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JUNE 1, 2022
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 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.”
The Food Bank will hold June food box distributions from 10 a.m.
to 2 p.m. Fridays. In addition, there is a light food box (mostly bread
and produce) distribution from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesdays.
People must check in 15 minutes before closing to receive a food
box on both days. 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 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. 
LIHEAP program is open
The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, which helps
pay heating bills, is currently open. The program is available to
Tribal members who have not received regular LIHEAP assistance
as of Oct. 1, 2021, through Feb. 1, 2022, and/or have not received
LIHEAP assistance through other agencies. LIHEAP is a first-come,
first-served program and income criteria applies. Eligible Tribal
members must reside in the six-county service area or Clackamas
County. For more information, contact Emergency Assistance Pro-
grams Coordinator Tammy Garrison at 503-879-2077 or tammy.
garrison@grandronde.org. 
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 10 a.m. Thursday, June
16, via the Zoom teleconferencing 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
Smoke Signals
yesteryears
a look
back...
2017 – Tribal children
took center stage at the
State Capitol during the
Legislative Commission on
Indian Services/Nine Tribes
Spring Celebration. Tribal
children in the K-3 and Lilu
programs in Grand Ronde
performed two dances and
2017
File photo a song, and five members
of the Grand Ronde Youth
Council accompanied Tribal Council Vice Chairwoman Cheryle A.
Kennedy when she spoke to approximately 200 people gathered
under the Capitol’s Rotunda. The theme of the Spring Celebration
was “Sharing Our Traditions: Teaching Our Children to Build Strong
Tribal Nations.”
2012 – The annual Grand Ronde Memorial Day ceremony focused
on Vietnam-era veterans with Tribal Council Vice Chair Reyn Leno
and Tribal Council member Steve Bobb Sr. serving as the primary
speakers during the event. Both served in the Marine Corps during
the Vietnam War. Jim Willis, director of the Oregon Department
of Veterans Affairs, read a national proclamation that honored the
50th anniversary of the start of the Vietnam War.
2007 – Oregon’s nine federally recognized Tribes all endorsed Sen.
Gordon Smith, a Republican from Pendleton, for re-election at a
news conference held outside the World Trade Center in downtown
Portland. “Senator Smith has always promoted Tribal sovereignty,
has promoted economic development and has always expressed a
willingness to sit down with Tribes and hear their concerns,” Grand
Ronde Tribal Council Chairman Chris Mercier said.
2002 – Grand Ronde Tribal youth put on a strong show of force at
the state track and field finals in Monmouth representing Willamina
High School. At the state meet, Tribal member Matt Zimbrick won
second place in the triple jump while Tribal member Caitlin Zimbrick
took first place in the long jump.
1997 – Grand Ronde Tribal representatives met with Oregon
congressional representatives and aides in Washington, D.C. The
meeting’s purpose was to educate the senators and representatives
on federal Indian law and Tribal issues. Oregon Rep. Elizabeth Furse
led the briefing with an overview of Northwest Tribal history. Tribal
Council Chairwoman Kathryn Harrison testified about Tribal history
from the Trail of Tears to Restoration and current times.
1992 – The Tribal Health Department was planning a wellness and
spirituality conference at the Red Lion Inn in Portland. The theme
was “Walk in Balance: Wellness & Spirituality,” and would include
workshops, speakers, recreational activities and a powwow. Grand
Ronde Tribal member Cecile Kneeland was planning to present a
seminar called “Traditions and the Cradleboard.”
1987 – Tribal Council was meeting with local residents from Sher-
idan, Willamina and Grand Ronde who had concerns and questions
regarding the Grand Ronde Reservation Plan. “Although we can’t
give a specific date for introduction of congressional legislation yet,
we hope it will be quite soon,” Tribal Council Chairman Mark Mer-
cier said.
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: Daniel Ham.
• 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 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.
Clinic offering second
COVID-19 booster doses
Tribal Health Services Executive Director Kelly Rowe announced
that the Grand Ronde Health & Wellness Center is offering a second
COVID-19 booster dose of the Moderna vaccine for people 50 and
older who are at least four months beyond their previous booster dose.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is recommending
that people with compromised immune systems age 12 and older
also receive boosters. However, Rowe added, Tribal health care staff
are recommending people consult with their providers to make that
decision.
Rowe said that immunity tends to wane after three months and that
people who had received a booster dose of the vaccine were 21 times
less likely to die and seven times less likely to be hospitalized during
the recent omicron variant surge of COVID-19.
To schedule an appointment for a second booster shot, contact the
Tribal clinic at 503-879-2032. 