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.