Even in the midst of wildfire recovery, the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs are looking ahead. The tribal government this month released the inaugural issue of the Tomahawk Newsletter, an internal publication designed to keep government employees and tribal members informed about leadership transitions, ongoing projects, and community achievements.
New Executive Team Takes Shape
The newsletter highlights a significant shift in tribal leadership at the administrative level. Three key positions have been filled:
- Ed Henderson — Secretary-Treasurer and Chief Executive Officer
- Caroline Cruz — Chief Operating Officer
- Andrew Hofstetter — Director of Governmental Affairs
The leadership changes come as the tribe navigates both the immediate demands of wildfire recovery and longer-term infrastructure and economic development priorities. Tribal officials have not released detailed biographical information on the new executives publicly, but community members are expected to be introduced to the team at upcoming tribal gatherings.
Major Projects on the Horizon
The newsletter outlines several significant initiatives currently in planning or early development stages:
Highway 26 Rest Area Feasibility Study
Tribal leadership is exploring the feasibility of constructing a new rest area along Highway 26, the main artery running through the reservation. The project could provide both a public amenity for the thousands of travelers who pass through Warm Springs daily and an economic development opportunity for the tribe.
Youth and Elder Center
Plans are in development for a dedicated Youth and Elder Center on the reservation — a long-discussed priority that would serve as a gathering space for both the tribe’s youngest members and its elders. Details on location, funding, and timeline are still being worked out.
Warming and Cooling Shelter
The tribe is also moving forward with plans for a warming and cooling shelter, a need made more urgent by this summer’s wildfire emergency and the region’s increasingly extreme weather patterns. The shelter would provide refuge for vulnerable community members during dangerous heat events or winter cold snaps.
Infrastructure Progress and Service Milestones
The newsletter also highlights progress on more than a dozen infrastructure upgrades being managed by the tribe’s Public Utilities department, though specific project details were not publicly released.
In a moment of community celebration, the publication honors 68 tribal government workers for milestone years of service — ranging from five years to more than 50 years of dedication to the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs.
“These employees are the backbone of everything we do for our community,” the newsletter states. “Their commitment, year after year, is what keeps our government running.”
The Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs represent the Warm Springs, Wasco, and Paiute peoples and govern a reservation of approximately 640,000 acres in north-central Oregon, just west of Jefferson County.