Yesteryears -- March 15, 2015

2010 – Two Tribal employees – Bonnie Mercier and Tresa Mercier – became the first to celebrate silver anniversaries as employees. Both were hired in October 1984. Bonnie worked as the Tribal Wellness manager and Tresa was, and still is, the Health & Wellness Business Office manager.

2005 – Earnest L. Stevens Jr., president of the Washington, D.C.-based National Indian Gaming Association, addressed the Oregon Tribal Gaming Association to release the report, “The Contributions of Indian Gaming to Oregon’s Economy.” In Oregon in 2003, Tribal gaming generated more than $42.6 million in state and local taxes while saving almost $7.1 million in public assistance costs through increased employment.

2000 – In an effort to honor the past and recognize the importance of sharing the Trail of Tears story with future generations, the Tribe held a, featuring the participation of local youth from Grand Ronde Elementary School, who walked up Grand Ronde Road to the Governance Center.

1995 – Troutdale artist Rip Caswell’s twice-life-size bronze of Martha Jane Sands was nearing completion. The bronze for Spirit Mountain resort shows Sands passing on the culture and tradition of basketry to her granddaughter.

1990 – The Tribe held a public hearing on its Health, Education and Housing Tribal Trust Funds. The purpose of the hearing was to collect information and comments from the membership on the draft policies written for each area. Comments were directed to Health Director Cheryle A. Kennedy, Education Director Dean Azule and Housing Director Dave Bailey.

1985 – Tribal officials met with numerous elected and administration officials in Washington, D.C., regarding the Tribe fulfilling its responsibilities as required under the Grand Ronde Restoration Act.

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