Mission, OR – Leo Wallahee has joined Cayuse Native Solutions (CNS) as the Digital Navigator serving the Umatilla Reservation community. In the role, Wallahee will help demystify technology by providing free, one-on-one assistance to all residents of the Umatilla Indian Reservation.
He will help residents sign up for the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) so that they can receive up to $75 off their monthly internet bill, as well as helping them acquire helpful devices, and improving their digital skills.
Cayuse began delivering digital inclusion services to the community in January. Wallahee takes over leadership of the program after the former Digital Navigator left the role recently.
Wallahee was most recently a Helpdesk Agent for Cayuse Federal Services (a sister company of CNS), where he spent the last four years honing his skills as a customer service specialist and gaining valuable digital skills and experience. He has worked many customer service roles over the years around the Umatilla Reservation community, including at a local grocery store, front desk agent at three hotels, and as a server at the Wildhorse Casino.
Wallahee says he has always wanted a way to help improve and strengthen the community bonds. Sharing knowledge and having connections with the community is one goal he has set for himself.
Leo is an enrolled member of the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation and is a descendant of the Wenatchapam people. He moved to the CTUIR area nearly 18 years ago and is married to an enrolled member of the CTUIR who a descendant of the Cayuse and Nez Perce tribes. Their family has recently grown to 6 members.
What is digital inclusion? It refers to the activity needed to ensure that all community members can access and use information technology, including affordable high-speed internet, internet-enabled devices that meet the needs of the user, and digital skills training. These are the areas of focus for Wallahee.
Learn more or sign up for services at the CNS website www.cayusenativesolutions.com/digitalinclusion.
The National Digital Inclusion Alliance (NDIA) announced last fall that Cayuse Native Solutions is one of 18 organizations to make up the National Digital Navigator Corps with $10 million of support from Google.org, the giving division of Google. CNS is using its $380,369 award to hire, train, and support the digital navigator, purchase laptop computers and tablets to distribute to eligible community members, and provide essential digital services to Umatilla Indian Reservation residents.
Cayuse Native Solutions is a subsidiary of Cayuse Holdings, which is wholly owned by the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation. CNS serves tribal governments, tribal entities, and Native American owned small businesses with technology and communication services, including Camp Crier mobile app, convention apps, graphic design, website development, social media management, and IT hardware and software.
###