Yesteryears -- Nov. 1, 2018

2013 – The Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde was honored with a prestigious conservation award by one of the state’s premier conservation groups. The Portland-based Lower Columbia River Estuary Partnership addresses environmental challenges in the lower 146 miles of the Columbia River. At its annual gala, the group presented the Tribe with its annual Stewardship Award. It was the first award the Tribe had received from the partnership.

 2008 – Tribal Council adopted a new labor law guaranteeing employees the right to work on the Grand Ronde Reservation without mandatory requirements that they join a labor union or pay dues, fees or other financial support to a labor union. “Tribal Council has determined that it is in the best interest of the Tribe to maximize individual freedom of choice in the pursuit of employment opportunities and to promote an employment climate conducive to economic growth,” the ordinance said.

2003 – The Tribe was gearing up to celebrate 20 years of Restoration with a special section in Smoke Signals detailing the tribulations of 30 years of Termination and subsequent efforts to restore the Tribe, featuring Sen. Mark Hatfield, former U.S. Rep. Elizabeth Furse, Tribal Elder and past Tribal Council Chairwoman Kathryn Harrison, among others.

1998 – Tribal Council voted to change the name of the Tribal newspaper back to “Smoke Signals.” It had been changed to “Grand Ronde Review” earlier in the year and feedback wasn’t positive. “If the majority of the members want ‘Smoke Signals,’ then it will stay the same … If the majority want ‘Grand Ronde Review,’ or another name … it will be changed at that time. But for now, we are going back to the original name. Your vote does matter to Tribal Council and the newspaper staff!”

1993 – Tribal member Mike Reibach and his partner Simone Copley talked about their business, Red Thread Designs, which was dedicated to the promotion of wellness and recovery. Red Threads was a line of apparel designed and sewn by Copley, while Reibach was responsible for the business operation. The couple had a booth at the Tribe’s Contest Powwow, where the clothing was a popular addition.

1988 – An estimated 300 Tribal members and friends gathered to celebrate a new beginning with the re-establishment of the Grand Ronde Reservation ceremony. “I am confident, in every way, that the creation of this Reservation will contribute to an improved standard of living for the entire area,” Tribal Council Chairman Mark Mercier said. He and Tribal Council Secretary Kathryn Harrison accepted a letter and pen from President Ronald Reagan, who signed the bill, that was presented by Oregon Rep. Les AuCoin. “I don’t think there is a Tribe in the land that has compromised more,” AuCoin said at the ceremony. Tribal Council presented special plaques to AuCoin, Sen. Mark Hatfield and others who had worked on the Reservation effort with them.

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