Yesteryears -- Jan. 1, 2016

2011 – A Tualatin-Kalapuya word meaning “a house built of cedar planks” – achaf hammi -- was chosen as the name for the new Tribal plankhouse built near Uyxat Powwow Grounds off Hebo Road.

2006 – Tribal member Steve Bobb Sr. completed a logger memorial to be displayed in Willamina and be dedicated to loggers who have lost their lives on the job.

2001 – Tribal member J. Ken Gregg gifted a picture of the U.S.S. Arizona Memorial in Hawaii to the Grand Ronde Tribal Council. He took the picture in 1965 while stationed on an aircraft carrier and stowed the film in his bag, which was lost for five years. When the bag was returned to Gregg, he found the film and had it developed.

1996 – Phase II expansion at Spirit Mountain Casino was set to begin. The expansion will include a steak house and lounge, banquet and meeting rooms, a child play area, video arcade, RV park and more space for gaming.

1991 – The Grand Ronde Senior Meal Site was completed in early December and serves hot lunches to Tribal Elders Tuesday through Thursday.

1986 – Ninety-one people attended the annual Christmas party. Decorations provided by Roger Harrison gave the hall a holiday atmosphere and guests included students from Chemawa Indian School in Salem. John and Pam Darcy and their sons, Joshua, Jason and John, received the award for traveling the farthest to attend.

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