Yesteryears - Oct. 15, 2026

2021 — Workers began moving dirt at the 86.5-acre Rink 2 property off McPherson Road and east of Grand Meadows in Grand Ronde to prepare for a new Tribal home ownership project. Named tipsu-ili’i (grassland in Chinuk Wawa), the development planned to start with 20 residential lots on which Tribal members could build homes with 75-year leases.

2016 — Smoke Signals ran a story focusing on the Tribe’s history of female leadership and recognized Tribal Council having a female majority for the first time following Restoration in 1983. The previous month saw Denise Harvey elected to her second term on council and Kathleen George elected to her first. George became the 16^th woman to hold the position, joining Harvey, Cheryle A. Kennedy, Tonya Gleason-Shepek and Brenda Tuomi. “The face of leadership is changing,” Harvey said.

2011 — The Tribe was close to finishing a 3,000-square-foot addition to the rear of the Tribal Education Department. The addition was funded through a $500,000 block grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The Tribe also received a $170,000 grant to furnish and staff it. The space would provide additional learning environments for Tribal youth and included a cultural arts and activities room, culinary arts kitchen, dining room, a soundproof recording room with a staging area and three classrooms.

2006 — Tribal Elder Kathryn Harrison was chosen to receive a Marylhurst University Women of Distinction Award. The awards honored five women who made significant contributions to a field of service, science, faith, business or arts in Oregon. Harrison was honored as a Woman of Faith for her “astounding role in influencing the socio-political and historical account of Oregon and Native Americans.” Harrison said that while there was religion and spirituality in her family, their heritage was always the most important. She also offered advice to the audience: “Have joy when you are young and have pride when you’re mature.”

2001 — Spirit Mountain Casino hosted a bingo benefit fundraiser to support survivors, families and communities affected by the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. The event was attended by 841 people and raised $12,658.50 for the Sept. 11 Fund. Additionally, more than $690 in door prizes were given and one participant was awarded a jet ski valued at $10,000. “We are moved to organize this fundraiser in response to the need our fellow Americans are experiencing after the devastation and terror of Sept. 11,” Casino Marketing Director Denise Barr said.

1996 — One year after opening, Spirit Mountain Casino was receiving more than 4,000 visitors a day. As part of its first anniversary celebrations, the casino hosted a poker tournament, special bingo program, live music, drawings for cash prizes and more. The casino also hosted an event called “Strange Days,” which explored “the weird and wonderful in all of us.” Guests could receive information about their planetary body and zodiac sign from astrologers, get their energy revealed by an aura photographer and have questions about their past, present and future answered by psychics.

1991 — The Tribe had an increase of students in higher education and adult vocational training programs for the 1991-92 school year. Due to rising costs of tuition and other fees from colleges and universities, the Tribe had to limit the size of its grant awards and considered setting a cap on the number of students who could be enrolled in the programs for the 1992-93 school year.

1986 — The Tribe acquired a social services program and was gathering information regarding social services available within the Tribe’s six-county service area. The program planned to distribute a manual detailing social services available to Tribal members. The program also provided support to Tribal members wanting to become foster or adoptive parents and encouraged them to contact the program for more information.

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