Yesteryears - June 15, 2011

2006 - Dr. Jim Lace of Salem, a member of the Meth Task Force for the Oregon Medical Association, gave a presentation at the Tribal Community Center regarding the tragedies of meth abuse and the difficult issues of treatment and incarceration for meth abusers.

2001 - Tribal member Gene LaBonte was working with Cemetery Caretaker and Tribal Elder Russ Leno at the Tribal Cemetery to map the cemetery and find lost loved ones. LaBonte said he was proud to get an opportunity to learn from and work with Leno.

1996 - Spirit Mountain Casino's first float in the Portland Rose Festival Grand Floral Parade was the winner of the top award, the Sweepstakes, for best float. "Nature's Spirit" featured a watchful mother coyote and two pups in a setting of plants and flowers native to the Grand Ronde area. Tribal Royalty riding on the float included Courtney Galligher, Diana Robertson and Halona Butler.

1991 - Smoke Signals editor and Tribal member Brent Merrill announced that he was leaving the Tribe to take a position with the Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission in Washington state. Merrill became editor of the Tribal publication in May 1989. "I feel that I am a better person for the experience and the things that I have learned," he wrote. "I will always do my best to represent the people of Grand Ronde in the best possible way that I can."

1986 - The Yamhill County Board of Commissioners requested an informational public meeting be held at the Willamina VFW Hall regarding the Tribe's Reservation Plan. Tribal Chairman Mark Mercier asked all Tribal members to attend "this very important meeting" and show their support so that Tribal Council could get the plan finalized.

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