General Information
Three Tribes make up the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation: Cayuse, Umatilla, and Walla Walla. The people of the three Tribes once had a homeland of 6.4 million acres in northeastern Oregon and southeastern Washington.
In 1855, the Tribes and the United States Government negotiated a Treaty in which the Tribes "ceded," or surrendered possession of, much of the 6.4 million acres in exchange for a Reservation homeland of 250,000 acres.
The three Tribes also reserved rights in the Treaty, which include the right to fish at "usual and accustomed" sites, and to hunt and gather traditional foods and medicines on public lands within the ceded areas. These rights are generally referred to as "Treaty reserved rights."
As a result of federal legislation in the late 1800s that reduced its size, the Umatilla Reservation now is 172,000 acres -- 158,000 acres just east of Pendleton, Oregon plus 14,000 acres in the McKay, Johnson, and McCoy Creek areas southeast of Pilot Rock, Oregon.
Before European contact, the Cayuse, Umatilla, and Walla Walla population was estimated at 8,000. The present enrollment of the Confederated Tribes is just over 2,400 members.
About 1,500 American Indians live on the Reservation. Of those 1,500 American Indians, roughly 1,100 are enrolled members of the CTUIR, about 400 are members of other Tribes. Approximately 1,500 non-Indians live on the Reservation.
More detailed information about the Reservation demographics is available from the US Census Bureau.
The traditional religion still practiced by some tribal members is called "Washat" or "Seven Drums." The Umatilla, Walla Walla, and Nez Perce languages are still spoken by some, but the Cayuse language has disappeared. A language program is underway to help preserve and revive the Tribes' languages.
Prior to the 1855 Treaty, the Tribes' economy consisted primarily of intertribal trade, livestock, trade with fur companies, and hunting, fishing, and gathering. Today, the economy of the Confederated Tribes consists of agriculture, livestock, timber, recreation, hunting, fishing, and commercial development such as a travel plaza/gas station, market, trailer court, grain elevator, and the Wildhorse Casino and Resort (which includes a casino, hotel, RV Park, and 18-hole golf course). In July 1998, the Tribe opened its Tamastslikt Cultural Institute as the centerpiece of the Resort.
As a sovereign government, Tribal affairs are governed by an elected body called the "Board of Trustees." Members of the Board are elected by the "General Council," which consists of all Tribal members age 18 and older.
The day-to-day work of the tribal government is carried out by a staff of nearly 500 employees and includes departments such as administration, health and human services, natural resources, economic and community development, tribal services, education, fire protection, and police. The staff is adminstered by the Executive Director, who answers directly to the Board of Trustees. An additional 500 employees are employed at the Wildhorse Casino and Resort.
The CTUIR is the second largest employer in Umatilla
County with roughly 1,000 employees. The State of Oregon
has the most employees in Umatilla County.
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