Yesteryears - June 1

2006 - Tribal Information Day held in Salem focused on Tribal culture and natural resources. Tribal Tourism Coordinator Elaine LaBonte said the important message the Tribe delivered at the event was, "We do still practice what we did before." The event also marked the 10^th anniversary of government-to-government relations between Oregon's nine Tribes and the state.

2001 - The Tribal campus was continuing to grow. A groundbreaking event was held for the planned education complex in Grand Ronde while, simultaneously, work was occurring on a new rodeo grounds. The 140-by-250-foot competition size rodeo grounds will feature two camping areas - one for spectators and one for contestants, and bleachers to seat the expected crowd.

1996 - Gov. John Kitzhaber signed an executive order on State-Tribal Government-to-Government relations on May 22 during a special signing ceremony attended by all nine Oregon Tribes. "Our Tribe takes government-to-government relationships seriously," said Grand Ronde Chairman Mark Mercier. "I hope this will be the starting block of an effort between all of us."

1991 - Tribal Chairman Mark Mercier and 1991 Junior Miss Grand Ronde Tara Leno presented Willamina Elementary School Principal Joan Rivenbark with a $1,500 check on behalf of the Tribal Council to help purchase computer equipment for the school.

1986 - Tribal Powwow Committee co-chairs Val Grout and Greg Archuleta reported that the theme of this year's powwow is Chogoo Kilipie, or "Come Home." Grout and Archuleta were appealing to the Tribal membership to donate $1 each to help pay for the powwow feast.

Yesteryears is a look back at Tribal history in five-year increments through the pages of Smoke Signals.