Yesteryears: July 1, 2025

2020 — After hearing objections from members, Tribal Council reversed a decision to hold the Tribal Council election by absentee ballot, as a safety precaution due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It determined that walk-in voting and same-day registration would be allowed for the Sept. 12 election.

2015 — The Tribe was preparing for the first powwow to be held under the newly-built arbor at uyxat Powwow Grounds. The arbor was intended to provide shade and relief from the hot sun for both dancers and spectators.

2010 — The Tribe opened its new fire station at the corner of McPherson and Grand Ronde roads. The new station, operated and managed by the West Valley Fire Department, was expected to cut response times by at least 10 minutes for emergency medical or fire calls.

2005 — The Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde and the Siletz Tribe broke ground on Chemawa Station, a 110,000-square-foot development for retail, restaurant, office space and light industrial uses in Keizer.

2000 — The Tribe signed an agreement with the American Museum of Natural History in New York City, to ensure Tribal access to the Willamette Meteorite in perpetuity. The agreement settled a legal fight over Tomanowos, displayed at the museum since 1906. It included a stipulation that Tomanowos would be physically returned to the Tribe if the museum ceased to display it or ceased to exist.

1995 — The Tribe selected its first Gaming Commission to regulate gaming on the reservation, develop regulations and internal control standards, select employees and monitor operations to ensure compliance with Tribal and federal laws.

1990 — Smoke Signals celebrated the graduation of Tribal member Kelly Jeanne Nelson from the University of Sacramento, with a bachelor of arts degree in chemistry.

1985 — The Tribal Council noted that the Reservation Plan it had been working on putting together with the Bureau of Indian Affairs was taking longer than hoped for but was expected to be completed soon.

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