Yesteryears - Dec. 1, 2021

2016 – Tribal Environmental Resources Specialist Meagan Flier was recognized with a leadership award from the West Coast Regional Planning Body for her work coordinating Tribes along the West Coast that were part of the Regional Planning Body and the West Coast Ocean Partnership. The group was a partnership of federally recognized Tribes in Oregon, Washington and California, and federal and state agencies. It focused on implementing the U.S. National Ocean Policy, and engaging stakeholders in marine planning and other tools to effectively address existing and future uses of the region’s oceans and coasts. Flier’s award was the first ever given by the group.

2011 – Tribal members rejected a bundled proposal 536-457 to overhaul enrollment requirements in a constitutional election held by the Bureau of Indian Affairs. They voted 54 percent to 46 percent against the proposal, which would have reduced the relinquishment period from five years to two years, eliminated the requirement of having a parent on the roll at the time of birth or application to become a member of the Tribe, redefined Grand Ronde blood and established an annual quota set by Tribal Council on how many new Tribal members could be enrolled.

2006 – The Tribe’s Cultural Resources Department held its first ever webinar that featured the Cultural Resources virtual gallery, which opened earlier that year after eight months of development. Attendees spanned the country, from Massachusetts to California. The primary goal of the presentation was to reach Tribal members who live outside the area through technology.

2001 – Tribal member Sara Farlow was interviewed by Smoke Signals about her conversion to Islam in 1989 after marrying a Saudi national. Although the couple divorced four years later, Farlow continued to practice Islam and moved to the United Arab Emirates. “In my life I’ve finally found something that makes sense to me,” she said. “I really got the answers that I needed.”

1996 – The Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde celebrated 13 years of Restoration at Grand Ronde Elementary School. More than 200 Tribal members and their families celebrated the event and reflected on an important day in Tribal history. The day’s event included a meal of salmon and ham, member testimonies and a mini-powwow.

1991 – Tribal member Willie Mercier began writing news for a new youth section in Smoke Signals as part of Willamina High School’s work experience program. “At my job I write articles about Tribal youth and their activities,” he said. “I also write stories pertaining to the Tribal youth and government. I take pictures of the Tribal youth activities and edit the youth news section.”

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