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.
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