Yesteryears - March 1, 2025

2020 – The Tribe and the City of Salem signed a memorandum of understanding intended to “strengthen the government-to-government relationship” between the two entities. It pledged that representatives of the city and Tribe would establish a database of known archeological sites and Tribally significant areas that have a high probability of historic and pre-contact significance. In addition, the city pledged to provide the Tribe with adequate notice for proposed land use actions on private lands within the significant areas and ensure consultation.

2015 – The Tribal Council approved a contract for construction of a 20,000-square-foot arbor for the uyxat Powwow Grounds, with a removable shade and rain cover. The council also approved an amendment to one logging unit, to allow use the necessary amount of Douglas fir logs from the Reservation for the construction.

2010 – The Tribe received a $235,000 Indian Community Development Block Grant to more than double the size of the library from 1,390 square feet to 2,890. The Tribe provided matching funds of $108,334 for the project.

2005 – Grand Ronde community member Jo Elam had the opportunity to release a Peregrine Falcon she had found injured and trapped in a fence by the post office in mid-December. The bird, which had suffered a broken wing, was treated by McMinnville Animal Hospital and then rehabilitated by the Audubon Society of Portland’s wildlife care center, before being brought back and released in the field behind Willamina Middle School. 

2000 – Spirit Mountain Community Fund provided a $33,208 grant to Grand Ronde Elementary School, to bolster math programs and continue the emphasis on reading instruction at the school, which had a high percentage of economically disadvantaged students.

1995 – Work on the foundation of the new Spirit Mountain Casino was 80% complete. Jeffrey A. Dalton, project manager for Drake/Kraus-Anderson Construction Company, said that when the foundation was complete, the company would start erecting the steel framework for the building.

1990 – Representatives of the Grand Ronde Tribal Council met with the Yamhill County Board of Commissioners and presented them with a check for $20,000, to compensate the county for revenues lost due to the establishment of the Grand Ronde Reservation.

1985 – No edition available

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