Yesteryears -- April 15, 2013

2008 - Member Services Manager Debby Larsen said that the Tribe spent $20.7 million on the Tribal member health plan in 2007, or an average of $4,454 per enrolled member, during the April General Council meeting held in Eugene.

2003 - Actress Elaine Miles from the TV series "Northern Exposure" spoke to Tribal youth during the Tribe's first-ever Wellness Day. Originally from Pendleton, Miles is Cayuse-Nez Perce and a member of the Umatilla Tribe.

1998 - A public hearing concerning Senate Bill 1691 was held in Seattle on April 7. The bill, sponsored by Washington Sen. Slade Gorton, called for waiver of Tribal sovereign immunity. Tribal members and advocates of sovereign immunity traveled long distances to protest the proposed bill.

1993 - Spirit Mountain Development Corporation moved into its new headquarters at 28840 Salmon River Highway. The building was renovated and staff had been busy organizing the office space. An open house was going to be scheduled for sometime in April.

1988 - A potluck was scheduled in the Tribal office to remember the hop yard years. "Come and share memories and your photographs," an ad in Smoke Signals said.

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