Wil Phinney

Wil Phinney has been a reporter and editor for more than 40 years at newspapers in Oregon, Wyoming and Montana. He recently retired after 24 years as editor of the Confederated Umatilla Journal, the award-winning monthly newspaper on the Umatilla Indian Reservation in eastern Oregon. He lives in Pendleton, Oregon, with Carrie, his wife; they have three daughters.

Pieces by this contributor

Confederated Tribes of Umatilla Join With Pendleton City Leaders for Two Cultures, One Community Powwow

February 21, 2024

The celebration will take place in Pendleton Feb. 23, 24 and 25. All are welcome.

Umatilla Tribes Celebrate the Lives of Three Linguists

November 1, 2022

Noel Rude, Bruce Rigsby and Haruo Aoki gave decades of their lives to Plateau language preservation. All three men “crossed over to the land of light” in the last year.

UO Students Advance the Search for the Cayuse Five

August 31, 2022

Families of the five Cayuse men executed by the government for the 1847 killing of Marcus Whitman are still searching for their graves.

The Indigenous Voice at the Helm of the National Park Service

January 6, 2022

In a sit-down conversation with Underscore.news, Chuck Sams, the country’s first Native American parks director, discusses the role his agency can play in better representing Indigenous people and their stories.

The Lewis and Clark Expedition from an Indian Country Perspective

October 28, 2021

New federal-tribal partnership will deepen the Corps of Discovery journey with stories from the many tribes who helped the explorers find their way.

The Son and Brother They Could Not Save

August 31, 2021

The Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation tried early and often to protect its members from COVID-19, but in this case, to no avail.

A Massive Achievement

August 20, 2021

Chuck Sams’ nomination to lead the National Park Service is a source of pride for Umatilla Tribes.

Name of Ancient Cat Honors ‘Extinct’ Language

Decades after saber-toothed cat bones were discovered in Oregon, two scientists realized they belonged to a previously unidentified species. Cayuse scholars helped name the feline, which they say shows their language persists.

Cultural Rights: Tribes Make Difficult Decisions to Balance Safety and Tradition

Earlier this year, 17 members of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation went on trial for violating COVID-19 restrictions. In court, they argued that they had a right to practice their traditions. Pandemic restrictions have made it harder for many Native Americans to maintain contact with their culture, some leaders say.

A Financial Lifeline During COVID-19

The economic downturn caused by the COVID-19 outbreak has hit Indian Country particularly hard. Entrepreneurs are turning to small, local lending institutions in a region that’s often outside the reach of traditional banks.

Filling a Financial Gap in Eastern Oregon

As employment by the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation drives an economic engine, tribal members and reservation residents lack access to traditional banking. Nixyaawii Community Financial Services is trying to bridge that gap.