Yesteryears -- July 1, 2015

2010 – Grand Ronde became more of a full-service, as well as safer, community with the grand opening of the Tribally funded Grand Ronde Fire Station at the corner of McPherson and Grand Ronde roads. The new fire station will be operated and managed by the West Valley Fire District and reduce response times by at least 10 minutes for emergency medical and fire calls.

2005 – Tribal Elder Kathryn Harrison provided the invocation for a ceremony unveiling the new Oregon quarter in front of the Oregon Historical Society in Portland. Early designs of the quarter included salmon, the Columbia River and teepees that recognized the role that Natives played in the state’s history, but the final design featured the state’s signature landmark, Crater Lake.

2000 – The Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde signed an agreement with the American Museum of Natural History in New York City that will ensure Tribal access to Tomanowos (The Willamette Meteorite) in the future. “For the first time, the story of the meteorite’s role in our culture will be shared with the millions of people who view it,” Tribal Council Vice Chair Ed Larsen said.

1995 – The first meeting of the Grand Ronde Gaming Commission was held. Judge Robert Goodwin swore in Gene Davidson, Leonette Galligher, Lynn Hillman and Robert Watson as commission members and the commission elected Watson as chairman.

1990 – Nine Tribal members were running for Tribal Council. They were Larry Brandon, Wilmadene Butler, Ed Larsen, Eugene LaBonte, Merle Leno, Russ Leno, Mark Mercier, Margaret Provost and Candy Robertson.

1985 – Kathryn Harrison and Valarene Grout created a seafood basket that was presented to Gov. Vic Atiyeh. He expressed his gratitude for the basket of canned fish, cheese, jelly and salt water taffy. “The basket was a thoughtful and considerate offering to Governor Victor Atiyeh,” wrote Chairman Henry Petite.

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