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About Smoke signals. (Grand Ronde, Or.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (June 1, 2020)
4 JUNE 1, 2020 Food Bank providing boxes on Fridays in June 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 COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic, the Food Bank will be holding June food distributions only from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Fridays. “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 on Friday, June 12. 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. (Editor’s note: All in-person committee and special event board meetings have been suspended during the Tribe’s limited shut- down in reaction to the coronavirus pandemic.) Smoke Signals yesteryears a look back... 2015 – After spending 25 years work- ing for the Tribe’s Natural Resources Department, Silviculture and Fire Pro- tection Program Manager Jeff Nepstad retired. Nepstad, 52, had served the Tribe almost half of his life and said he was proud of the work that was accom- plished during that time. The mission File photo of the Silviculture Program was to 2015 promote the Tribal tradition of being good stewards of the land and all natural resources by protecting and maintaining forest health and productivity for future use. 2010 – Approximately 200 people attended a four-day conference of the Affiliated Tribes of the Northwest Indians, which was held at Spirit Mountain Casino and sponsored by the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde. Although attendance was smaller than normal, Native leaders from the Obama administration and Native attorneys following federal legislation and judiciary activity, as well as leaders representing 27 Tribes from Alaska, California, Idaho, Nevada, Mon- tana, Oregon and Washington attended. Grand Ronde Tribal Council Chairwoman Cheryle A. Kennedy related the Tribe’s history to the group during her welcoming remarks. 2005 – Native American novelist and poet Sherman Alexie (Spo- kane) entertained a large crowd at Oregon State University. After- ward, he was interviewed by a Smoke Signals staff writer. Alexie had written several novels including “The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven,” “Reservation Blues” and the screenplay for “Smoke Signals.” “In case you came here to see a traditional Indian, you better leave now,” he joked at the start of his show. 2000 – Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber signed a ceremonial proclama- tion declaring American Indian Week at the State Capitol in Salem. Representatives from all nine federally recognized Oregon Tribes were at the signing. A reception immediately followed the signing ceremony. Kitzhaber said he had benefitted from his relationships with the Tribes during his years as governor. “The opportunity to get to know and learn from the sovereign Tribes in the state has been one of the best parts of this experience,” he said. 1995 – An expansion and relocation of Tribal offices was under- way after the Tribe purchased and remodeled a two-story modular building. It would be used by Spirit Mountain Development Corp. as a training center as well as house the Small Business Development and Education program offices. To make room for Spirit Mountain Casino, the Natural Resources Department was relocated to a parcel of land on Hebo Road. 1990 – Tribal member Andrew Jenness was selected to receive an Office of Multicultural Affairs Recognition Award for academic excellence. The awards were established to honor the contributions made by university students through leadership and academic per- formance. Nominations came from faculty or administrators in an effort to give appropriate recognition to minority students for their accomplishments. 1985 – The Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde announced its first annual powwow would be held Aug. 10-11 at Grand Ronde Elemen- tary School. On the agenda was a traditional feast, games, overnight camping and raffles. A craft table and softball tournament also were scheduled. Volunteers were sought to help make the powwow a suc- cess. “We will all have to rally together, and dig down and do what we can to make this a success,” a Smoke Signals article stated. Yesteryears is a look back at Tribal history in five-year in- crements through the pages of Smoke Signals. West Valley Fire District fire levy passes The West Valley Fire District fire levy was approved 1,113-587 during the May 19 primary election. Measure 36-203 asked voters to approve a levy that would cost $1.06 per $1,000 of assessed value. A person with a house valued at $150,000 would pay an estimated $160 a year. The levy will collect approximately $350,000 annually starting on July 1 for an estimated five-year total of $1.765 million. It will fund additional firefighters and paramedics, as well as purchasing a new ambulance. Supporters of the measure point out that a 20-year general obligation bond was paid off in January 2019 and it reduced the tax rate by 59 cents per $1,000 of assessed valuation. So property owners will only see a 47-cent increase in their property tax rate.