Yesteryears -- Feb. 1, 2013

2008 - Tribal Court introduced a new program, the Peacemaker Program, to help Tribal and community members solve and settle disputes before going to trial. Tribal members Sam Henny and David DeHart were the first two trained Peacemakers who will volunteer in Tribal Court to resolve disputes.

2003 - A contingent of Grand Ronde Tribal members attended the Inaugural Ball for newly elected Gov. Ted Kulongoski. "We support him," said Intergovernmental Affairs Director Justin Martin. "We feel that Gov. Kulongoski is receptive to Native American issues because of his past experience. He also has a good understanding of how Tribal governments work."

1998 - The Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde announced the creation of the Hatfield Fellowship in honor of Sen. Mark O. Hatfield for his accomplishments as governor of Oregon and as a U.S. senator on behalf of the Tribe. The fellow will serve as a liaison between a member of the Oregon congressional delegation and Oregon Tribes on issues affecting Native Americans. The fellowship will be nine months long and include a $55,000 stipend.

1993 - Approximately 40 people attended an open house to dedicate the Early Childhood Education Facility near the Grand Ronde Chemical Dependency Program offices. Travis Benoist performed a cleansing ceremony before the blessing, which was given by Kathryn Harrison. The Shantee Klootchman Tum Tum drum group sang and played "The Restoration Song."

1988 - Enrollment Director Margo George reported that Tribal membership stood at 2,273. "In 1954, there were 862 members listed on the final membership roll before Termination," she wrote. "Our membership has almost tripled in the last 34 years." However, she reported, there were still more than 200 members who were listed on the 1954 membership roll who were not on file.

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