Yesteryears: Oct. 15, 2025

2020 — Tribal Chairwoman Cheryle A. Kennedy was filmed as a hologram to share information about the Grand Ronde Tribe’s history and experiences in the “Oregon’s First People” film at the End of the Oregon Trail Interpretive & Visitor Information Center. Dressed in regalia, Kennedy talks about the history of her ancestors at Willamette Falls.

2015 — A record-breaking fire season kept the Tribe’s Fire Protection Program busy, with firefighters sent to 13 fires that were 100 acres or larger in three states: Oregon, Washington and California. In addition to keeping the crews busy, it brought in a significant amount of revenue for the Tribe to run the program.

2010 — A state economic analysis found that a proposed private casino in Wood Village would harm the state economy, potentially taking $29 million to $87 million more a year than it would bring in. In addition, the analysis noted that it would take that income away from rural areas where the state’s nine Tribally owned casinos are located.

2005 — Tribal Council members traveled to Washington D.C. to take their case against an off-reservation casino in the Columbia River Gorge, proposed by the Warm Springs Tribe, to federal lawmakers. They argued that the opposition “is not about Warm Springs and Grand Ronde,” but rather about fairness of policy and fear of proliferation of casinos in Oregon, to the detriment of all Tribes.

2000 — Smoke Signals urged Tribal members to vote in the upcoming presidential election, where Vice President Al Gore was running against Texas Gov. George W. Bush. An editor’s note reminded readers that Bush had said Tribal governments should be governed by states, which the newspaper called “ignorance of the nature of the sovereignty Tribes fought so hard to attain.”

1995 — Human Resources staff were working through an “overwhelming” number of job applicants for the new Spirit Mountain Casino, prioritizing qualified Tribal members for positions, followed by applicants from other Native Tribes.

1990 — Western Oregon State College was offering performances by the nationally-acclaimed American Indian Dance Theatre, along with exhibits of Native American culture and art by members of the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde.

1985 — There were 117 applicants enrolled in the Tribe in the month of August, the most recent month announced. Smoke Signals reminded readers of the requirements for applying for enrollment, which included birth documentation.

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