Oregon Public Broadcasting

For the last 7 years,  Ecotrust has been giving out the Buffett Award for Indigenous Leadership, but it’s been a long time since the honor has been given to an Oregonian.

The award this year, along with the $25,000 grant, will go to Roberta Conner.

She directs the Tamasktslikt Cultural Center in Pendleton. Bobbie Conner spoke with us earlier about her work, which aims to preserve the history and culture of the Cayuse, Umatilla and Walla Walla tribes.

She says she’s encouraged by the changes she’s seen since the center was founded in 1998.