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JULY 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 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.”
The Food Bank will hold July 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. There will
be no distribution on Wednesday, July 3, or Friday, July 5, as the food
bank will be closed for the July 4 holiday weekend.
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 informa-
tion or to volunteer. n
Committee & Special Event
Board meeting days and times
• Ceremonial Hunting Board meets as needed. Chair: Marline
Groshong.
• Culture Committee meets as needed 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
1 p.m. Monday, July 15 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. Interim Chair: Valeria
Atanacio.
• Elders Committee meets at 10 a.m. the first and third Wednes-
day 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:
Harris Reibach.
• Powwow Special Event Board meets as needed at the Commu-
nity 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 Wilkin-
son.
• 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 Tues-
day 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.
Vaccines available now
The new COVID-19 vaccine, Spikevax, is available at the Health & Wellness
Center for adults 18 and older. It is recommended for those with chronic health
conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, kidney failure and
heart failure, regardless if they have received older vaccines. Spikevax is not
a booster.
Another vaccine that is recommended is for RSV, which is available to
babies 8 months and younger, for expectant mothers who are 32 to 36 weeks
pregnant and in limited amounts for those 60 and older.
For more information, call the Health & Wellness Center at 503-879-2002. n
SMOKE SIGNALS
yesteryears
a look
back...
2019 – Approximately 200 educators from two different states
attended the third annual Grand Ronde Education Summit held at
Spirit Mountain Casino. Teachers from all grade levels came to learn
more about the Grand Ronde Tribe, how to create meaningful Native
American curriculum and how to teach new standards required by
Oregon’s Senate Bill 13. Senate Bill 13 required the Oregon De-
partment of Education to develop curriculum relating to the Native
American experience in Oregon. This includes Tribal history, sover-
eignty, culture, treaty rights, government, socioeconomic experiences
and current events.
2014 – Tribal Council approved contracts to build two new build-
ings. The first was the Employment Services building on the Tribal
campus next to the Community Center. The second was a food bank
building on the Curl Property on the west side of Grand Ronde Road
across from the Tribal Housing Authority office.
2009 – The Grand Ronde Canoe Family participated in the Paddle
on the Willamette. The 26-mile paddle started at Willamette Falls in
Oregon City and finished at Kelley Point Park in Portland.
2004 – “A Journey of Tra-
dition” won the Sweepstakes
Award in the Rose Festi-
val Grand Floral Parade.
The Spirit Mountain Casino
float depicted a tradition-
al Chinookian family in a
Western red cedar canoe
gathering plants native to
File photo
Grand Ronde, such as wap- 2004
ato, skunk cabbage and cam-
as. The Sweepstakes Award was awarded to the most outstanding float.
1999 – The Tribe hosted a gathering at the Portland Art Museum
for Spirit Mountain Community Fund grant recipients. One grant
was in the amount of $15,150 to the nonprofit A Child’s Place/Un
Lugar Para Ninos for a school readiness project.
1994 – Tribal Council Chairman Mark Mercier joined other Tribal
officials and leaders from across Oregon in participating in the Grand
Floral Parade in Portland. The parade was televised throughout most
of the Western states.
1989 – Tribal youth and Elders got together for dance and craft
classes held weekly at the Tribal office. The classes were for anyone
who wanted to learn how to dance or just wanted to come and watch
and make new friends. The main purpose of the classes was so ev-
eryone had the opportunity to learn how to bead and dance, but did
not want to start learning in the middle of powwow.
1984 – Tribal member Toni Mercier represented her Tribe at the
Delta Park Powwow in Portland during the Rose Festival. She was
first runner-up for the Junior Miss Delta Park Princess Contest.
Yesteryears is a look back at Tribal history in five-year in-
crements through the pages of Smoke Signals.