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About Smoke signals. (Grand Ronde, Or.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 1, 2023)
4 AUGUST 1, 2023 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 August 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. Drop box installed The Grand Ronde Tribal Police Department, 9655 Grand Ronde Road, has a medication drop box located in the front lobby. Lobby hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. The drop box is for any prescribed or over-the-counter medication. If the containers are too large to fit in the drop box, please repackage them in a zip-lock plastic bag. Tribal Police employees cannot handle the medications so the person dropping them off must repackage them. Needles and liquids are not allowed in the drop box. Tribal Police suggest mixing liquid medications with cat litter or coffee grounds and then throwing them away with the household trash. For more information, call 503-879-1821. 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, Aug. 25, remotely via Zoom. Chair: Mia Prickett. Contact: Editorial. Board@grandronde.org. • Education Committee meets at 5:30 p.m. on the last 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: Carmen Robertson. • 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: Darlene Aaron. • Housing Grievance Board meets at 4 p.m. the third Thursday of the month in the Housing Department conference room. Chair: Shayla Myrick-Meyer. • 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. Smoke Signals yesteryears a look back... 2018 – The Grand Ronde Canoe Family par- ticipated in its 14th canoe journey, “Power Paddle to Puyallup,” hosted by the Puyallup Tribe of In- dians. The Tribe began its journey on July 19, File photo starting from Samish, 2018 Washington, with stops at Swinomish, Tulalip, Suquamish and Muckleshoot before finishing in Tacoma, Washington, with Landing Day on July 28. The Tribe took two canoes: Stankiya (coyote) and UlXayu (seal). 2013 – After a decade-long effort by Oregon Tribes, the state Depart- ment of Education was advertising for an Indian education specialist. “This was one of our priorities for this session, getting positions of equity for all Oregon students,” said Cindy Hunt, Government and Legal Affairs manager for the Department of Education. The proposal to return an Indian education specialist position had been around since 2003. 2008 – The Tribe donated $4,000 to a reward fund established to help catch whomever shot seven trophy bull elk and left them to rot in southwestern Oregon. The Tribe’s donation increased the reward fund to $17,500 and made it the largest contributor in the state. 2003 – The Tribe’s annual Elder Honor Day attracted almost 250 Elders from across the state and the West Coast to the Tribal gym- nasium. The day included the traditional array of introductions, a prayer before lunch, an hour of bingo, a break for the hot part of the day, and then a barbecue and dance music. 1998 – Tribal member Jon A. George was hired by the Tribe as a vocational rehabilitation specialist, working for the Health and Human Services Division. He worked out of both the Portland and Grand Ronde offices and was charged with further developing the Tribe’s job services offered by its Portland office. “It’s shocking to realize how many people didn’t even know the Portland outreach office existed,” he said. “I’m kind of like the guinea pig to see if there is a need to place a person here full-time.” 1993 – Grand Ronde Tribal Executive Officer Jim Willis was ap- pointed to the state Board of Higher Education by Gov. Barbara Rob- erts. The appointment was then approved by the state Senate. Willis agreed to serve after being contacted by members of the governor’s staff. His appointment would run from 1994 to 1997. 1988 – The U.S. Senate Select Committee on Indian Affairs passed a bill that would establish a 9,811-acre reservation for the Confeder- ated Tribes of Grand Ronde. The bill was similar to one passed in the U.S. House of Representatives earlier that year. The next step in the process was for the bill to go to the Senate floor for a vote. Yesteryears is a look back at Tribal history in five-year in- crements through the pages of Smoke Signals. File your PACT Act claim by August 9, 2023 to be eligible for backdated benefits There’s no deadline to apply for PACT Act benefits. But if you file your PACT Act claim—or quickly submit your intent to file—by August 10, 2023, you may receive benefits backdated to August 10, 2022. So don’t wait, apply today. To upload your claim or Intent to File, visit your Veterans Service Officer, me, the Tribal Veterans Service Officer, or upload via the portal on VA.Gov .