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that Grand Ronde provided. In 2005, Grand Ronde managed a nearly $47,000 grant in cooperation with the Siletz Tribe to study the idea of bringing the Chemawa Indian Health Service facility into the two nearby Tribes' compacts as a way to improve health services throughout the area. The Grand Ronde Tribe also got involved in smaller, more individual ways. "During my administration," says King, "we would always send out personal invitations to the Tribes to participate in Chemawa powwows and graduations …

Aaron, Tribal member and Indian Child Welfare Unit Supervisor Dana Ainam, Health Information Technician Dena Freeman, Tribal member and Shipping and Receiving Clerk Jerry George, Member Services Administrative Assistant Hollie Mercier and Custodial Maintenance Supervisor Curtis Rentsch. Tribal Ceded Lands Coordinator Michael Karnosh attained 14 years of service while Health Information Technician Joan Shoemaker and Dental Assistant Donnette Spaulding surpassed 13 years of service. Lead Health …

Culture Walking On - John Michael McKinney, Mario Carlos LaBonte Martinez, Carolyn Jean Griggs 01.12.2026 Walking On John Michael McKinney Aug. 25, 1984 – Dec. 22, 2025 Tribal member John Michael McKinney passed away Dec. 22, 2025, at the age of 41. Bateman Carroll Funeral Home in Gresham is assisting the family. Funeral service details were unavailable before presstime. Mario Carlos LaBonte Martinez Sept. 25, 1953 – Dec. 31, 2025 Tribal Elder Mario Carlos LaBonte Martinez passed away Dec. 31 …

. LaBonte said he was proud to get an opportunity to learn from and work with Leno. 1996 - Spirit Mountain Casino's first float in the Portland Rose Festival Grand Floral Parade was the winner of the top award, the Sweepstakes, for best float. "Nature's Spirit" featured a watchful mother coyote and two pups in a setting of plants and flowers native to the Grand Ronde area. Tribal Royalty riding on the float included Courtney Galligher, Diana Robertson and Halona Butler. 1991 - Smoke Signals editor …

. 1991 - Ray McKnight, Candy Robertson and Merle Holmes were elected to Tribal Council during the Sept. 7 election. Holmes was elected as a write-in candidate with 72 votes and McKnight was the top vote-getter with 118. 1986 - Tribal Chairman Mark Mercier reported that the Tribe had been awarded a contract extension on its Reservation Plan and that Merle Holmes, Kathryn Harrison and himself were scheduled to meet with the Yamhill County Sportsman's Association on Sept. 29 to update the group …

traveled to Illinois to wrestle on the Oregon National team. He won "a couple of matches," said Leland, but suffered with a broken hand that happened "fooling around" the day before they left. "I had his hand wrapped up for these matches," Leland said. "Both Oregon teams finished in Gold Division, the top division," said Leland. "This was Matthew's third trip to nationals," for sixth, seventh and eighth grades. "He's the only kid so far to do that." They came home for a week, and then headed …

Signals purchased new newspaper dispensing machines that were located in Grand Ronde and Salem, and will be located soon in Willamina and Sheridan. 1997 - Jackie Provost, Emma Leno and Miranda Provost represented the Tribe while riding on the Grand Ronde Tribe/Spirit Mountain Casino float in the Grand Floral Parade in Portland. The Tribe's float won the Sweepstakes Award, the judges' top prize. The theme of the Rose Festival was "Having Fun," and the Tribe's float showed a bobcat playing …

Culture Yesteryears -- Nov. 1, 2012 10.31.2012 Ron Karten History 2007 - New Publications Coordinator Dean Rhodes announced changes to Smoke Signals to make the Tribal newspaper more aesthetically pleasing and less expensive to produce. The mailing address box moved from the bottom left corner of the front page to the top left corner, which will save the Tribe approximately $40,000 in postage costs annually. In addition, Smoke Signals started being printed on heavier, whiter paper to make …

Culture Yesteryears -- Sept. 15, 2014 09.15.2014 Ron Karten History 2009 - Political newcomer Toby McClary culled the most votes in the Tribal Council election, receiving 359 (11.59 percent). At 31, he became the youngest Tribal Council member when he was sworn in, being three years younger than Chris Mercier. 2004 - Tribal voters elected three newcomers to Tribal Council with Angie Blackwell, Chris Mercier and Wesley "Buddy" West being the top three vote-getters. 1999 - Tribal voters elected …

5,000 cubic yards of concrete were used to build the new expansion, which is expected to open in March or early April 2005. The expansion will house 163 rooms with the top floor housing 13 double-room suites. 1999 - Spirit Mountain Community Fund committed $266,000 to the Oregon Garden Foundation for restoration and preservation of a 25-acre stand of native Oregon white oak trees on the grounds of the Oregon Garden in Silverton. 1994 - The Grand Ronde Tribe assumed the responsibility for providing …