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OCTOBER 1, 2020
Smoke Signals
Food Bank news yesteryears
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 hold October food distributions 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
limiting our geographic service area to Sheridan to Otis on Highway
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 quarantined 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 is continuing the Farm Share Rx program with 35
farm shares being distributed from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesdays. It
is a first-come, first-served distribution until the shares are depleted.
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.
The Farmers to Families food box distributions that were occurring
on Tuesdays in Grand Ronde have been discontinued until a new dis-
tributor is set up. Please follow the Food Bank on Facebook for updates
about how and when distributions will start again.
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
• 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 at 10 a.m. Friday, Oct. 23,
using the Zoom conferencing program. 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
2015 – Spirit Mountain Community Fund topped $67 million in
giving. Since its inception in 1997, the charitable arm of the Con-
federated Tribes of Grand Ronde had awarded 2,214 grants totaling
more than $67 million to area nonprofits. Tribal member Kathleen
George, the Community Fund’s director, welcomed grant recipients
to Chachalu Museum & Cultural Center, where the third-quarter
grant distribution was held. During the ceremony, the fund distrib-
uted 43 grants totaling more than $1.8 million.
2010 – The Tribal plankhouse
grand opening was a three-day
event that represented not only
a new cultural landmark for the
Tribe, but individual growth
in impressive ways for Tribal
members. Tribal member and
Language and Culture Special-
ist Bobby Mercier took the lead
in the plankhouse creation.
“Bobby’s a pretty good leader for
the young people,” said Tribal
File photo
Elder Margaret Provost, who 2010
led the Tribe’s successful Res-
toration effort that culminated in 1983. “It’s very hard to organize
young people.”
2005 – Housing construction was visible at the Tribe’s new 20-acre
site south of Tyee Road, which would include 72 mixed-income units.
“They could come as fast as a house a day,” Development Construc-
tion Coordinator Duane Hussey said. “All of the road bases are in.
All of the sewer lines are in. Fifty percent of the water lines are in.”
The construction plan included setting up a plant right on site to
build the wood-framed structures, and 50 homes had been complet-
ed so far. The project also would include 12 one-bedroom units, two
five-bedroom units and eight four-bedroom units.
2000 – Grand Ronde Housing Director Linda Layden was named
Indian Health Authority’s Executive Director of the Year. She re-
ceived the honor at the Northwest Indian Housing Association’s
annual meeting and awards banquet in Port Angeles, Wash. Layden
had served as Tribal Housing Executive Director since 1996. “I was
shocked,” she said. “And I was really pleased.”
1995 – Tribal members were invited to enjoy the very first look
inside the new Spirit Mountain Casino during a special open house.
Informal tours of the 90,000-square-foot facility were planned so
that Tribal members could view the glass-domed rotunda, 21-foot
ceilings, and jackpot sounds and light displays. Some of the more
elaborate displays included an exploding Mount Saint Helens and
Spruce Goose airplane that took off overhead. A highlight was
viewing the twice life-sized bronze statue depicting historic Tribal
member Martha Jane Sands, which would greet visitors at the main
entrance to the casino.
1990 – Tribal Council was in the process of acquiring four modular
units for the Tribe to move into so it would be possible to vacate the
Manor building. “We hope to be moved into the modular units some-
time in November,” Tribal Chairman Mark Mercier said. “About two
years ago, the Tribe considered the option of purchasing the manor
building. We had an architectural study conducted, and the finding
was that it would cost $250,000 to renovate it into usable office space.”
1985 – Carol Terp joined the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde
as a Community Health nurse. She was available for home visits,
blood pressure monitoring and general health information.
Yesteryears is a look back at Tribal history in five-year in-
crements through the pages of Smoke Signals.
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 Re-
sources 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 committee and special event board in-person meetings have been
suspended during the Tribe’s reaction to the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic.)
a look
back...
AMERICAN INDIAN TEACHER PROGRAM