The Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde

The Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde The Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde is a sovereign Native American nation in north-central Oregon.
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This week our ceremonial fishers returned to tumwata (Willamette Falls) for the harvest of our 15 ceremonial salmon. Whi...
05/13/2026

This week our ceremonial fishers returned to tumwata (Willamette Falls) for the harvest of our 15 ceremonial salmon. While we are there for a specific purpose, our days at tumwata are not just about the fish - they are about connection to our ancestral home and providing for our community.

(Photo: Grand Ronde Tribal Member and ceremonial fisher, Nick LaBonte fishes from the rocks of Willamette Falls as part of the Tribe's ceremonial fishery.)

Some stories stay with you because of the people behind them.In this reflection, Lyle Cairdeas shares the process of cre...
05/06/2026

Some stories stay with you because of the people behind them.

In this reflection, Lyle Cairdeas shares the process of creating CYCLE: The Art of John Smith, an exhibit and catalog developed in close collaboration with John’s daughter, Crystal Smith.

The piece offers a glimpse into John’s life, his movement between places, and the deeply personal work he left behind, from paintings on pizza boxes to pieces layered with notes, memories, and meaning.

CYCLE: The Art of John Smith is currently on view at Chachalu Museum and Cultural Center through September 5, 2026.

Through conversation, trust, and time, this project became more than an exhibit. It became a way to honor a life, a relationship, and an artist whose work continues to speak.

Click the link to read more. https://chachalu.org/blog/2026/the-work-of-john-smith/

Today, on National Missing and Murdered Indigenous Peoples Awareness Day, we hold close to our hearts all of the familie...
05/05/2026

Today, on National Missing and Murdered Indigenous Peoples Awareness Day, we hold close to our hearts all of the families, communities, survivors, and loved ones impacted by the MMIP crisis.

We honor those who are missing, remember those whose lives were taken too soon, and stand with all who continue to search for answers, healing, justice, and change.

This day is a reminder that our people are deeply loved, deeply missed, and never forgotten. We will continue to advocate for awareness, accountability, and the protection of our community.

For more information on the MMIP crisis, please visit the resources on our Tribal Police webpage-https://www.grandronde.org/government/tribal-police/

05/05/2026

Over the last few weeks, we have watched the price of gas climb significantly. To help ease this burden for our members, Tribal Council has temporarily approved an additional $1.20 discount for all enrolled Grand Ronde Tribal Members at the Tribe’s gas station; the additional discount will be in effect for 90 days. This additional discount, when combined with the existing .30 cent discount, brings the total Tribal Member discount to $1.50 off per gallon of gas.

We hope that this action will help our Tribal Members deal with the financial burden of rising gas prices. The new discount will begin immediately and will run through Monday, August 3, 2026.

Today, community members, students, artists, educators, and Tribal representatives came together for the 5th annual Cama...
05/02/2026

Today, community members, students, artists, educators, and Tribal representatives came together for the 5th annual Camas Festival at Linfield University to celebrate both the cultural and ecological significance of camas, a plant that has nourished Indigenous communities since time immemorial.

Through presentations, cultural sharing, art, storytelling, and visits to the Cozine Creek camas patch, the day highlighted the deep relationships between people, plants, and place. Camas is more than a traditional food source, it represents stewardship, reciprocity, resilience, and the continuation of Indigenous knowledge across generations.

We are grateful for the partnership with Linfield University and for everyone who helped make today such a meaningful gathering. Events like this create opportunities to share knowledge, strengthen relationships, and help ensure these traditions and landscapes continue to thrive for future generations.

Thank you to all who joined us for such an incredible day in community.

Tribal elders gathered at Wapato Lake yesterday to plant Indigenous first foods and native plants in celebration of a ne...
04/30/2026

Tribal elders gathered at Wapato Lake yesterday to plant Indigenous first foods and native plants in celebration of a new chapter in the restoration of this landscape.

The newly restored garden area in the Wapato Lake National Wildlife Refuge, adjacent to the city of Gaston, near Portland, has officially been named ma’mBit, (creek people) honoring the Tualatin Kalapuya people whose village was once located along Wapato Creek. Their descendants, as members of the Grand Ronde Tribe, continue to uphold their legacy.

This ongoing restoration effort, carried out in partnership with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, has already seen the return of 20,000–30,000 wapato tubers back to the lakebed as native species are reintroduced to the landscape. Last year marked the beginning of restoration work in this section of the site, including the planting of camas, tarweed, oak trees, elderberry, and other culturally important plants.

Seeing these lands return to their natural ways is deeply meaningful. Through stewardship, partnership, and the guidance of our elders, these places continue to heal and reconnect to their history, culture, and future generations.

The record of forced relocations in our history is complex. There was not a single “Trail of Tears” for our Tribe; rathe...
04/23/2026

The record of forced relocations in our history is complex. There was not a single “Trail of Tears” for our Tribe; rather, multiple removals took place. Jennie Mackey (Riggs) and her mother were at Willamette Falls on the day of removal. Despite protests that their homelands lay across the Columbia River in Klickitat territory, they were taken along with the Clackamas, Tumwater, and others.

Jennie arrived at Grand Ronde as a teenager in April of 1856. She married Chief Solomon Riggs of the Umpqua Tribe in the last traditional wedding of the early Reservation era in 1867. They married again in a church in 1871 after the Indian Agent said their marriage was not legal.

Jennie was a Traditional Knowledge Keeper, she enjoyed telling ikanum during the winter, and she has many stories about her removal documented in Tribal Archives.

Jennie and Solomon Riggs had fourteen children, with many of their descendants enrolled Tribal Members today. To learn more about Jennie Mackey Riggs and her removal, read our story on her in this month's newsletter here- https://mailchi.mp/grandronde/grand-ronde-monthly-tribal-newsletter-april_2026

Address

9615 Grand Ronde Road
Grand Ronde, OR
97347

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 5:30pm
Tuesday 8am - 5:30pm
Wednesday 7:30am - 5:30pm
Thursday 7:30am - 5:30pm
Friday 7:30am - 5:30pm

Telephone

+15038795211

Website

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