Yesteryears -- April 1, 2017

2012 – The Willamette Heritage Center at The Mill in Salem was hosting a Grand Ronde exhibit called “Grand Ronde Women – Our Story,” which was a celebration of western Oregon Native women. The exhibit was scheduled to run through May 28.

2007 – The Tribe decided to pass on purchasing Boise Cascade’s 13-acre riverfront complex in Salem, which also included 310 acres the company owns on Minto-Brown Island. Tribal Council members cited the unknown costs for cleanup, preservation and development as reasons for not making the purchase. “It had a lot of unknowns,” Tribal Council member Wink Soderberg said.

2002 – Willamina High School Principal Gary Anderson announced his retirement. He took Willamina High from being on the state Board of Education’s “unacceptable” list to being one of the most improved high schools in the state.

1997 – The Tribal Family Action Program was scheduled to make a presentation at the April 6 General Council meeting. Temporary Resource Specialist Linda Olson, Pam Warren and Sheila Elliot were scheduled to present information about eligibility guidelines and client/caseworker responsibilities.

1992 – The Tribe was preparing to hold a dedication ceremony for the Community Center, the first of a series of buildings planned on the Tribal campus, reported Tribal Council Chairman Mark Mercier. Oregon Sen. Mark Hatfield and Rep. Les AuCoin had been invited to the event.

1987 – Tribal Council Chairman Mark Mercier reported that Tribal Council would be meeting with the West Valley Chamber of Commerce to discuss issues relating to the establishment of a reservation and that the Tribe was hoping to have the support of Tillamook and Yamhill county commissioners soon. After that? Meeting with the Oregon congressional delegation to see what else needed to be accomplished to get a Reservation Bill introduced into Congress.

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