Yesteryears - April 1, 2015

2010 – Results of a per capita survey found that 58 percent of those responding favored paying per capita four times a year while 23 percent liked annual payments and 18 percent favored two payments per year. More than 860 Tribal members responded to the survey.

2005 – Community members gathered to split cedar logs. After the logs were split, planks were made to build a traditional plankhouse in Grand Ronde. Plankhouses were the traditional way of living for the Grand Ronde people and other Northwest Natives.

2000 – After eight years at the helm, Smoke Signals editor Tracy Dugan resigned. “I have enjoyed the chance to get to know fellow Tribal members and their families,” she wrote. “Because of my Tribe, I have experienced a sense of contribution and service in my life I doubt I’ll ever find anywhere else.”

1995 – Tribal members were advised to expect a shift in traffic on Highway 18 near the Strawberry Patch while a new underpass was being built to accommodate the under-construction Tribal casino.

1990 – Tribal members were encouraged to limit doctor visits, avoid emergency rooms and use alternate resources in order for the Tribe to avoid a shortage of Contract Health Services monies. Tribal members also were encouraged to use the Tribal Health Clinic as often as possible to save CHS dollars.

1985 – Roger Harrison won $50 for creating the Tribal logo. “My interpretation of my logo is that Spirit Mountain has always been a symbol and a historic landmark of the Grand Rondes to me, and the five eagle feathers represent the five major remaining Tribes,” he said.

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