What started as a small group, soon became a community effort. And they fought to restore their identity. They fought to restore recognition of their people. The group began a fight that became a decade-long struggle. After nearly 20 years of termination, a small group of Grand Ronde tribal members began what would become one of the greatest achievements of the Grand Ronde people.
Many tribal members left the area to find a better life, and many members struggled to find their identity.
This meant they would no longer be recognized as a Native American tribe, and they would no longer receive federal funding for programs to help their people. In 1954, The Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde were terminated by the Federal Government.