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MARCH 15, 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:
a look
back...
2016 – Lewis and Clark
College Professor Dr. Ste-
phen Dow Beckham traced
the “Trail of Tears” of the
Umpqua Tribal people that
occurred in January 1856.
His work helped shine a new
light on a period in Trib-
al history that was before
completely reliant on two 2016
File photo
detailed accounts of Indian
removals authored by non-Indians. It detailed the removal of the
Umpqua people before the removal of the Rogue River Valley people
from Table Rock the next month.
2011 – The Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde regained owner-
ship of more than 139 acres of its original reservation by purchasing
eight tax lots owned by the Rink family. “This is a big one,” said
Tribal Lands Manager Jan Reibach. “The Rink family purchased
the property after the Termination of the Tribe and now the Tribe
has purchased it back.” The purchase was the culmination of a dozen
years of discussion between the Tribe and Rink family.
2006 – Grand Ronde Tribal Chairwoman Cheryle A. Kennedy
joined Siletz Chairwoman Dee Pigsley and Warm Springs Chair-
man Ron Suppah Sr. in supporting future plans for the Clackamas
River hydroelectric project. Among the issues resolved were a plan
for improved fish and wildlife protection along with provisions for a
number of recreational activities.
2001 – The Oregon Senate voted to remove the word “squaw” from
the names of landmarks and public property in Oregon because of the
demeaning nature of the word. One of the two bills approved would
urge the Secretary of the Interior, the U.S. Board on Geographic
Names and the Oregon Geographic Names Board to remove the word
from various geographic areas and sites. Senate Democratic leader
Kate Brown, who sponsored both measures, said the word “squaw”
was derogatory and should no longer be used.
1996 – Tribal Council members honored Tribal member Marie
Schmidt with various gifts at the March General Council meeting in
honor of her service to the Tribe. She served on the Education Com-
mittee and as Tribal representative to the statewide committee, as
well as on the board of Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon. She also had
recently been honored at the Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians’
winter conference. Before retiring, Schmidt worked for 36 years at
the Bureau of Indian Affairs.
1991 – Dorothy Ledford was honored as the Nanitch Sahallie em-
ployee of the month. “I try to give 100 percent all of the time,” she
said. “I have always done that and I take pride in my work.” Ledford
served as the center’s housekeeping supervisor, and was respected
by her coworkers because of a “willingness to work hard and ability
to maintain a pleasant smile,” a Smoke Signals article stated.
Francene Ambrose.
• Editorial Board meets monthly. The next meeting will be held at 10 a.m. Friday,
March 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.
• 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: 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.)
Yesteryears is a look back at Tribal history in five-year in-
crements through the pages of Smoke Signals.