Yesteryears: April 1, 2026

2021— The Portland Trail Blazers had 13 of their 15 players vaccinated against COVID-19 at the Tribe’s gym in late March, after the Tribe began offering some of its extra vaccine supply to the general public in February. The Trail Blazers posted news about the vaccinations and urged others to get vaccinated as well.

2016 — Tribal Elders held a celebration of life for Elder Richard “Mushy” Ray, who was battling terminal cancer, enabling him to attend in person with his siblings and wife.

2011 — The Grand Ronde Cultural Resources staff completed the first river canoe carved in Grand Ronde since Restoration and probably much earlier, and placed it on display at the Willamette Heritage Center at The Mill in Salem, along with the Tribe’s Tillamook canoe and a historic Kalapuya canoe owned by the Heritage Center.

2006 — The Spirit Mountain Community Fund gave away nearly $2 million in grants for its first quarter grant program, providing funding for outdoor recreation as an alternative to drugs for Yamhill County teens, the Fort Yamhill Interpretive Program, a new exhibit at the Oregon Coast Aquarium and numerous other programs.

2001 — The Tribe hired a new policy and planning manager, Kim Ray Rogers, who had worked for several Tribes previously in Alaska and Washington.

1996 — Spirit Mountain Casino embarked on phase two, which included an expansion to 36,500 feet in the casino and adding gaming, dining and a family entertainment space.

1991 — The Tribe approved the final sketches for a proposed new Community Services Center to house programs such as senior meals, educational classes, additional health services, some social services activities and a broad range of community meetings and training seminars.

1986 — Tribal Council remained focused on its reservation plan. Tribal Chair Mark Mercier, Vice Chair Merle Leno and Secretary/Treasurer Kathryn Harrison met with Yamhill County Commissioners to update them on progress and spent an afternoon with the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife to review the hunting and fishing consent decree. They also met with Cooper Consultants about setting up talks with the timber industry, whose support the Tribe was hoping to gain.

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