Yesteryears -- Dec. 1, 2018

2013 – Approximately 150 people attended the first Tribal History Conference after hearing about the event through e-mail, word-of-mouth or seeing announcements in Smoke Signals and on Facebook. “I am humbled by the response,” said Tribal Historian Dr. David Lewis. “It tells me that this is needed.” Lewis

said having the event annually would help remedy the fact that the histories of Oregon’s Tribes have not been properly documented.

2008 – Tribal Elder Nora Kimsey turned 100. She was honored during the monthly General Council meeting for her years of contributions to the Tribe. Her grandfather was Chief Bogus of the Umpqua Tribe, who was killed by vigilantes on the Trail of Tears. She was born in Grand Ronde in 1908 and lived in the area her entire life. During Restoration efforts, Nora was among the Tribal Elders who baked, canned and dried goods to be sold to raise money for Restoration, and also served on the original Enrollment Committee.

2003 – The Tribe celebrated its 20^th anniversary of Restoration with dinner, guest speakers and entertainment at Spirit Mountain Casino. Guest speakers included past Tribal Council Chairwoman Kathryn Harrison and past Tribal Council member Candy Robertson. Current Chairwoman Cheryle A. Kennedy and Vice Chair Reyn Leno also spoke. The keynote speaker was Elizabeth Furse, former Oregon congresswoman and director of the Institute for Tribal Government at Portland State University, who helped lead the efforts to lobby Congress for federal recognition.

1998 – The Tribe’s new Spirit Mountain Lodge was scheduled for completion and a grand opening later in the month. The $9 million hotel was the last of three phases of expansion after the completion of Spirit Mountain Casino. Lodge amenities included a bronze fountain, Hall of Legends and rustic stripped wood furnishings. “We are trying to provide top accommodations to folks who are vacationing and passing through, as well as to those folks who chose Grand Ronde as a spot for conferences, retreats and family gatherings,” Hotel General Manager Mark Holland said.  

1993 – Tribal members Margo Mercier and Debby Childers chaperoned 16 Grand Ronde youth on an all-expenses paid trip to Disneyland. In honor of National Children’s Day, Walt Disney Inc., Delta Airlines and the Children’s Defense Fund sponsored a paid trip to Disneyland for 6,500 children across the United States. The youth and chaperones stayed at the Sheraton Inn and attended a birthday party for Mickey Mouse at the Disneyland Hotel.

1988 – Tribal member John Petite passed away at the age of 82. During his memorial service, Tribal Council Secretary Kathryn Harrison and Tribal Council Chairman Mark Mercier gave eulogies. “It is traditional that we learn from our Elders and we are richer because of what he has taught us,” Harrison said. “There are many lessons to be learned from the life of John Petite.”

She said that one of those lessons would likely be for young people to “hold on to their youth” since he had to quit school to find work at an early age.

“He knew his journey on this revolving sphere, this Earth, was a one-time deal and he made the most of it mentally, physically and spiritually,” Harrison said.

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