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About Smoke signals. (Grand Ronde, Or.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (March 1, 2021)
4 MARCH 1, 2021 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 automat- ically 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 March food box distributions on Fridays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. “We are asking clients to not come for a food box if they are hav- ing 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. 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@mari- onpolkfoodshare.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, March 12 and 19, 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. a look back... 2016 – Tribal Elder and the Tribe’s oldest member Pearl Lyon celebrated her 104th birthday at the Elders Activ- ity Center. She lived to 105 years of age, walking on in November 2017. In 2012 at the time of her 100th birth- day, she had 37 grandchil- dren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren. Her 2016 File photo birthday was celebrated every February with a party at the Elders Activity Center. 2011 – Tribal Elder Lottie Child hosted a Celebration of Life during her battle with terminal cancer. Lines formed on both sides of a hos- pital bed set up in the Tribal gymnasium. Two-and-a-half hours later, Child, who was resting in the bed, was still exchanging greetings and stories, excited about the celebration she insisted upon having while she was still alive. Child worked for many years as a dealer at Spirit Mountain Casino. She said her fondest memories went beyond her hobbies of hunting, fishing, cooking, beading and leather work. “It’s all the love I have for my people,” she said. “I always wanted to be a part of our people. They’re still my family. A lot don’t understand what our people are all about.” 2006 – The Tribe helped the McCormick and Baxter Superfund site cleanup in Portland Harbor with the planting of more than 10,000 trees and shrubs. “We want to let you know that this site is in the homelands of the Grand Ronde people,” Tribal Council Chairwoman Cheryle A. Kennedy said. She added that the Grand Ronde people were “astonished to what degree contamination affected the lands and peoples that lived here.” 2001 – A new education building was on the horizon after several years of discussion. “You know, I’d say since 1993 we’ve been talking about getting a new education building,” Education Manager Marion Mercier said. “I’m happy for this.” The almost 25,000-square-foot com- plex would include four buildings and cost approximately $6.8 million. The buildings would include spaces for Youth Education, preschool, a library and gymnasium. 1996 – Tribal Council voted to approve a Tribal Housing Ordinance to establish the Grand Ronde Tribal Housing Authority that would be charged with the development and implementation of Tribal housing programs to assist members in need of securing safe places to live. “There is a shortage of decent homes in the Tribe’s service area at prices and rents that are affordable to many Tribal members. This shortage cannot be alleviated by the private sector,” a Smoke Signals article stated. 1991 – Tribal member Shonn Leno won the 2A high school state wrestling championship by defeating opponent Ryan Henry of Dayton 2-0. Leno, a sophomore at Willamina High School, pulled off a victory in the 106-pound weight class by using a reversal technique to defeat his opponent. “At the end of the match I just kept thinking, ‘state championship,’ ” he said. Yesteryears is a look back at Tribal history in five-year incre- ments through the pages of Smoke Signals. • 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. VOLUNTEERS NEEDED • Fish & Wildlife Committee meets at 5:30 p.m. the second Tuesday of the month at the Natural Resources building off Hebo Road. Chair: Harold Lyon. • 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. • 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.) 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. sheridanfd.org – swpolkfd.org – westvalleyfd.org