Yesteryears -- May 15, 2014

2009 - A potential case of H1N1 influenza prompted closure of the Tribal campus for two days, as well as postponement of other Tribal events, including a General Council meeting. "This is strictly a precautionary measure," said Tribal Executive Officer Chris Leno in an e-mail to Tribal staff. During the closure, Tribal Facilities staff members wiped down high contact areas, such as door knobs, with disinfectant to ensure the flu did not spread.

2004 - Two Grand Ronde Tribal students - Alicia Selwyn and Tony Perkins - were elected out of 218 students to the representative board of the Oregon Indian Education Association. Perkins was elected president and Selwyn was elected secretary of the four-person board. OIEA is open to students in eighth through 12 grades who maintain a C average or better.

1999 - Spirit Mountain Casino was named the No. 1 tourist attraction in Oregon by the state Tourism Commission. The casino received more than 2.5 million visitors in 1998 to catapult it to the top of the list. In addition, the first General Council meeting held in the new Governance Center occurred.

1994 - Bonnie Tom-Martin was selected by the National Association of Community Health Representatives as the Outstanding CHR in the Portland area. She was nominated for the award by Human Services Division Manager Cheryle A. Kennedy.  She is also expected to receive her 10-year pin for her service to Indian people as a community health representative.

1989 - Gov. Neil Goldschmidt proclaimed May 14-20 as Oregon American Indian Week in honor of the American Indian peoples of the state. In other news, Willamina Elementary School students Nick Bailey, Ronaele Loomis, Mickey Jones and Manning Mercier completed 10 weeks of Chinook Jargon classes.

1984 - Tribal Council signed two Bureau of Indian Affairs contracts totaling $100,000 to carry out the Management and Reservation Plan and is reviewing an Indian Health Service contract to provide staff at the Tribal offices to provide services in the six county service area.

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