Yesteryears -- Jan. 15, 2017

2012 – Chinuk Wawa language classes debuted at Willamina High School. Tribal member and Cultural Resources Program Manager Kathy Cole was teaching the class to seven Tribal high school students. “It’s our culture,” said junior Jade Colton, who dropped Spanish to instead learn the Tribe’s language. “I’d rather learn about our culture.”

2007 – Tribal member Pete Wakeland became the Tribe’s first director of development. He will supervise the departments of Planning & Grants Development, Engineering, Lands Management, Public Works and Natural Resources, as well as Round Valley Construction, a Tribally owned company,

2002 – The Grand Ronde Health & Wellness Center started offering an optometry program with Dr. Charlene White and optical aide/technician Tamora Hermann providing quality eye care to Tribal members.

1997 – Tribal Council Chairwoman Kathryn Harrison and Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber signed a new gaming compact that allowed the Grand Ronde Tribe to expand its gaming options at Spirit Mountain Casino. The new compact allowed craps, roulette, sports betting and pai gow poker.

1992 – Youth Council Chairman Jeff Mercier said he loves being on the council because it gives him a chance to help people in the Tribe and surrounding community. He meets with Alcohol and Drug Prevention Education Counselor Camille Van Fleet three times a month to plan youth group activities.

1987 – Tribal Council Chairman Mark Mercier reported that Tribal Council released a draft agreement to local timber companies regarding the Tribe’s proposed Reservation Plan that would ban the Tribe from exporting and competing for public timber for 10 years. Meetings with local timber company representatives to discuss the proposal were being scheduled.

1982 – A new Enrollment Committee was selected by Enrollment Clerk Cheryl Carl. Merle Leno was named chairman with Russ Leno and Marion Henry picked to be co-chairman and secretary, respectively. Other committee members were John Mercier, Margo George, Marvin Kimsey, Nora Kimsey, Jackie Colton, Velma Mercier and Candy Robertson.

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