Yesteryears - May 15, 2016

2011 – The Willamette Heritage Center at The Mill Board of Directors voted to repatriate a Kalapuya shovel-nose river canoe, arguably one of the oldest Native canoes ever found in Oregon, back to the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde.

2006 – Tribal community meetings were underway, with sessions slated for Canyonville, Eugene, Grand Ronde, Portland and Federal Way, Wash. The five meetings provided the widest access ever to members who live in Oregon and Washington.

2001 – Sixteen Tribal members were nominated to run for Tribal Council, but Kathryn Harrison declined her nomination. She announced that she would not be seeking re-election and Tribal Council Secretary Reyn Leno pinned an honor corsage on Harrison while the audience members gave her a standing ovation.

1996 – Natural Resources Division Manager Cliff Adams reported there are three new employees in his department: Fish and Wildlife Coordinator Kelly Dirksen, Environmental Specialist Kathleen Feehan and Forester Peter Wakeland.

1991 – Tillamook County Commissioners accepted a check from Tribal Council Chairman Mark Mercier for $90,000 to settle forever any revenue losses the county may have suffered from the creation of the Reservation.

1986 – Tribal Chairman Mark Mercier said the Tribe is still negotiating with the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife regarding its Reservation Plan.

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