Yesteryears: Aug. 15, 2025

2020 — When the Grand Ronde Youth Education Department had to cancel its summer programming because of the COVID-19 pandemic, staff came up with another idea: Delivering or mailing activity boxes to students, filled with activities for a weekly theme. The idea proved wildly popular from the start, when the staff hoped to see 60 students sign up, only to see 150 sign-ups. They created weekly Zoom meetings for the students to connect and chat about their projects. The project allowed students from as far away as California and Colorado to participate.

2015 — The work of several Grand Ronde Tribal artists was on display at the Ikanum art exhibit at Chehalem Cultural Center in Newberg, which featured contemporary artwork from the Columbia River and Willamette Valley.

2010 — Grand Ronde hosted an event to honor Sue Shaffer, former longtime chairwoman of the Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Indians, for her years of service to Indian Country, both in Oregon and nationally.

2005 — Grand Ronde was the only Tribe from Oregon to participate in the 2005 Paddle to Elwha Canoe Journey, then known as the “Healing and Unity Journey,” hosted by the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe. It was Grand Ronde’s first Canoe Journey. Three Chinook Tribal members journeyed with the Tribe.

2000 — The Tribe dedicated its Elder housing development, marking the accomplishment of one the goals of the first Tribal Council after Restoration; building affordable housing for Elders, enabling many of them to move back to Grand Ronde.

1995 — More than 1,000 applicants attended a job fair at Spirit Mountain Casino, which was planning to hire 850 people, both full-time and part-time, in 59 job categories to get the new casino up and running.

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