Yesteryears: Nov. 1, 2025

2020 — With the COVID-19 pandemic wreaking havoc and state restrictions on indoor gatherings, the Tribe moved its Restoration Celebration online for the 37^th anniversary of restored federal recognition.

2015 — Tribal Council voted to pursue the purchase of the 31-acre Multnomah Greyhound Park in Wood Village. No longer used for dog racing, the site was listed at $11.2 million. Tribal Council Chair Reyn Leno said the Tribe was developing a business plan for the property to diversify the Tribe’s economic base.

2010 — Tribal Council Chairwoman Cheryle A. Kennedy met with President Barack Obama at the Oregon Convention Center in Portland, where Obama was appearing in support of Democrat John Kitzhaber’s campaign for governor. Kennedy was among several Native American council chairs from western Oregon to meet with the president.

2005 — The Tribe left the annual Government-to-Government Summit after Oregon Gov. Ted Kulongoski left the summit before lunch, for the second year in a row.  Tribal Council Vice Chairwoman Angie Blackwell told the assembled Tribes and agency heads that, “I want to thank you but my audience was with the governor and the Grand Ronde Tribe will be leaving at this time.”

2000 — The Tribe’s Veterans Committee, local veterans, their families and Tribal Council were supporting efforts to establish a new memorial to honor veterans. The effort was being led by the Tribe’s Veterans Ad Hoc Memorial Committee. Tribal member and veteran Steve Bobb designed the memorial, while Tribal members Courtney Galligher and Mark LaBonte posed in traditional regalia for the artist’s rendering of the design.

1995 — More than 4,000 Tribal members, civic leaders, business vendors and others involved in Spirit Mountain Casino attended the opening ceremonies. The casino was the newest to open in Oregon, and the largest Tribal gaming facility.

1990 — A landmark bill in Congress designated November as National American Indian Heritage Month, after years of work by The American Indian Heritage Foundation and other organizations. National and local ceremonies were planned.

1985 — Seventy-nine applicants were approved for membership in September, according to a report in Smoke Signals, bringing the Tribe’s roll to 1,682. This meant there were 1,020 new members since the Tribe’s restoration by the federal government.

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