Our Mission

In the best interests of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, the Board of Trustees shall exert the Tribes' sovereign authority to protect the rights reserved by the Treaty of 1855 and to promote the interests of the members and residents of the Umatilla Indian Reservation. The Board of Trustees shall exercise the authority of the Confederated Tribes so as to promote, enhance, and achieve the maximum degree of self-government, self-sufficiency, and self-determination in all Tribal affairs. Doing so objectively and ably is the abiding mission of the Board of Trustees of the Umatilla Indian Reservation.

Tribal affairs are governed by an elected body called the Board of Trustees, which is elected every two years by the voting membership, our General Council. Our BOT chairman presides over the Board, which consists of eight additional members (nine members total). The Board sets policy, makes the final decisions on tribal affairs, and takes a lead role in determining priority projects and issues. The Board conducts business meetings once a week (Mondays at 9 a.m., unless a holiday falls on that day), in addition to numerous work sessions with staff and special board meetings with external individuals and organizations.