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A Publication of the Grand Ronde Tribe
AUGUST 15, 1999
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OPENING DAY: Dennise Wheeler (left), Tim Holmes, and Mel Wheeler
organize Food Bank commodities. ' ' Photo by Tracy Dugan
By Tracy Dugan
rand Ronde residents in
need of emergency food as
sistance now have a place
to go in the community.
The Grand Ronde Food Bank
opened its doors on Monday, August
9. Located near the neighborhood
of Bunnsville, in the old sheriffs
substation, the Food Bank will be
open Monday, Wednesday, and Fri
day from 9 a.m. to noon.
The Food Bank is a project of the
Grand Ronde Community Resource
Center Board, which is made up of
local Grand Ronde residents inter
ested in providing services to the
community.
"This project has been a long time
in the making," said Tim Holmes,
board member and tribal member.
"And it wouldn't have happened
with out the support of a lot of folks."
Holmes said that applicants must
meet the guidelines for assistance,
and are eligible for one supply of
food every month.
"This is emergency assistance," he
said. "We help out families with a
three-day supply of food."
The food was purchased from
Yamhill Community Action Pro
gram (YCAP), who can allow the
Food Bank up to 5 percent of the
USDA food they qualify for.
The Food Bank also received fund
ing from the Grand Ronde Tribe, and
received a Community Fund Grant.
"Tribal Council has been very sup
portive of this program," said
Holmes. "They provided us with
start-up money and are letting us
lease this house, which is owned by
the Tribe."
The Blanche Fisher Foundation in
Portland was kind enough to donate
a FAX machine, answering machine,
and printer to the Food Bank as well.
In fact, a lot of community groups
have expressed an interest in help
ing with this project. The Grand
Ronde Pow-wow Committee volun
teered to hold a canned food drive
for the Food Bank on Saturday, Au
gust 21 at the Pow-wow grounds,
and will donate half of the parking
continued on page 6
affiemg Yoyund Grandfather dram
The drum has taken the Eagle Beak Singers through
out the West Coast in the last four years to sing and
have fun while tapping into timeless tradition.
By Oscar Johnson
Every week rehearsing Eagle
Beak Singers encircle the rotund
rawhide drum they fraternally re
fer to as "Grandfather," rapping out
the well-timed rhythms and inton
ing the soul-stirring songs that are
the very heartbeat of a pow-wow.
"We call our drum Grandfather
because of the way it was given to
us," says Eagle Beak singer, Shane
Harmon.
"The drum was something that
was a tool that was given to our
people in our times of need that help
us to survive," adds Bobby Mercier,
another group member. "Drumming
is the heartbeat of our people not
just our people here, but all over. We
all have different styles but we were
all given the drum."
But like Harmon and Mercier,
other Eagle Beak members includ
ing Richard SoHappy, Anthony
Quinelle, Dustin Harmon, Joe Hos
tler, Dorin Soliz, Tyrone Ike and
Plumin Wright, say there is more to
their musical motivation.
continued on page 4
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Eagle Beak Singers invite two youths (far right: Josh Holmes and
Raymond Duran) to practice with them. Photo by Oscar Johnson
Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde
Community of Oregon
9615 Grand Ronde Road
Grand Ronde, Oregon 97347
Address Service Requested
University of Oregon Library
Received on: 08-18-99
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SALEM, OR
PERMIT NO. 178
The unofficial results are in for the special BIA constitutional election
held on July 27 where members voted whether or not to amend the
Grand Ronde Enrollment criteria. The amendment passed by the
required two-thirds majority. The election won't be official until it can
be signed and approved by Portland BIA area director Stan Speaks.
THE UNOFFICIAL RESULTS ARE: 757 YES, 292 NO.