Yesteryears -- Dec. 15, 2018

2013 – The Tribe’s traditional meal honoring the return of the first salmon to the Reservation was served to more than 50 Tribal members, dignitaries and staff at the Community Center on Friday, Dec. 12. It marked the second year in a row that the Tribe held a Salmon Celebration to honor the food staple that helped keep Native Americans fed in the Pacific Northwest since time immemorial.

2008 – Tribal Council member Wink Soderberg was appointed by Gov. Ted Kulongoski to serve on the Methamphetamine Task Force, which was formed in January 2004. Soderberg had been involved on the Tribe’s Meth Task Force run by Social Services, as well as serving as a representative on a Tribal task force that fights illicit drug use among Oregon’s nine federally recognized Tribes. “Being on the Governor’s Task Force, there’s a lot of people there who deal in different fields,” Soderberg said. “They are all good, creative people and I can hear that it is not just something they heard. It is something they are intensely involved in. They have a passion.”

2003 – Tribal Council Chairwoman Cheryle A. Kennedy was honored with the Celebrating Traditions & Medicine Winds News “Woman of the Year” award for 2003-04. The award was presented to Native American women who contribute to the well-being of their people and promote the overall well-being of the community. The presentation was made at the Tribe’s General Council meeting by Co-President Nakima Kerchee and four board members.

1998 – The Tribe made its first business foray into the Portland market when it joined with developer Wayne Rembold and investor Franklin Pacentini to build a 480-unit project in the Gateway district near the MAX light rail line. The $44 million, 11-acre Russellville Commons was designed as a transit-friendly housing, retail and office project. “Our ancestors lived where Portland is now, and many of our Tribal members still live there,” Tribal Council Chairwoman Kathryn Harrison said. “We’re proud to help build good housing that people can afford.”

1993 – Monday, Nov. 22, marked the 10^th anniversary of Tribal Restoration, and a dinner and powwow were held at Grand Ronde Grade School on Nov. 20. Special guests included Les AuCoin and his wife, Sue; Sande Schmidt, Don Wharton and State Sen. Dick Springer. Tribal Council also honored employees and Tribal members for their dedicated service during the past 10 years. Employees who had worked for the Tribe at least five years were given a commemorative coin.

1988 – The Tribe was assisting 19 of its members with higher education grants and eight with vocational training. Students in four-year degree programs included Marion Henry, Cecile Kneeland, Brent Merrill, Susan Martin, Corrine Fugate, Kelly Fugate, Tracy Olson, Andrew Jenness, Christopher Leno, Jeffery P. Brickell, Jacqueline Grant, Brenda Gray, Debbie Mudgett, Kelly Nelson, Ann Ritchey, Kimberly Harrelson, Camille VanVleet, John Allen and Leticia Tinoco. Vocational students were Teresa Bailey, Phebi Peone, Jesse Peone, Joannie West, Tamara Williams, Lisa Kleinschmidt, Jeanne Larsen and Roger Harrison.

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