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NOVEMBER 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 a continuing reaction to the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic,
the Food Bank will hold November 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 is TBD, using the Zoom telecon-
ference application. Chair: Mia Prickett. Contact: Editorial.Board@grandronde.org.
• Education Committee meets at 5:30 p.m. on the first Tuesday of the month in the
a look
back...
2016 – The Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde decided not to
seek a Supreme Court review of a U.S. Court of Appeals ruling that
allowed the Cowlitz Tribe to keep its new 152-acre Reservation and
continue building a casino 15 miles north of the Portland-Vancouver
metropolitan area. The ruling handed down by the Court of Appeals
rejected arguments made by the Grand Ronde Tribe and Clark Coun-
ty, Wash., during a March 18 hearing held in Washington, D.C. Tribal
member and lobbyist Justin Martin said the change of plans occurred
because the Tribe decided to focus on other economic opportunities
in the Portland area.
2011 – The Tribe’s plank-
house, achaf-hammi, was
feted with a first anniversary
celebration that included a
dinner of traditionally cooked
lamprey, salmon and elk
stew. The Grand Ronde Ca-
noe Family danced, sang and
drummed to commemorate
the event. The plankhouse
File photo
celebration included a full 2011
day of sharing, visiting and celebrating the Grand Ronde community.
2006 – The Tribe began building a new fish weir in the Yamhill
River in an effort to accurately identify and track the fish population.
For the past three years, the Tribal Natural Resources Department
had put up temporary fish weirs to count the number of steelhead and
Coho swimming up the south fork of the Yamhill River to spawn. The
weir would allow them to perform this task in a more efficient way
and also implant transmitters to track migration patterns.
2001 – Tribal member Tim Holmes won the 2001 Governor’s Award
from the Oregon Disability Commission. Holmes served as the chair-
man of the State Rehabilitation Council and acted as the represen-
tative of the Native American Vocational Rehabilitation Program.
He also was chair of the Grand Ronde Tribal Housing Authority and
trustee at the Blanche Fisher Foundation.
1996 – Several Tribal youth were honored at an awards banquet
luncheon held at Spirit Mountain Casino for their participation in the
first-ever Summer Youth Employment program, which was started in
an effort to help young people who were looking to earn extra money
during the summer and gain experiences in whatever career field they
were interested in. Tribal youth who received awards during the banquet
were Courtney Galligher, Marissa Leno, Misty Carl, J.R. Jones, Brian
Krehbiel, Nick Bailey, Manny Mercier, Bobby Mercier and Ben Bishop.
1991 – Rebecca Crocker, granddaughter of Wilson Bobb Sr., was
selected as the new Adult and Family Services JOBS Program coor-
dinator. The program assisted Tribal members who resided in the
six county service area and the program provided assistance in ed-
ucation, job skills training, readiness, development and placement.
The program also paid for child care during attendance of educational
classes and job training.
Yesteryears is a look back at Tribal history in five-year in-
crements through the pages of Smoke Signals.
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
‘We encourage
everyone to join us’
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 Tuesday 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.)
CELEBRATION continued
from front page
Tribal Communications Director
Sara Thompson said. “While the
COVID-19 pandemic has forced
us to hold our annual celebration
virtually for the second straight
year, we are still looking forward
to gathering with our family and
friends to commemorate this day
and those that have gotten us here.”
There also will be a virtual raffle
held at 10 a.m.
“Just like last year, every Grand
Ronde Tribal member will auto-
matically be entered into the raffle
and the raffle will be broken down
into various age categories,” the
Facebook post said. “We encourage
everyone to join us.”
On Nov. 22, 1983, President Ron-
ald Reagan signed House Resolution
3885 restoring the Grand Ronde
Tribe, which had been terminated 29
years earlier, to federal recognition.
His signature on the bill officially
ended the dark time of Termination.
Every year since, the Tribe has
held a celebration that includes a
meal, giveaways, speeches, danc-
ing, drumming, singing and a Res-
toration Powwow. Approximately
200 Tribal members, family, friends
and elected officials traveled to
Grand Ronde in 2019 for the last
in-person event, which was held in
the Tribal gym. 