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APRIL 1, 2024
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 April 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 email for the Food Bank calendar and events, as
well as follow the Food Bank on Facebook.
The Food Bank is an equal opportunity provider. Contact Ambrose
at 503-879-3663 or fambrose@marionpolkfoodshare.org for more
information or to volunteer.
Committee & Special Event
Board meeting days and times
• Ceremonial Hunting Board meets as needed. Chair: Marline Gro-
shong.
• Culture Committee meets as needed at the Grand Ronde Food
Bank/iskam mfkhmfk haws, 9675 Grand Ronde Road. Chair: Fran-
cene Ambrose.
• Editorial Board meets monthly. The next meeting will be held at
10:30 a.m. Friday, April 19 via Zoom. Contact Chair Mia Prickett at
Editorial.Board@grandronde.org for the meeting link.
• 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 first and third Wednesday
of the month in the Elders Activity Center. Chair: Carmen Robertson.
• Enrollment Committee meets quarterly in Room 204 of the Gov-
ernance 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:
Reyn Leno.
• 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 3 p.m. the third Thursday of the
month in the Housing Department conference room. Chair: Shayla
Myrick-Meyer.
• Powwow Special Event Board meets as needed at the Community
Center. Dates vary. Contact Dana Ainam at 503-879-2037. Chair:
Dana Ainam.
• TERO Commission meets at 10 a.m. the second 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. Chair: Jon
R. George.
• Veterans Special Event Board meets at 5:30 p.m. the first Tuesday
of the month in the Quenelle House. Chair: Raymond Petite.
To update information on this list, contact Smoke Signals Editor
Danielle Harrison at 503-879-4663 or danielle.harrison@grandronde.org.
NWIHA offers youth scholarships
The Northwest Indian Housing Association is offering youth scholarship
opportunities.
Applications can be obtained by visiting www.nwiha.org and clicking on
the Youth Scholarship Program tab.
All applications and supporting documents must be submitted by email
to info@nwiha.org by 5 p.m. Tuesday, April 30.
All applicants, selected or not, will be notified of the NWIHA executive
committee decisions. Successful applicants will be recognized at a banquet
held on Tuesday, May 7.
Complete instructions are contained in the application form. For more
information, contact info@nwiha.org or 360-220-9212.
SMOKE SIGNALS
yesteryears
a look
back...
2019 – Tribal Elder and World War II veteran Herman Hudson
received a Quilt of Valor from the Quilts of Valor Foundation. Hud-
son was nominated to receive the honorary quilt by Tribal Council
member Steve Bobb Sr., a Vietnam War-era Marine Corps veteran
who previously received one and then was asked to nominate a worthy
veteran to receive one.
2014 – The Spirit Mountain Community Fund, the philanthropic
arm of the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde, inched closer to the
$62 million mark in giving during its quarterly check presentation
held in the Tribal Governance Center. Community Fund Executive
Director Kathleen George welcomed grant recipients and thanked
them for creating solutions that make western Oregon a healthier,
more resilient place to live.
2009 – A get-together was
held at the Facilities Depart-
ment to honor and celebrate
Tribal Elder Russell Leno’s
retirement. He retired from his
position as senior groundskeep-
er at the Tribal Cemetery after
working for the Tribe almost
22 years.
2004 – The Tribe switched
2009
File photo
the Spirit Mountain Casino
complex from the community
water system to treated water from the South Yamhill River. The
rollover affected the casino, lodge and convenience store. More than 4
years of work went into development of the system that finally allowed
expansion at the casino complex without jeopardizing growth in the
rest of the Grand Ronde community.
1999 – The Tribe co-sponsored a dinner at the Portland Hilton in
honor of retired Rep. Elizabeth Furse. Furse and her husband were
given blankets with the Tribe’s logo. Before she was elected to Con-
gress, Furse advocated for the federal restoration of Oregon Tribes
and served as Restoration Coordinator for Grand Ronde.
1994 – Community Health Representative Bonnie Martin-Tom
won recognition with the National Association of Community Health
Representatives for her commitment and service to the Tribe. During
the National Triennial Education Conference in Spokane, Bonnie was
given a shoulder sash and special seating at the banquet dinner.
1989 – Agenda items for the General Council meeting included a
review of the Tribe’s Master Plan and acquiring the Depot facility for
office space. Coopers Consultants had been preparing a master plan
for the Tribe to look at the housing and facility needs of the Tribe and
its membership. The plan was in draft form and Tribal Council invited
input from the membership.
Yesteryears is a look back at Tribal history in five-year incre-
ments through the pages of Smoke Signals.