Yesteryears -- Jan. 1, 2020

2015 – The Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde filed an appeal of U.S. District Court Judge Barbara Jacobs Rothstein’s ruling in favor of the Department of the Interior’s decision to take land into trust for the Cowlitz Indian Tribe near La Center, Wash. The Cowlitz Tribe had been trying since 2002 to take approximately 152 acres into trust near La Center so it could build a casino on that property.

2010 – The Tribe began doing something that was suspended most of the previous two years, selling timber on the Reservation. Natural Resources Department Manager Michael Wilson said the timber market was slowly showing improvement, which made it worthwhile for the Tribe to once again sell timber. The recent Big Toe sale received seven bidders and sold for $267 per 1,000 board feet.

2005 – Tribal Council Chairwoman Cheryle A. Kennedy was selected to open the U.S. Figure Skating Championships on behalf of the Tribe and Spirit Mountain Casino in Portland. Additionally, past Tribal Council Chair Kathryn Harrison and the Grand Ronde Honor Guard were selected to lead an invocation and bring in the flags to open the event.

2000 – Tribal Elders surprised Tribal Council Chair Kathryn Harrison during a holiday party at the Community Center. Harrison had recently been named one of three Oregon Women of the Year by the Oregon Commission for Women. “Kathryn was both surprised and speechless,” Elders Committee Chair Sharon Hanson said.

1995 – Construction and planning for the Tribe’s new casino were on schedule. Spirit Mountain Development Corp. Director Bruce Thomas said that coordination with the state on traffic diversion construction on Highway 18 was an ongoing process, with permit approval expected soon. Most entry-level jobs started at $6.50 an hour and the Tribe established a training program at Chemeketa Community College for Tribal members who wanted casino jobs.

1990 – No January edition available.

1985 – Tribal Council authorized its general manager to develop and submit a proposal to Housing and Urban Development to construct a 4,000-square-foot social services facility to be located near the depot. The $250,000 proposal was competing for funding with proposals from 33 other Northwest Tribes. “We are optimistic that our proposal will receive favorable reviews,” said General Manager Jim St. Martin.

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