Yesteryears -- May 1, 2014

2009 - A Gang Summit hosted by the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde at Spirit Mountain Casino drew about 200 attendees. The summit focused on gang activity and its effects on Tribal youth.

2004 - Groundbreaking occurred on the Spirit Mountain Lodge expansion that will add 150 rooms and is slated for completion by March 2005. "We're going to bring Spirit Mountain Casino more toward the idea and the vision that we all have - of a destination resort," said Spirit Mountain Casino General Manager Richard Kline.

1999 - Improvements to the Tribal Cemetery continued, including installation of a sidewalk around the covered area and construction of a chain link fence in the front area. An overhang area for hearses and pallbearers also was in the works.

1994 - The Tribe took another step toward gaming as a revenue generator after Tribal Council members visited the Poarch Creek Tribe in Alabama. "The Poarch Creek had a very good facility," said Bruce Thomas, general manager of Spirit Mountain Development Corp. "It was after the initial visit with them that council decided to take a closer looking at gaming."

1989 - In a series of votes, General Council decided to disband the Tribal Corporation and have its assets turned over to the Tribal government. The Tribal Corporation was established in 1975 to work for the Restoration of the Tribe. When the Tribe regained federal recognition, two separate but closely related entities existed. The vote to disband the Corporation was 48-0.

1984 - The interim Tribal Council had been working with Gary Forrester, director of the Native American Program at Oregon Legal Services, in drafting the first Tribal Constitution and bylaws. Tribal members were urged to attend a meeting for their input and review of the draft.

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