S MOKE S IGNALS
JANUARY 1, 2016
Food Bank provides
boxes, seeks help
If you receive SNAP, TANF, SSI or LIHEAP assistance, you au-
tomatically qualify for assistance at the Grand Ronde Food Bank,
9675 Grand Ronde Road.
No one will be turned away in need of a food box.
Upcoming food box distribution dates will be 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Saturday, Jan. 9; 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday, Jan. 15; 2 to 6 p.m.
Wednesday, Jan. 20; and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday, Jan. 29.
The Food Bank will be closed for New Year’s Day and on Martin
Luther King Jr. Day on Monday, Jan. 18
Those who are unable to pick up a food box may fi ll out an autho-
rized representative form and that person can pick up a food box
on your behalf. The authorization is good for one year.
The Grand Ronde Food Bank – iskam mfkhmfk haws – is run by
Marion-Polk Food Share, which has been leading the fi ght to end hunger
since 1987 because no one should be hungry.
“It takes a community to fi ght local hunger,” says Food Bank Co-
ordinator Francene Ambrose. “Your gift of time and talent means
so much to individuals, families and children who are struggling.
We are looking for assistance in repacking food, putting food on the
shelves, handing out food boxes on distribution days and end-of-
the-month inventory. Groups are welcome and other opportunities
are available.”
All volunteers are asked to attend annual training. The manda-
tory training is required every calendar year. The next training is
set for 10 a.m. to noon Friday, Jan. 8, at the Education Building
training room and covers safe food handling, non-discrimination
and warehouse safety.
Call on non-distribution days to ensure someone is available to as-
sist you. You also can sign up for a monthly e-mail for the Food Bank
calendar and events, as well as follow the Food Bank on Facebook.
Contact Ambrose at 503-879-3663 or at fambrose@marionpolk-
foodshare.org for more information or to volunteer. n
3
Oregon Board of Education
adopts Tribal fl ag rules
The Oregon Board of Education adopted rules on displaying sovereign
Tribal governmental fl ags in public schools during its Dec. 10 meeting.
The rules say that upon request from an Oregon sovereign Tribal gov-
ernment, a fl ag representing the sovereign Tribal government must be
displayed on, near or within a school building under the control of the
school district board during school hours.
The rule gives the local school district the right to determine the location
of the fl ag in consultation with the requesting sovereign Tribal government
and prohibits the school district from charging for displaying the fl ag.
The rules were prompted by the recent controversy of placing the Grand
Ronde Tribal fl ag in the Willamina High School gym.
The Willamina School Board initially balked at the request and one
member of the board suggested charging the Tribe to hang the fl ag.
However, after establishing a policy, the Willamina School Board voted
to allow the Grand Ronde Tribal fl ag to be hung in the high school gym,
which occurred in November. n
Offi cial Tribal Facebook pages
• Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde:
www.facebook.com/CTGRgov
• Grand Ronde Tribal Council:
www.facebook.com/TheConfederatedTribesOfGrandRondeTribalCouncil
• Grand Ronde Higher Education:
www.facebook.com/grand.r.ed
• Grand Ronde Youth Education:
www.facebook.com/CTGRYouthEducation
• Spirit Mountain Community Fund:
www.facebook.com/SpiritMountainCommunityFund
• Grand Ronde Station:
www.facebook.com/GrandRondeStation
• Grand Ronde Royalty: www.facebook.com/CTGRRoyalty
• Veterans Special Event Board:
www.facebook.com/pages/Veterans-Board-of-the-Confederated-Tribes-of-
the-Grand-Ronde-Community
• Community Garden: www.facebook.com/GrandRondeCommunityGarden
• Grand Ronde Food Bank: www.facebook.com/GrandRondeFoodBank
Clothes Closet open Monday, Friday
The Clothes Closet is open from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday and
Friday on the Tribal campus near the Elders Activity Center at the
end of Blacktail Drive.
It accepts clothes, small appliances, small pieces of furniture, elec-
tronics and household goods that are clean and in good condition.
It does not accept books, large TVs or large furniture, but there is a
community board where people can post those items.
Donations are accepted during regular business hours.
For more information or emergency clothes, contact Lori Walk-
er-Hernandez at 559-847-7565 or Daniele Powley at 971-241-6170. n
Committee & Special Event
Board meeting days and times
Below is the most current information on the meeting days and times for
Tribal Committees and Special Event Boards:
• Ceremonial Hunting Board meets as needed. Chair: Marline Groshong.
• Cultural Trust Board meets as needed at Chachalu Museum & Cultural
Center. Chair: Perri McDaniel.
• Culture Committee meets at 1 p.m. the fi rst Wednesday of the month at
Chachalu Museum & Cultural Center. Chair: Betty Bly.
• Education Committee meets at 5:15 p.m. on the fi rst Monday of the month
in the Adult Education building. Chair: Tammy Cook.
• Elders Committee meets at 10 a.m. the third Wednesday of the month in
the Elders Activity Center. Chair: Julie Duncan.
• Enrollment Committee meets quarterly in Room 204 of the Governance
Center. Chair: Robert Schmid.
• Fish & Wildlife Committee meets at 5:30 p.m. the second Tuesday of the
month at the Natural Resources building off Hebo Road. Chair: Harold Lyon.
• Health Committee meets at 10 a.m. the second Wednesday of the month
in the Health & Wellness Center. Chair: Patti Tom-Martin.
• Powwow Special Event Board will resume meeting in January at the
Community Center. Chair: Dana Ainam.
• Social Services Committee meets at 3 p.m. the third Wednesday of the
month in the Social Services conference room. Chair: Alan Ham.
• Timber Committee meets at 5 p.m. the second Thursday of the month at
the Natural Resources building off Hebo Road. Chair: Bob Mercier.
• Veterans Special Event Board meets at 5 p.m. the fi rst Tuesday of the
month in the Community Center. Chair: Steve Bobb Sr.
To update information on this list, contact Publications Coordinator Dean
Rhodes at 503-879-1463 or dean.rhodes@grandronde.org.
ATTENTION
TRIBAL MEMBERS
COMMITTEE AND SPECIAL EVENT BOARD VACANCIES
The following Committees and Special Event Boards have vacant
positions.
Powwow SEB
Election Board
Timber Committee
Social Services Committee
Health Committee
1 Vacancy
1 Vacancy for an alternate
1 Vacancy
1 Vacancy
2 Vacancies
1 Vacancy
Please send completed applications to Stacia Martin,
9615 Grand Ronde Road, Grand Ronde, OR 97347.
Tribal Offi ce Closures
Tribal offi ces will be closed on Friday, Jan. 1, 2016, in observance
of New Year's Day. Offi ces also will be closed on Monday, Jan. 18, in
observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.