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About Smoke signals. (Grand Ronde, Or.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (April 15, 2020)
4 APRIL 15, 2020 Food Bank still providing boxes The Grand Ronde Food Bank – iskam mfkhmfk haws – is operated 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 automatically 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.” In reaction to the novel coronavirus outbreak, the Food Bank will be holding April food distributions from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Fridays only. “We are asking clients to not come for a food box if they are having any symptoms or concerned about their health,” Ambrose said. “We are going to limit our geographic service area to Sheridan to Otis on High- way 18 and Sheridan to Hebo on Highway 22. We are asking clients and volunteers to wash their hands immediately upon entry to the building. Our lobby is closed until further notice. “Food box distribution is happening outside while maintaining a safe distance between clients. We are sanitizing and keeping the food quar- antined for three days before distribution. Pre-made boxes are available on distribution days, limited to two days of food for two adults. Clients within our geographic service area are still welcome to visit us weekly.” People must check in 15 minutes before closing to receive a food box. If you need immediate assistance, call 211 or visit 211info.org. Those who are unable to pick up a food box can fill out an authorized representative form and that designated person can pick up a food box on your behalf. The authorization is good for one year. The Food Bank continues to seek volunteers to help with repacking food, putting food on the shelves, handing out food boxes, end-of-month inventory and picking up food donations at area stores. 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. 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. • Culture Committee meets at 5:30 p.m. the second Tuesday of the month at the Grand Ronde Food Bank/iskam mfkhmfk haws, 9675 Grand Ronde Road. Chair: Francene Ambrose. • Editorial Board meets monthly. The next meeting will be held virtually at 10 a.m. Friday, April 17. Chair: Siobhan Taylor. Contact: Editorial.Board@ grandronde.org. • Education Committee meets at 5:30 p.m. on the first Tuesday 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: Penny DeLoe. • Enrollment Committee meets quarterly in Room 204 of the Governance Center. Chair: Debi Anderson. • Fish & Wildlife Committee meets at 5:30 p.m. the second Tuesday of the month at the Natural Resources building off Hebo Road. Chair: Bryan Langley. • Health Committee meets at 10 a.m. the second Tuesday of the month in the Molalla Room of the Health & Wellness Center. Chair: Bernadine Shriver. • Housing Grievance Board meets at 3 p.m. the third Thursday of the month in the Housing Department conference room. Chair: Simone Auger. • Powwow Special Event Board meets monthly at noon at the Community Center. Dates vary. Contact Dana Ainam at 503-879-2037. Chair: Dana Ainam. • TERO Commission meets at 10 a.m. the first Monday of the month in the Employment Services building. Chair: Russell Wilkinson. • Timber Committee meets at 5 p.m. the second Thursday of the month at the Natural Resources building off Hebo Road. Interim Chair: Jon R. George. • Veterans Special Event Board meets at 5:30 p.m. the first Tuesday of the month in the old Elders Craft House. Chair: Rich VanAtta. To update information on this list, contact Publications Coordinator Dean Rhodes at 503-879-1463 or dean.rhodes@grandronde.org. Smoke Signals yesteryears a look back... 2015 – The new Grand Ronde Food Bank, iskam mfkhmfk haws, held a grand opening to commemorate the part- nership between the Tribe and Marion-Polk Food Share in building and operating the site. The Tribe built the new Food Bank structure, 2015 File photo which included 3,300 square feet of space to store produce, canned goods and frozen foods. Construction was funded by a $500,000 Housing & Urban Devel- opment block grant and a $204,179 Indian Housing block grant. Marion-Polk Food Share agreed to operate the pantry. 2010 – Tribal member Clint Folden started a new club that turned his horses into service animals for the community. “I’m trying to develop a program to address problems in the community,” Folden said. “I want to get kids plugged in to a sober activity where they feel like they’re doing something.” Folden had seven horses and his plan was to offer several tiers of opportunity for anyone in the community to work with horses as a way of learning new skills. 2005 – Tribal Elder Don Day was hammering a wedge into cedar logs behind the powwow arena. The logs were being split into planks that would eventually be used in the construction of a traditional plankhouse in Grand Ronde. 2000 – The Tribe’s new Elder Housing project construction was getting closer to becoming a reality. The area’s recent trend of nice weather helped keep the project going during the winter and it was set for completion in August. 1995 – The Tribe signed an agreement with the U.S. Depart- ment of Fish and Wildlife regarding the highly-publicized Nelson’s Checkermallow plant. The agreement stated that the Tribe would continue the upkeep of the plant in its new habitat. The plants were found growing in the path to the new Tribal casino and either had to be removed or bulldozed. Although the Tribe was under no legal obligation to transplant the Checkermallow, 299 were replanted. 1990 – A middle school Tribal youth group was established by JOM Coordinator Camille Van Vleet and Alcohol/Drug Prevention Educator Margaret Provost. The youth group’s main goals were to provide Tribal youth with positive activities, conduct drug and alcohol awareness education, and support cultural awareness and healthy lifestyles. Group members included Teresa Aaron, Chris Bailey, El- vin Butler, Jason Butler, Brad Blass, Anthony Henry, Chad Leno, Dustin Leno, Toby McClary, Jake McKnight, Jason Mercier, Daniel Mooney, Becky Murray and Matt Thomas. 1985 – Tribal member Roger Harrison won the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde logo contest. He was awarded $50 for his winning entry. “Spirit Mountain has always been a symbol and a historic landmark of the Grand Ronde Tribe to me, and the five eagle feathers represent the five major, remaining Tribes,” he said. Yesteryears is a look back at Tribal history in five-year in- crements through the pages of Smoke Signals. VOLUNTEERS NEEDED Sheridan, SW Polk and West Valley Fire Districts are recruiting volunteers for fire response, emergency medical response, and support functions. Please see our websites for volunteer applications and instructions. (Editor’s note: All committee and special event board meetings have been suspended during the Tribe’s limited shutdown in reaction to the coronavirus pandemic.) sheridanfd.org – swpolkfd.org – westvalleyfd.org