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.
