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DECEMBER 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 continuing COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic, the Food
Bank will hold December food distributions from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday,
Dec. 4 and 11, and there will be holiday box distributions on Saturday, Dec.
19, and Wednesday, Dec. 30. The Food Bank will be closed Christmas week,
Dec. 21-25, and on Thursday and Friday, Dec. 31-Jan. 1.
“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 lim-
iting 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 quaran-
tined 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. There will be
no distribution on Dec. 23.
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 distributor
is found. 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@marionpolk-
foodshare.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, Dec.
11, 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 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 4 p.m. the third Thursday of the month in the
Housing Department conference room. Chair: Simone Auger.
a look
back...
2015 – A large contingent of Grand Ronde Tribal members partici-
pated in a long-awaited flag hanging ceremony during dual assembles
held at Willamina High School. The Tribal flag was placed next to
the Oregon flag, U.S. flag and POW/MIA flag near the scoreboard
in the school’s gym. “It is an honor what is happening here today,”
Tribal Council member Jon A. George said. “A lot of the reason we
wanted to hang our flag in your school has to do with sovereignty.
Our sovereignty means that we are a government within a nation-
al government. We have partnerships and friendships with other
governments.”
2010 – The Tribe celebrated
its 27th anniversary of Resto-
ration with a ceremony, meal
and powwow. The celebration
began in the Tribe’s new
plankhouse and moved to
the Tribal gymnasium for the
meal and powwow. “This is
the greatest celebration that
the Confederated Tribes of
Grand Ronde can ever have,”
Tribal Chairwoman Cheryle
A. Kennedy said. “Against
all odds, a new nation was
created on that day, and that
new nation is us.”
2005 – Spirit Mountain
Community Fund celebrated
$30 million in giving with a
party at the new Salem Con- 2010
File photo
vention Center. “Who would
have thought that in so short a time, we could have accomplished
so much?” said Community Fund Board Director Kris Olson. “Lives
have been transformed. Hope has been restored.” Since 1997, its first
year of giving, the Community Fund awarded 127 grants to arts and
culture, 309 grants to education, 66 to environmental preservation,
163 to health, 14 to historic preservation, six to problem gambling
and 77 to public safety.
2000 – A groundbreaking ceremony was held for the future home
of the Grand Ronde Veterans Memorial at the Tribal Governance
Center. Approximately 100 supporters attended the event, which
was led by the Grand Ronde Honor Guard bringing in the colors.
“There would be no freedom in America without veterans,” Veterans
Memorial Committee Consultant Gene Hancock said. “These are
exciting times for the Confederated Tribes because this memorial is
moving from the conceptual stage to reality.”
1995 – The Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde announced it
would establish a Housing Authority within the next several months.
The authority would be similar to a nonprofit corporation and would
require a Board of Commissioners to oversee all housing management
and operations for the Tribe.
1990 – Tribal Council Chairman Mark Mercier reported that the
Tribal government was preparing to move its administrative and
government functions on to Tribal land. “Naturally, our expectations
for a move-in date have come and gone, and we are rapidly regrouping
and targeting other dates,” he said. The most recent schedule update
was to have modular buildings on the property, with utilities hooked
up and the moving complete by mid-December.
1985 – The Tribe extended its congratulations to Tribal members
who were given awards in football, volleyball and cross country at
an annual fall dessert banquet at Willamina High School. Those
who lettered on the varsity football team were Chris Leno, Mike
Colton and Steve Bobb Jr. Melanie Smith received a letter for the
junior varsity volleyball team and Gregg Leno earned an award for
the cross country team.
Yesteryears is a look back at Tribal history in five-year in-
crements through the pages of Smoke Signals.
• 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 committee and special event board in-person meetings have been
suspended during the Tribe’s reaction to the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic.)
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