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NOVEMBER 15, 2021
Food Bank news
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 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. The Food Bank will be closed on Thursday, Nov. 25,
in observance of the Thanksgiving holiday.
“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.
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, Nov.
19, using the Zoom teleconference application. Chair: Mia Prickett. Contact: Editorial.
Board@grandronde.org.
Smoke Signals
yesteryears
a look
back...
2016 – The Tribe’s Natural
Resources Department held
its first camas and yampah
harvest from the Tribal Plant
Materials Program at its Hebo
Road office. Approximately 15
Tribal members and employ-
ees gathered to dig 200 camas
and 200 yampah bulbs out of
the Natural Resources’ raised 2016
File photo
plant beds. “Camas was the
primary plant food of our ancestors,” said Tribal Historic Preservation
Office Manager David Harrelson. “Most people recognize it because
it has this beautiful blue flower. The bulbs themselves are harvested
and put in an earthen oven and cooked for a long period of time. Eat-
ing camas becomes possible after you cook it for two to three days.”
2011 – Grand Ronde Tribal Chairwoman Cheryle A. Kennedy
pledged a $4 million contribution in Tribal money to help fund the
first phase of construction of the Newberg-Dundee bypass at a Mc-
Minnville City Club luncheon. The Tribal funds, originally designated
in its gaming compact with the state of Oregon to help build a new
interchange at the convergence of state highways 18 and 22, will
help Yamhill County and three of its city governments fund their $20
million share of the project.
2006 – Tribal member April Campbell returned to Grand Ronde
to serve as the Education Department manager. She served as an
education specialist at the Tribe from 2000 to 2005. Campbell said
her goals were to focus on incorporating technology into all education
programs and see the Higher Education Department work with Youth
Education programs so that students would be more aware of the
various services that were offered.
2001 – Tribal Elder and former Tribal Council Chairwoman Kathryn
Harrison was honored with a Tom McCall award at the eighth annual
Stop Oregon Litter and Vandalism Citizenship Awards Banquet in
Portland. McCall was an influential Oregon governor who achieved
national fame and the award honored outstanding contributions from
people who “mirrored spirit and service” to Oregonians.
1996 – Tribal Council members met with Life Flight Network rep-
resentatives to discuss the possibility of installing a helipad at the
Tribe’s new health clinic, which was currently under construction. The
meeting included explanations of the Life Flight Global Positioning
Project and how the Tribe might be able to participate in helping to
transport injured people to hospitals from Oregon’s rural areas.
1991 – Michael Larsen was selected as the Community Encourager
for the planning of the Tribe’s health and human services clinic. Larsen
would act as a liaison between the Tribal community and health care
and planning departments to find out what kind of health care was
most needed in the clinic. “I would like to say I’m very excited about
becoming involved with my people and I’m looking forward to being
very helpful and informative on this project,” he said.
Yesteryears is a look back at Tribal history in five-year incre-
ments through the pages of Smoke Signals.
• 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
cultural
education
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 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
A re you missing out on what Cultural
Education has to offer? Follow us on Facebook
to get detailed class information, photos from
events, and updates.
Plus, check out the tribal calendar for a quick
glance of upcoming events and classes.
Open to Tribal and Community members.
Join us!
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.)
Search Facebook for Grand Ronde Cultrual Education
Tribal Calendar // www.grandronde.org/tribal-calendar
