dialogues under administrations of various United States Presidents and policy shifts from Congress. Environmental concerns encompass salmon restoration projects in collaboration with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, water rights adjudications influenced by the McCarran Amendment, and land reacquisition strategies exemplified by partnerships with the Trust for Public Land. Social and public policy initiatives tackle housing, substance-use treatment, and cultural revitalization in coordination with nonprofits such as the Kauffman Foundation model programs and federal funding streams administered by the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Category:Native American tribes in Oregon