Yesteryears - Nov. 15, 2024

2019 – A delegation from Grand Ronde, along with other Tribal officials from the Pacific Northwest, traveled to Portland for the city’s second annual Tribal Nations Summit. The goal was to build partnerships, strengthen collaborations and enhance diplomacy between Tribal nations and the city of Portland.

2014 – The Tribal Council agreed to send two proposed amendments to the Tribe’s Constitution to voters and asked the Secretary of the Interior to schedule an election. The amendments were intended to institute term limits on future Tribal Council service and remove the Bureau of Indian Affairs from Tribal constitutional elections. Neither passed.

2009 – The Tribe was planning to hold a blessing for its new traditional plankhouse near uyxat Powwow Grounds, to kick off the 26^th Restoration Celebration.

2004 – Smoke Signals told the story of Harriet Lindsay, a member of the Rogue River Tribe of Chief George’s Band, who arrived in Grand Ronde in her teens and became the common-law wife of General Phil Sheridan until he was called east in 1861, to help fight the Civil War.

1999 – The Tribe’s newly-remodeled health clinic was being set up to better serve patients by providing different check-in windows for walk-in patients and those with appointments. A triage system was set in place to give patients a quick diagnosis and streamline the process.

1994 – The Tribe secured a construction grant for nearly $750,000 from the Economic Development Administration to make major improvements to the community water system, including installing a 500,000-gallon water tank and pipeline to deliver water to the Tribal headquarters.

1989 – Smoke Signals examined the history of Grand Ronde Tribal members just before and immediately after the Termination Act of 1954. Much of the Tribe’s land was sold and members struggled with unemployment, alcohol dependency, health problems and high school dropout rates.

1984 – The Tribe celebrated its first Restoration anniversary, with a feast, powwow, gifts and speakers.

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