Corinne Sams
Vice Chair

Corinne Sams (Cayuse/Walla Walla/Cocopah) is an elected Board of Trustees Member for the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR). She began her profession in youth advocacy working as a Title 6 Indian Education Coordinator in the Pendleton Public School System and later went on to work for Portland State University as an Assistant Data Analyst in the School of Social Work. This experience set the stage for Corinne to embrace her role within tribal government, social and public service in the tribal community as an advocate for the CTUIR community.  

Corinne co-founded the Uncles & Aunties Youth Organization which fosters and promotes the Power of Sport and Culture to youth. Within this endeavor, the positive response has been wonderfully evident. She has continued to contribute her skillset to the community by creating healthy risks for youth and families. In addition to her responsibilities as a Tribal Leader, Corinne is one of the advisors for the CTUIR Youth Council and is Vice-Chair of the Nixyaawii School Board. She is a certified Tai Chi instructor for better balance, which she has shared on and off the reservation through gentle instruction, and a certified Life Coach.  

Her interests include spending time with her partner Natasha and two sons, coaching all sports, hunting, camping, fishing, gathering first foods, and anything and everything to do with tribal people.