Termination & Restoration
Establishing a Treaty
The Grand Ronde Tribe’s federal recognition ended on August 13, 1954 when Congress passed the Western Oregon Termination Act. This legislation stripped the Tribe of its federal status and severed the trust relationship with the federal government. Between 1954 and 1983, Grand Ronde tribal members were a landless people in their own land. The termination policy robbed the Tribe of its social, economic and political fabric, leaving a scattered population and poverty.
In spite of this, Grand Ronde remained a community interconnected by families. Tribal leaders began working in the early 1970s to restore the Tribe’s federal status. They began the arduous task of reestablishing the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Community of Oregon. They raised money to lobby Congress, testified before lawmakers in Washington DC, and fought for the Tribe’s recognition. Their hard work and dedication were realized on November 22, 1983 when President Ronald Reagan signed the Grand Ronde Restoration Act (Public Law 98-165). Five years later the Tribe regained 9,811 acres of the original reservation when the Grand Ronde Reservation Act was signed on September 9, 1988. These lands lie just north of the community of Grand Ronde.
After restoration and the re-establishment of the Grand Ronde Reservation were completed, the Tribe focused on rebuilding its institutions and developing programs to meet the needs of its members.
It has taken a lot of hard work, depressing and discouraging at times, but, there’s always been the feeling that, as extensions of our ancestors, this restoration effort is the carrying out of their visions – and, so we could always reach back to their strengths and wisdom. Because of this, we have seen organizations come and go, yet the Grand Ronde Tribe continues. The roots are there, but we need those roots confirmed by restoration.
A Recognized Tribe
The Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde is now a federally recognized Tribe. Its 10,800-acre reservation is located in Yamhill County. The Tribe provides services to its members and other Indians through a variety of programs. The official governing body for the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde is the nine-member Tribal Council, elected by the general membership. Current Tribal enrollment is approximately 5,100 members, a majority of whom live in Oregon. Revenues from gaming and the sale of Tribal timber each year go to support programs and governmental functions. These include the Tribe’s education, housing, economic development, natural resources, cultural resources, and health and wellness services.
The Tribe opened its health clinic in 1997. It provides medical and dental services to Tribal members, other Native Americans and people residing in the Grand Ronde community. The Tribe also provides addiction treatment, counseling services, various social services programs and operates its own Tribal Court. The Tribe’s largest business project, Spirit Mountain Casino located in Grand Ronde on Highway 18, opened in 1995. Spirit Mountain Lodge, a hotel owned by the Tribe, opened in December 1998. The casino and lodge employ approximately 1,500 people – the largest employer in Polk County. The Tribe is working on several business ventures to diversify is economy.
The Tribal Governance Center, completed in October 1998, houses the offices of Tribal Council, Administration, Human Resources, Public Affairs, Economic Development and Tribal Court. The Grand Ronde Tribal Housing Authority, established in 1996, has completed two Tribal housing developments: Grand Meadows Manufactured Home Park and a 38-unit Elder Housing complex. In addition the Tribe has built three foster care lodges for Tribal Elders that provide 24-hour nursing supervision in a residential environment. The Tribe also has expanded its housing for owner-occupied market rate housing, and affordable housing. The newest housing includes 72 rental units.
Tribal Resources
More from our History
