Yesteryears -- June 15, 2020

2015 – The Willamina School Board was to consider a revised policy regarding flag displays and salutes. The revised policy, developed by Willamina School District administrators, would allow the display of flags other than the U.S. and Oregon flag “from a federally recognized sovereign nation located within district boundaries if the sovereign nation requests and provides an appropriately sized flag.” Willamina School District Superintendent Gus Forster said the revised policy would protect the district from receiving requests “from everywhere” to hang a flag inside school facilities.

2010 – Oregon Rep. Kurt Schrader spoke of veteran sacrifices at the Tribe’s annual Memorial Day observance at the West Valley Veterans Memorial on the Tribal campus. Tribal Elder and Tribal Council member Steve Bobb Sr. and Tribal Council Vice Chair Reyn Leno shared master of ceremonies honors. The ceremony, which included the reading of names added to the memorial, attracted more than 100 people.

2005 – Two Tribal members of the Willamina High School Class of 2005, Amanda Thomas and Ashlee Merrill, were awarded Gates Millennium Scholarships. There were only five scholarships given to Northwest Native American high school students. The Gates Millennium Scholarship covered 100 percent of a student’s unmet needs and was renewable for up to nine years.

2000 – The Grand Ronde Community Resource Center Food Bank received a grant to assist with purchases of a storage trailer, refrigeration unit, more nutritious food and a van for distribution and pick up. The $15,000 grant was awarded by the Native American Hunger Program in association with First Nations Development Institute and Kraft Foods to help alleviate hunger among members of 17 Reservation-based programs in 11 states.

1995 – Spirit Mountain Casino officials announced that they would be hiring 850 employees by the time the casino opened in October. The hiring included positions ranging from casino operations to guest services. To help people learn more about the jobs available to match positions to skills and interests, Spirit Mountain was planning to conduct a job fair in Grand Ronde. Attendees would be briefed on the casino and job categories, and then have the opportunity to visit booths for each area and talk with Spirit Mountain personnel.

1990 – Oregon gubernatorial candidates Barbara Roberts and Dave Frohnmayer met with representatives of the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde at the Chumaree Hotel in Salem. Representatives of the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs and Burns Paiute Tribe also were present to hear candidates discuss the issues.

1985 – Grand Ronde Tribal Council members Kathryn Harrison, Merle Leno and Henry Petite met with Polk, Tillamook and Yamhill County commissioners, as well as the mayors of Sheridan, Willamina and McMinnville to update them on the Tribe’s Reservation Plan. They also spoke with Sen. Mark O. Hatfield, Rep. Les AuCoin and BIA Area Director Stan Speaks.

“These people are all supportive of our efforts for a Reservation Plan,” a Smoke Signals article stated. “Our economic base will be timber revenues generated. Due to the current slow timber economy in the Northwest, we need the support of these influential people and others to help us get our Reservation Plan passed in Congress.”

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