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About Smoke signals. (Grand Ronde, Or.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 1, 2017)
S moke S ignals SEPTEMBER 1, 2017 Tribal Council approves grant applications By Dean Rhodes Smoke Signals editor Tribal Council approved two grant applications, a request for proposals and a Housing De- partment agreement during its Wednesday, Aug. 23, meeting. The first grant application will seek $118,845 in federal Low In- come Home Energy Assistance Pro- gram funding to help lower-income Tribal member households in the seven-county service area, which includes Clackamas County, and other Natives with heating and cooling assistance, weatherization projects and crisis assistance. Last year, the program served 166 households. The second grant application will seek $57,885 from the National Park Service to help fund the Tribal Historic Preservation Office. The request for proposal would allow the Health & Wellness Cen- ter to start the process to replace its Pharmacy data management system, which has reached its end of life in terms of practicality for the Tribe. The software being used dates back to the early 2000s. The request would cost between $19,000 and $45,000. The Housing Department agree- ment is between the Grand Ronde Tribe and 10 other Tribes in Oregon and California to use Tribal enroll- ment data to determine annual Indian Housing Block Grant fund- ing. By using enrollment data, the Grand Ronde Tribe gains $321,241 in housing funding. In other action, Tribal Council ap- proved the enrollment of one infant into the Tribe and OK’d paying up to $30,000 in annual membership dues to the National Congress of American Indians and re-appointed Tribal Council member Brenda Tu- omi as the Tribe’s primary delegate. Also included in the Aug. 23 Tribal Council packet were autho- rizations to proceed that: • Authorized remodeling of the Tribal Cemetery Sanctuary stor- age area to add a restroom with an in-ground holding tank. Esti- mated cost is $35,000. • Directed staff to move forward with an amendment to the Enroll- ment Ordinance to return final decisions on loss of membership cases to Tribal Council; • Directed staff to move forward with an amendment to the Enroll- ment Ordinance that would allow Tribal members and applicants to view electronic versions of docu- ments in their lineal ancestor’s enrollment files; • And directed staff to move for- ward with an amendment to the Enrollment Ordinance that would allow Member Services to provide either a letter of descendancy or certificate of descendancy and let the descendant decide which one they want. The entire meeting can be viewed on the Tribe’s website at www.gran- dronde.org by clicking on the News tab and then Video. MARRIAGES IN TRIBAL COURT Tribal Court is now issuing marriage licenses and is able to perform marriage ceremonies for a filing fee of $40. For questions regarding sched- uling, please contact the Tribal Court at 503-879-2303. FUNDRAISER The Willamina V.F.W. Aux. #4211 is sponsoring an evening of Bingo and Auctions. Proceeds will go to Iskam MǝkʰMǝk-Haws (Grand Ronde Food Pantry) We will have BINGO, silent and oral auctions. (ages 10 and up may play with an adult) When: Thursday, Sept. 21, 2017 Where: V.F.W. Hall - 771 NE Main Street, Willamina, OR Doors Open at 5:30 p.m., Games start at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $10 for 1 main game packet of 10 games To Purchase BINGO Pre-sale Tickets please contact: Vickie Rober 503-843-7444 / Debra Nolen 503-879-2409 / or Francene Ambrose 503-879-3663. Groups form Helping Hands The Clothes Closet, iskam mfkhmfk haws, Empowerment Out- reach Ministries, Lighthouse Church and A Cause For Paws have joined forces in an effort to support local families. The group, named Grand Ronde Helping Hands, seeks to bring together those who are supporting families in Grand Ronde to share services and resources, and create a resource guide. Helping Hands’ next meeting will be 10:30 a.m. Monday, Sept. 11, at iskam mfkhmfk haws, 9675 Grand Ronde Road. If you provide any type of services to families in the community, consider attending. The group is looking for meal site calendars, food box sites, clothes closets, showers and laundry services. There also will be a collection day at iskam mfkhmfk haws from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 9. Donations are being sought of personal care items, men’s clothing, school supplies, socks and pet items, as well as tents, sleeping bags, pillows, warm blankets, rain gear and heavy jackets to restock the shelves. Helping Hands continues to seek a volunteer with graphic arts skills to create a logo that represents all of the organizations. The logo would be used on business cards, a banner and possibly a website, and the artist possibly would receive a small honorarium. For more information, contact Food Bank Coordinator Francene Ambrose at 503-879-3663 or by e-mail at fambrose@marionpolkfood- share.org. Are you frustrated with your diabetes control? Do you have questions about diabetes? Do you need help managing your diabetes? If so… Call the Medical Clinic today at 503-879-2002 To schedule an individual diabetes education appointment Food Bank provides boxes, seeks help The Grand Ronde Food Bank – iskam mfkhmfk haws – is oper- ated by Marion-Polk Food Share, which has been leading the fight to end hunger since 1987 because no one should be hungry. Recipients of SNAP, TANF, SSI or LIHEAP assistance automat- ically 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. “We believe that everyone deserves to have enough to eat,” Food Bank Coordinator Francene Ambrose says. “You are welcome to get a food box at each of our regular weekly distributions. 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, Sept. 9; • 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday, Sept. 15; • 2 to 6 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 20; • And 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday, Sept. 29. The Food Bank will be closed on Monday, Sept. 4, which is Labor Day. Those who are unable to pick up a food box can fill out an authorized representative form and that person can pick up a food box on your behalf. The authorization is good for one year. Farm Share RX will continue to provide fresh fruit and vegetables to participants to improve their overall health. Participants were identified by their medical providers and distributions will continue through Tuesday, Sept. 19, from noon to 2 p.m. “Preserving Tomatoes and Salsa” will be held from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 21. Participants will learn the basics of can- ning tomatoes in the hands-on class. The Food Bank also will be holding a Bingo Fundraiser at the Wil- lamina Veterans of Foreign Wars post on Thursday, Sept. 21, with doors opening at 5:30 p.m. The Food Bank continues to seek volunteers to help with repacking food, putting food on the shelves, handing out food boxes and end- of-month inventory. In addition, volunteers are being sought for the Fresh Alliance program and Salem Harvest. Call to ensure someone is available to assist. People 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. The Food Bank is an equal opportunity provider. Call Ambrose at 503-879-3663 or contact her at fambrose@marion- polkfoodshare.org for more information or to volunteer. 5