Yesteryears -- Feb. 15, 2014

2009 - A group of Grand Ronde Tribal members and Tribal employees were scheduled to travel to Washington, D.C., and spend a week connecting with officials of the new Barack Obama administration, as well as newly elected Oregon members of Congress. Among those going were Tribal Attorney Rob Greene and Tribal Council members Cheryle A. Kennedy, Jack Giffen Jr., Steve Bobb Sr. and Wink Soderberg.

2004 - A traditional Indian name-giving ceremony was scheduled as the family of Tribal Elder Merle Holmes was preparing to give his son, Jim, a Native name. Holmes had enlisted the help of Warm Springs Medicine Man Wilbur Johnson and Larry Dick to oversee the ceremony. Holmes said he has always called his son "rabbit." "It will be with him all the time," Holmes said about naming his son.

1999 - The first meeting of the ad hoc Veterans Memorial Committee was scheduled for Feb. 21. One of Tribal Council's priorities for 1999 was to erect a memorial in recognition and appreciation of Tribal members who have served in the armed forces and fought America's wars.

1994 - Tribal Council Vice Chair Kathryn Harrison was elected to the Native American Rights Fund board of directors. Based in Boulder, Colo., the Rights Fund board meets twice a year to discuss specific rights issues concerning Native peoples in the United States.

1989 - Weather was so bad that the February General Council meeting was canceled. Smoke Signals featured photos of Tribal Chairman Mark Mercier clearing snow from the stairs leading into the Tribal office, as well as a picture of long icicles hanging off the side of the building.

1984 - The Indian Health Service contacted Willamina Drug and Sheridan Drug about the Grand Ronde Tribe's November 1983 Restoration to federal recognition and Tribal members' prescriptions could now be filled at the two local stores.

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