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GrandRonde
 The Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde

Tribal Lifeways

Fostering Culture

The rich culture of the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde is not just our history, it is our present and our future

The Lifeways program, launched by the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde in 2005, aims to reconnect the community with traditional culture, family, and homeland. This initiative offers cultural classes specific to the tribes and bands that form the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde, highlighting ancestral lands and tribal heritage. Through these activities, the program strengthens community bonds and preserves cultural identity. Lifeways invites community members to journey back to their roots, embracing traditions that define and unify the tribe.

Look up "Lifeways" in Merriam Webster's online dictionary (sense 6), and it points to a definition of the word "life":
a way or manner of living
Example: "the life of the colonists"

Our Lifeways program strives to erase some of the harm done by violent colonialism, connecting Tribal Members to their traditional homelands and practices of the specific tribes that make up the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde.

Through Lifeways, Tribal Members experience the dynamic and resilient culture of the Grand Ronde people.

A short documentary about the past and present culture of the Grand Ronde people.  The film also provides an overview of the Lifeways classes offered by the Cultural Education program that promote the living culture of the Grand Ronde people today. 

Additional Cultural Resources

Tribal Lifeways is just one resource available to those who want to learn more about the traditions and culture of the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde.

Our Homelands
Sacred lands that hold our history, sustain our people, and connect us deeply to our ancestral roots.
Our Language
A heritage language that embodies our identity, passed through generations as a living link to our past and future.
Cultural Resources
The mission of the Cultural Resources Department is to support a healthy community by facilitating dialogue, maintaining continuity, and providing protection of tribal lifeways for the benefit of future generations.
Cultural Education
The Cultural Education Program provides the tribal community a range of opportunities to learn cultural knowledge and deepen sense of identity, belonging, and connection to place. We offer cultural classes and events throughout the year that provide immersive experiences in an effort to transmit knowledge of cultural practices and heritage to our participants.
Tribal History Curriculum for K-12 Teachers
Chachalu Museum & Cultural Center

More from our History

Treaties
Agreements that established relationships with the U.S. government and ceded Tribal lands, marking the beginning of a long period of transition.
Consent Decree
A modern agreement that acknowledges Tribal rights and further secures our role and responsibilities in stewarding the land.
Trail of Tears
Native peoples inhabited western Oregon for thousands of years before European settlers arrived. The forced removal of Tribal members from their ancestral lands, leading to hardship, loss, and a profound shift in the lives of our people.