The Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs and the broader Jefferson County community are mourning the loss of Paiute Chief Joseph Moses, who passed away Thursday morning, Aug. 27, 2026. Chief Moses was a foundational figure in Warm Springs governance and cultural life, serving three terms on the Tribal Council before being named Paiute Chief in July 2001 — a role he held with deep dedication for more than 25 years.
In response to his passing, the Tribal Council canceled its regularly scheduled meetings for the week and requested that flags across the Warm Springs Reservation be lowered to half-mast in his honor.
A Life of Service
Chief Moses was known throughout Jefferson County as a steady and principled voice for the Paiute people within the three-tribe confederation of the Warm Springs Reservation — the Warm Springs, Wasco, and Paiute peoples. His decades of service on the Tribal Council before ascending to the role of Chief gave him an unusually deep understanding of the complex legal, cultural, and governmental responsibilities that shape life at Warm Springs.
Colleagues and community members remembered him as a patient listener, a defender of treaty rights, and someone who always kept future generations in mind when making decisions.
Services at the Agency Longhouse
Services for Chief Moses began Monday, Aug. 31, at the Agency longhouse on the Warm Springs Reservation. The schedule included a dressing ceremony at 1:30 p.m., followed by an open denomination service, a community dinner at 5:30 p.m., and Washut at 7 p.m.
Burial ceremonies were held Tuesday, Sept. 1. The day began with breakfast at 7 a.m. at the Agency longhouse, followed by a 9 a.m. departure for Simnasho Cemetery, with a return to the longhouse following the burial.
A Community Grieves
The loss of a Tribal Chief carries weight not only within the Confederated Tribes but across the surrounding region. Chief Moses was a familiar presence at inter-governmental meetings with Jefferson County officials and at regional gatherings throughout Central Oregon, where he consistently advocated for the tribe’s water rights, land stewardship, and cultural preservation.
“Chief Moses gave everything to his people and to the future of the Paiute nation at Warm Springs. His guidance will be deeply missed.” — Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs statement
The Madras Bulletin extends its deepest condolences to the Moses family and to the entire Warm Springs community during this time of mourning.