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OCTOBER 1988
THE CONFEDERATED TRIBES OF THE
GRAND RONDE COMMUNITY OF OREGON
PRESIDENT REAGAN SIGNS RESERVATION BILL
President Reagan signed legislation creating a 9,811
acre reservation for the Confederated Tribes of Grand
Ronde on September 9, 1988.
Reagan's signature on the reservation bill ends an
almost five year effort by the Tribe to establish a
landbase, and opens the way for the Tribe to build for its
future.
The bill immediately puts the reservation lands, located
in Yamhill County, into trust for the Tribe with the U.S.
Department of Interior.
Income from the reservation, estimated to be 800,000 to
one million dollars annually, will be used to supplement
existing tribal education, housing, and health programs,
and for economic development.
"This caps an extraordinary effort by the Grand Ronde
Tribe to regain lost ground," Oregon Senator Hatfield
said in a news release. "Tribal recognition is important
to provide the right to be self-governing. The creation
of a reservation is equally vital because it gives the tribe
the opportunity to be self-sustaining", said Hatfield who
sponsored the legislation in the Senate.
"This new reservation sets straight past injustices, gives
tribal members the chance to improve the quality of
their lives, and protects and promotes economic oppor
tunities around the entire area. The community as a
whole has done itself proud by working to put together
this compromise," said Representative Les AuCoin who
sponsored legislation in the U.S. House.
..."It was a great relief to get the bill signed and made
into law," said Mark Mercier, tribal chairman, who with
other members of the Tribal Council have spent almost
five years working to get a reservation established.
Kathryn Harrison said she had "tears of joy" when she
heard the reservation act was signed. "I though about
the treaties and promises that were made," said Harri
son. ..."I always felt it was our duty to regain land
again," she said.
The Grand Ronde Indian Reservation, established on September 9, 1988, is 9,811 acres.
The Act turns over to the Tribe all accrued timber
receipts beginning on the date of enactment of the Act..
Receipts from timber which has been removed from the
reservation area do not apply.
The Act applies the Memorandum of Agreement
between the Grand Ronde Tribes of the Department of
Interior. The MOA states that the Tribe will not export
timber, or compete in the local timber market for a
period of twenty years beginning on the day the act was
signed.
The Act does not provide any additional hunting,
fishing or trapping rights other than those already in
effect under the Consent Decree entered into on
January 12, 1987 between the State of Oregon and the
Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde.
The Tribal Council has developed a five year compre
hensive plan which will help guide tribal activities and
expenditures.
"This is the culmination of five years of work by the
tribe, the community, and the Congress, and it can
hardly be more satisfying than this," said AuCoin.
RESERVATION
CELEBRATION
OCT. 22, 1988
12:30 - 4:30 P.M
GRAND RONDE
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Confederated , Tribes of the
Grand Ronde Community of Oregon
Post Office Box 38
Grand Ronde, Oregon 97347
NOVEMBER 6, 1988
GENERAL COUNCIL MTG.
12NOON
NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION
U.S. POSTAGE PAID
PERMIT 2
GRAND RONDE, OREGON
ADDRESS CORRECTION REQUESTED
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