Yesteryears - Sept. 15, 2026

2021 — Construction began on the Creekside Elder Housing project in the southwest corner of Grand Ronde and Hebo roads. Tribal Council approved a contract with Willamette Valley Excavating Inc. of Turner to construct the infrastructure and utilities. The project added 24 new homes for Elders in Grand Ronde.

2016 — Tribal Council established the Tribe’s first Youth Council, appointing Dominik Briant, Isabelle Grout, Raven Harmon, Jason Page, Payton Smith and Madalyn Volz as members, with one seat remaining vacant. Appointees received necklaces and a certificate from Tribal Council. The Youth Council was formed to provide “a collective voice and represent Tribal youth in all matters that concern them,” as well as to promote the development of future Tribal leaders, addressing issues facing Tribal youth, coordinating youth service projects and more.

2011 — A fire started in a restroom next to a gift store at Spirit Mountain Lodge. The restroom and gift store were damaged, with the gift store primarily sustaining smoke damage. The bathroom wall was gutted to ensure the fire had been completely extinguished. Guests on the first and second floors were evacuated and those whose rooms had been affected by smoke had their lodging paid for. The cause of the fire remained under investigation and a monetary estimate of damages could not yet be determined.

2006 — An opening ceremony was held for The Peak at Spirit Mountain Casino. The Peak occupied the former bingo hall area and provided 15 to 20% more room for guests to move around. It also held 242 new slot machines and became the new location for all table games that were previously placed on the casino’s main floor. The Peak was projected to increase casino revenue by $12 to $15 million annually.

2001 — The Tribe was gathering as many of its Sabre-Tool units as possible to send to New York City and Washington, D.C., to aid rescue efforts following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Developed by the Tribe’s Spirit Mountain Development Corp., the Sabre-Tool was a handheld device used to cut through vehicles involved in accidents and could also separate twisted and compressed metal. “We are prepared to get them there any way we can,” SMDC Executive Officer Gene Hill said.

1996 — The first annual Spirit Mountain Stampede and Rodeo was held, marking the culmination of a weeklong festival — Western Days — which included two Waylon Jennings concerts, a dance at the casino and a barbeque.

1991 — Ray McKnight, Candy Robertson and Merle Holmes were elected to three-year terms on Tribal Council, receiving 118, 105 and 72 votes, respectively. Holmes, a write-in candidate, defeated 12 other candidates.

1986 — The Tribe had 32 students participating in adult vocational training, higher education and adult education programs at colleges and universities across Oregon, Washington and California. The Tribe’s education office also distributed more than 126 application packets to Tribal members who inquired about education services and opportunities.

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