The Indigenous Journalists Association (IJA) welcomes the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR) as the inaugural Wampum Title Sponsor of 2026 Indigenous Media Conference in Portland, Ore., July 22-24 at the Portland Marriott Downtown Waterfront.
The Umatilla Indian Reservation is about 172,000 acres, and is comprised of the three tribes: Cayuse, Walla Walla and Umatilla. CTUIR has approximately 3,200 tribal members, nearly half of whom live on the reservation, which is located about 3 hours east of Portland.
The tribe approved the sponsorship under the leadership of Kaeleen McGuire (Umatilla), CTUIR Communications director since 2022.
McGuire offered, “We’re proud to step in as a major sponsor and support this work in our usual and accustomed areas of Portland, and in a meaningful way, especially in a time when it is more important than ever to support tribal and independent media. The CTUIR has built media platforms we are proud of, and it’s because of the people who came before us, who built the strong foundations we have today, that we can tell our stories, in our voices, from our perspectives.”
CTUIR has one of the most longstanding tribal media outlets in the area, and includes the monthly Confederated Umatilla Journal (CUJ) newspaper, established in 1975, and radio station 104.1 KCUW.
“My first job was at the CUJ, and some of my first scholarships in college came from this organization (IJA/NAJA). I’ve seen firsthand how those early opportunities, and organizations like IJA, shape not just careers, but the future of Indigenous storytelling. This moment is full circle, and we’re honored to be part of it.”
IJA Board Treasurer Joseph Lee (Aquinnah Wampanoag) said, “It’s an incredible honor to have CTUIR as IJA’s first ever Wampum [Title] Sponsor. It’s so important for tribal nations to invest in Indigenous journalism and the conference will be an amazing opportunity for Indigenous journalists to gather, celebrate community and amplify Indigenous stories across the Pacific Northwest and beyond.”
IMC26 registration will open March 31. Additional supporters include new tribal sponsors, Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians and Coquille Indian Tribe, as well as corporate and tribal media. Review the IMC26 Sponsorship Guide for full pricing, branding and partnership opportunities.
For more information, contact IJA Fund Development Director Shirley LaCourse Jaramillo at shirley@indigenousjournalists.org.
