Watchman leads CTUIR workforce development
By Terry Murry on Friday, December 15th, 2023 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
News release from the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla River
MISSION – Former Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR) General Council Chair Lindsey X. Watchman is continuing his tribal service by transitioning from elected official to directing the Workforce Development Department.
He started his director’s role on Dec. 11 after spending the previous four years on the Board of Trustees as General Council chair. He chose not to run for re-election.
“I had a desire to get back into the trenches,” Watchman, 52, said. “I enjoy interacting directly with and training tribal members, to find out what their life aspirations and dreams are and to help create a roadmap to assist that dream come into reality. These are the moments that workforce development-focused staff strive for.”
Watchman’s last day on the Board was Nov. 29, the day newly elected CTUIR officials were inaugurated. Before being elected in 2019, he spent four years at the Yellowhawk Tribal Health Center as its workforce development and health education grant manager. He left that position in April 2019.
Prior his time at Yellowhawk, he spent 2012-14 managing the CTUIR Department of Education State-Tribal Education Partnership professional development grant and 2007-09 at the Higher Education Scholarship and Adult Vocational Training Program.
Photo of Lindsey X. Watchman via CTUIR
