News & Press
The Nestucca, Neskowin and Sand Lakes Watersheds Council (NNWC) is having great success restoring the health of these watersheds, engaging and improving the lives of the people in the 
watershed communities and strengthening the local economy through its work. These adjacent watersheds are located on the northwest coast of Oregon and cover approximately 217,085 acres (340 square miles). The Neskowin, Nestucca and Sand Lakes Watersheds are named for the ocean bays and estuaries on the Pacific Ocean that go by those same names and are defined by the area of land, lakes and rivers that flow overland or underground to these coastal waters.
The Council has been in existence since 1995, originally as the Nestucca Watershed Council, later adding the Neskowin Watershed (1997), and more recently adding the Sand Lake Watershed (2003). It is a nonprofit organization governed by a volunteer Board of Directors chosen from the local communities. The Council is made up of public and private landowners and other interested members of the local community, and it partners with organizations like the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde to improve the quality of the environment, with particular emphasis on salmon habitat. The Council uses a science-based approach in its work but with a heavy dose of common sense added in. The NNWC has had many accomplishments with some of its more recent and most notable successes described below.
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By Louis King
Spirit Mountain Community Fund Program Coordinator
Recreation facilities and parks across the country annually designate the month of July as a time to celebrate the kick-off of summer programming. It's also an opportunity to unite communities in volunteer efforts, to get citizens involved in outdoor physical activities, and to rekindle an awareness of the importance of our parks.
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Tribal members visit Tomanowos on 10th anniversary of agreement with American Museum of Natural History
Tribal contingent reconnects with Tomanowos
By Dean Rhodes
Smoke Signals editor
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Basic Rights Education Fund introduces LGBT and Allied People of Color Leadership Program
Imagine the power of a movement for justice that is united across identity. Where advocates for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender (LGBT) justice work side by side in the struggle for immigrant rights and for racial and economic justice.
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May 14 event fetes commission’s 35th birthday, honors sovereignty
By Dean Rhodes
Smoke Signals editor
Tribal Government Day on May 14 celebrated two things at once – the 35th anniversary of the Oregon Legislative Commission on Indian Services and the sovereignty of the state’s nine federally recognized Tribes.
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. . . You Can Change a Lifetime!
Spirit Mountain Community Fund (SMCF) salutes the compassionate people who make a difference by serving as foster parents, relative caregivers, mentors, advocates, social workers, and volunteers. Thanks to these unsung heroes, many formerly abused or neglected children and teens will safely reunite with their parents, be cared for by relatives, or be adopted by loving families. All children including the 463,000 American children and youth in foster care deserve a safe and happy life. Young people in foster care need nurturing adults on their side because their own families are in crisis and unable to care for them.
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The final acceptance date for the Hatfield Fellowship has been extended to May 21, 2010 at 5:00 p.m.
Please click on the Hatfield Fellowship tab to learn more about this opportunity to Native Americans!
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SCMF and HANS partner to help physicians, educators and parents with autism
Actress Jenny McCarthy has put a national face on autism. Many children and their families struggle with autism. But how many families struggle with autism or variations of autism spectrum disorders? Why do rates appear to have increased so rapidly in the past 20 years? How do you know if your child has a form of autism? Does your pediatrician or family doctor know the common symptoms?
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Free rides
Casino paying fares between Grand Ronde-Salem in April
By Dean Rhodes
Smoke Signals editor
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Youth Art Month is a month of promoting art and art education in the United States. It is observed in March, with thousands of American schools participating, often with the involvement of 
local art museums and civic organizations. Youth Art Month was founded by the Crayon, Water Color & Craft Institute, Inc., the predecessor of the Art & Creative Materials Institute, Inc. (ACMI), in cooperation with the National Art Education Association, in 1961 and was initially called Children's Art Month.
Spirit Mountain Community Fund is fortunate to have had the opportunity to partner with several organizations that work tirelessly to provide critical opportunities for our youth. Please join us as we acknowledge the importance of this work and recognize The Brooklyn Bay as one of several nonprofit organizations who through their “Play after Play” program have been doing special work in the Portland metro area.
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Tribe receives $325,000 grant to double size of current facility
By Dean Rhodes
Smoke Signals editor
The Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde has received a $325,000 Indian Community Development Block Grant that will help double the size of the current 1,390-square-foot Tribal Library.
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SMCF Announces Upcoming Program Evaluation Training Opportunity
Once again on March 12, 2010, Spirit Mountain Community Fund will be offering a one-day workshop on Program Evaluation lead by Chari Smith, Principal of CR Smith Consulting headquarter in Portland, Oregon.
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Good news! Money for Seniors to help pay Medicare and prescription costs
During this turbulent economic time, our senior citizens have been severely impacted. Many have watched their retirement income diminish before their eyes, while their fixed costs have remained the same.
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Bobby Mercier taking respect to Maori ceremonies in New Zealand
By Ron Karten
Smoke Signals staff writer
When Tribal member and Language and Cultural Specialist Bobby Mercier travels to the north island of New Zealand on Feb. 1, he will renew Grand Ronde relations with the Māori Tribe started almost five years ago.
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The month of January has been designated as National Mentoring Month and Spirit Mountain Community Fund is privileged to have had the opportunity to partner with several organizations that work diligently to provide meaningful mentoring opportunities for our youth. Please join us as we acknowledge the importance of this work and recognize Oregon Mentors as one of several not–for –profit organizations who for the past nine years have been doing exceptional work in Oregon.
Oregon Mentors began out of the national youth development campaign—America’s Promise. Led by its chairman, General Colin Powell, America’s Promise—The Alliance for Youth, is dedicated to improving the lives of our nation’s youth. One of the five promises was for each child to have "an ongoing relationship with a caring adult—parent, mentor, tutor or coach." America’s Promise was launched at the Presidents’ Summit for America’s Future in the spring of 1997.
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By Ron Karten
Smoke Signals staff writer
A heart-pounding drum syncopated its way out of the new plankhouse, all the way to arriving guests in the parking area. Little Miss Grand Ronde, Isabelle Grout, 6, summed up the heavy beat and energy radiating from the plankhouse, in one word, “Awesome!” she said. This little wise-woman speaks volumes about the traditions and aspirations for this event, as each guest reiterated their hope that the following generations would keep the fire alight.
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Spirit Mountain Community Fund and the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde are honored to announce the appointment of Congresswoman Darlene Hooley to the Fund’s board of trustees. The Fund has eight appointed trustees—three are Tribal Council members, three are community members, one is a Governor’s appointee and one is a representative of Spirit Mountain Casino. The Congresswoman filled one of the community member positions and replaced Kris Olson, who served on the board since its inception in 1997.
Darlene Hooley began her career as a teacher and quickly became involved in politics. Her political career included being elected to the West Linn City Council, Oregon State Legislature and then to Oregon’s Fifth Congressional District, where she served 12 years in Congress. Darlene has been a passionate advocate for veterans’ issues and, as a former teacher, has a deep love of education and social policies that affect children. Darlene has two children and resides in West Linn, Oregon.
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Tribal Council member June Sell-Sherer has served more than 8 years on the Grand Ronde Tribal Council. June was raised in Grand Ronde, Oregon until her family relocated after termination. They left Grand Ronde after her dad was injured and could no longer work as a choke setter; his hope was to find training for a new vocation. Eventually the family returned to Grand Ronde where they lived during the school year so that their children could have a consistent education and be with friends and family. Each summer June, her parents and siblings worked throughout the Willamette Valley picking summer crops, but at the beginning of the year they would return back to Grand Ronde for their children’s education.
As a teen, June’s family moved to Turner and June graduated from Cascade High School in Turner, Oregon. She then joined the Army and reported for basic training. After basic and specialized training, June applied for and received an overseas assignment where she was stationed in Frankfurt, Germany. She worked in the Personnel Division for the 513th Military Intelligence Group at Camp King near Oberursel, Germany. In February 1969, June was nominated for and honored as WAC of the month for USAREUR (US Army Europe). After serving three years, June was honorably discharged from the Army.
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By Ron Karten
Smoke Signals staff writer
On the way to Washington, D.C., for the White House Tribal Nations Conference held on Thursday, Nov. 5, Tribal Council Chairwoman Cheryle A. Kennedy told Oregon Public Broadcasting that one of her top goals was to support reauthorization of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act.
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In observance of this special occasion, Spirit Mountain Community Fund is delighted to recognize two not-for-profit community partners who have collaborated to honor and showcase the Native American culture by building awareness of traditional and contemporary musical expressions through education and performance.
Oregon Public Broadcasting (OPB) in association with Painted Sky proudly announces the local premiere of a new Performing Arts documentary, FOR THE GENERATIONS: NATIVE STORY & PERFORMANCE on OPB at 10:30pm on Wednesday, November 25th.
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Tribe retains ceremonial hunting rights
Fish and Wildlife Commission rebuffs Siletz challenge
By Ron Karten
Smoke Signals staff writer
The Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission on Oct. 2 unanimously readopted a rule granting ceremonial hunting rights to the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde across the Trask Hunting Unit.
The unit, which is north of Grand Ronde roughly between the coast and a north-south line that runs from Forest Grove to McMinnville, encompasses traditional hunting grounds for the Grand Ronde Tribe from time immemorial.
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Lyudmila’s Story
Lyudmila’s story begins in Russia. In 1991, amidst the fall of Communism, she gave birth to her son Alexander, her first and only child. While she was still nursing him, she developed mastitis, an infection that sometimes occurs during breastfeeding. After she received treatment and the infection went away, she didn’t think she would have to worry about something as life-threatening as breast cancer, but she did become more conscious of her breast health from that time forward.
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Bill would add Grand Ronde to list of Tribes that must be consulted about management of scenic area
By Dean Rhodes
Smoke Signals editor
The Tribe’s long-standing effort to be recognized by the federal government as a Columbia River Tribe received a significant boost on July 31 when U.S. Rep. Kurt Schrader (D-Ore., 5th District) introduced House Resolution 3514, which would amend the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area Act to include the Grand Ronde.
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The Portland Reading Foundation (PRF) is proud of our successful Reading Intervention Program that works in partnership with the Portland Public Schools to help at risk children improve their reading skills. With the support of Spirit Mountain Community Fund and other key foundations and donors, our professionally trained reading tutors provide struggling young students with individualized and evidence-based instruction helping them become proficient readers at or before the third grade.
We are also excited with the results of a pilot project started in the fall of 2007 with a generous grant from the Spirit Mountain Community Foundation. As part of the pilot, Portland Reading Foundation began training school parents to work as reading tutors. Two bilingual parents whose children attended Clarendon/Portsmouth Elementary School in North Portland were given ten hours of training from a PRF instructor in reading intervention strategies for young children. Then each trainee was assigned students to tutor under the supervision of PRF reading specialists. Additional training was ongoing during the school year.
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By Ron Karten
Smoke Signals staff writer
“Extreme Cuisine,” the new Food Network television program featuring Jeff Corwin, is more a hook than a description of the show, the host said during a visit to Grand Ronde on July 30.
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Spirit Mountain Community Fund (SMCF) is pleased to present another of our ongoing series about who our tribal leaders are and highlight aspects about them that you may find of interest. This month, Camille Mercier, SMCF Board Member and Human Resources Director, Spirit Mountain Casino and Jack Giffen, SMCF Board member and Tribal Council member of the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Community are introduced.
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Walking man
Tribal Elder Steve Rife repeats Trail of Tears trek
By Ron Karten
Smoke Signals staff writer
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In honor of National Make a Difference to Children Month, this July Spirit Mountain Community Fund is highlighting the Children’s Justice Alliance (CJA), a non-profit organization that seeks to improve outcomes for children whose parents are involved in the criminal justice system. The Children’s Justice Alliance was formed in 2004 to take a programmatic and systemic approach to improving outcomes for children whose parents are involved in the criminal justice system.
The primary impetus for creating the Children’s Justice Alliance was to give parents and families the tools they need to break the preventable cycle of intergenerational criminality. CJA accomplishes this mission through the following initiatives.
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Tribal Government Day highlighted by nine Tribal flags hoisted at state Capitol
By Dean Rhodes
Smoke Signals editor
The flag of the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde, as well as the other eight federally recognized Tribes in Oregon, now flies at the state Capitol in Salem.
It flutters on a breezy day and hangs still on calm days, but it flies 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.
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Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde has a long, proud history of inhabiting and caring for our natural environment. Our people lived on the land and consistently cared for and nurtured the plants, animals and fish that were our livelihoods. It is heartening to see fellow Oregonians becoming passionate about our natural environment. This story below highlights one of many environmental projects happening around the state.
Oregon 150 partnered with SOLV, Oregon Volunteers and Rural Development Initiatives to coordinate projects across Oregon in May. Many of those projects focused on helping our natural environment be a friendlier, cleaner place for people, plants and animals. If you'd like to learn more about Oregon 150's projects, visit: http://www.oregon150.org/projects/take-care-of-oregon/
Helping our natural environment is an ongoing responsibility. Read this story about how Corvallis area citizens are making a difference in their local area.
This story has been printed with permission by the Corvallis Gazette Times.
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by Louis King
May is “National Older Americans Month,” and no other group is more important or contributive to society and our communities. The wisdom of our older citizens is invaluable and unfortunately sometimes goes unnoticed, as is the work of many compassionate non-profit organizations who work tirelessly to support this special and growing population.
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Sho Dozono, Board Vice Chair
President and CEO of Azumano Travel/American Express
By Shelley Hanson
Sho Dozono was born in Japan, but returned to his mother’s Portland homeland as a young boy. Since then, Sho has been a community activist and leader in Oregon, shaping communities and the services they provide for their citizens.
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NATIVE AMERICAN APPLICANTS SOUGHT FOR HATFIELD FELLOWSHIP DEADLINE April 24, 2009 Grand Ronde, OR.
The Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde announce that applications for the Mark O. Hatfield Congressional Fellowship are now available. Each year, a Hatfield Fellow serves as an intern for a member of Oregon’s Congressional delegation.
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Here before, here after
Tribes mark Oregon’s statehood with Gathering of First Nations’ events honoring Native presence since time immemorial
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By Shelly Hanson
We all know heart disease is a scourge in our American population. Our fast paced lives, poor diet, tendency towards diabetes, ever increasing incidence of obesity and our overall highly stressed lives, contribute to the problem. What do we do about it? How do we prevent the national problem from becoming our own?
We follow our doctor’s advice and care about the risk factors that are connected to the problem. What are they? Cholesterol levels, tobacco usage, diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity, and family history, are the main ones. Being male over the age of 40 is also relevant.
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Spirit Mountain Community Fund (SMCF) is pleased to present the first of several monthly in-depth articles about who our tribal leaders are and highlight aspects about them that you may find of interest. This month, Kris Olson, SMCF Board Chairperson, and Cheryle Kennedy, Chairperson of the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Community will be introduced.
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Grand Ronde Tribal member hired as head archivist of Native American museum
O’Neal says new job is a ‘perfect fit’ for her heritage, interest in history
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‘Dreams come true’
Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde mark 25 years of Restoration with powwow, banquet, music and unity
By Dean Rhodes
Smoke Signals editor
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In 1990, President George H. W. Bush approved a joint resolution designating November 1990 "National American Indian Heritage Month." Similar proclamations have been issued each year since 1994.
In observance of this special occasion, Spirit Mountain Community Fund is delighted to showcase one of our not-for-profit community partners that honors the Native American culture by building awareness of traditional and contemporary musical expressions through education and performance.
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Chairwoman Cheryle A. Kennedy signs agreement for Grand Ronde
By Dean Rhodes
Smoke Signals editor
The Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde was among 16 parties that signed an agreement with the Eugene Water & Electric Board on Oct. 21 that outlines environmental, recreational and other improvements the board will undertake to re-license its Carmen-Smith Hydroelectric Project on the upper McKenzie River.
The project is in the Tribe’s ceded lands and Chairwoman Cheryle A. Kennedy signed the agreement for the Tribe.
Tribal Council voted 6-0 on Oct. 8 to adopt a resolution approving the settlement agreement.
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October is AIDS Awareness month, and we asked Michael Kaplan of Cascade AIDS Project in Portland to share some thoughts about this pandemic.
Did you know that World AIDS Day is December 1st, that National Native HIV/AIDS Awareness Day is March 21st, that Latino HIV/AIDS Awareness Day is October 15th, that National HIV Testing Day is June 27th and the list goes on and on. And yet with all these days committed to various aspects of HIV and AIDS, the pandemic rages on. Today, 33 million people world-wide are living with HIV and AIDS, and over 25 million are estimated to have died since tracking started 26 years ago.
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By Ron Karten
Smoke Signals staff writer
More than 14,000 years ago, during the Missoula Floods when the rest of the Willamette Valley was under water and became seabed, land in south Salem stood 800 feet above current sea level.
It was the only place in the valley that remained dry.
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To help ensure that your children are academically successful, spend time at school. Strong evidence suggests that the more involved parents are in their children’s education, the better the children will do in school. It is important to develop good parent/teacher relationships and help teachers get to know your children. Attend school parent/teacher organization meetings, open houses, and school orientations. Make a point to find out convenient times to contact teachers, if necessary. Also, provide them with your home and work numbers so they can easily contact you concerning your child's schoolwork. Do not hesitate to schedule parent teachers' conferences when needed.
Spending time at home is equally important to ensure academic success. Start by making learning a priority in your home. Read aloud to younger children and have older kids read to you. Discuss local and national issues and ask for their opinions. Then listen instead of lecturing! Also, take an interest in the different classes they are taking and create a sense of fun and excitement in learning. For example, you might play junior scramble to help with spelling or study math and science by spending the summer designing and making surfboards to use at the beach.
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Don Day continues knapping obsidian, opal
By Ron Karten
Smoke Signals staff writer
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What every parent should know to prevent their child from becoming obese or overweight
by Beau Weill, M.D., director of the OHSU Doernbecher Healthy Lifestyles Clinic
The best way to prevent your child from becoming overweight or obese is for the entire family to adopt a healthy lifestyle that includes eating right. Eliminate sugar-sweetened beverages like soda; limit the amount of juices, and select whole wheat foods. A healthy lifestyle also includes exercise. In fact, participating in simple regular physical activities with your child, like walking around the block or riding a bicycle, is probably the single most important thing parents can do to prevent their child from becoming obese or overweight.
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‘Our Store’ grows deeper into Grand Ronde Tribal culture
By Ron Karten
Smoke Signals staff writer
At Spirit Mountain Lodge’s gift shop, Ntsayka makuk haws (Our Store), a renewed effort to bring in items rich in Northwest culture and art is under way.
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Spirit Mountain Community Fund (SMCF) is pleased to announce that Francene Ambrose has been selected to become the 2008/2009 Hatfield Fellow. Ms. Ambrose is currently pursuing a Masters of Public Administration degree with a focus on Tribal Governance from Evergreen State College in Olympia, Washington. Ms. Ambrose graduated from Portland State University were she received a Bachelor’s of Arts (B.A.) degree in Liberal Arts. Ms. Ambrose was among several highly qualified and motivated candidates vying for the prestigious opportunity.
Ms. Ambrose is a member of the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde and has been active in a variety of programs such at the National Indian Child Welfare Association (NICWA). She has served as Assistance Director of the Portland State University Native American Student & Community Center while attending PSU. Ms. Ambrose currently serves as treasurer of the Bow & Arrow Culture Club, an all volunteer, community based organization serving Native Americans in Portland metro area.
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Please join Spirit Mountain Community Fund (SMCF) in celebrating July as “National Make A Difference to Children Month”, by thinking back to your childhood. Who are the adults you remember - teachers, neighbors, people at your place of worship, relatives? Could you be the kind of adult who makes a positive difference to a child today? You can involve children of any and all ages, and it can be one child, or groups large or small. The possibilities are endless and timeless, and you'll have fun too!
SMCF is pleased to have supported “Birth to Three.” a private non-profit organization located in Eugene, Oregon that provides parenting education and support to families with young children. They bring parents of young children together to:
• share parenting experiences,
• increase their knowledge of early childhood development,
• learn about community resources, and
• create support networks among themselves.
Through their Parenting Now! division, they share their expertise with other organizations that work with families through the dissemination of their nationally recognized curricula and trainings. To learn more about the many opportunities and contributions this non-profit is making in their community, please visit their webpage at: www.birthto3.org
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By Ron Karten
Smoke Signals staff writer
Tribal Elder Opal Davidson, 93, used to tell her daughter stories about gathering hazel switches along Agency Creek for weaving baskets.
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The Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde has been a longtime steward of Oregon’s land and water systems. Native plants and animals are precious to our Tribal history and culture.
The various Tribes and bands that now make up the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde spent thousands of years living and nurturing the waterways in Oregon. One example of our history is our historical presence near the falls in Oregon City.
For more information about our Tribal history, visit the Tribal Web site at http://www.grandronde.org/culture/# . There are maps, oral histories and other information about our long-standing history in Oregon.
Today water is a critical commodity. It provides drinking water as well as wildlife habitat. Some of our waterways are in crisis. As a Tribe and as Oregon citizens, we want to help eradicate issues regarding water quality within the State.
Since Spirit Mountain Community Fund’s inception in 1997, the Tribe has invested more than $4 million through 110 grants to address Oregon environmental issues. Some of our investments have ensured that Oregon’s youth and adults are educated on habitat and wildlife. Other investments have worked to remedy specific environmental issues in specific geographic regions. All of the fund’s investments make a difference to Oregonians.
Environmental preservation is near and dear to our Tribal Council members’ hearts. We will continue looking for environmental projects that better the lives of Oregonians and our water sources, and ensure that Oregon’s wildlife habitat is high quality for generations to come.
For more information about our recent environmental preservation investments, visit our “grants” page on our Web site: www.thecommunityfund.com.
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By Ron Karten
Smoke Signals staff writer
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The month of May has been designated as “Older Americans Month” and on Tuesday, May 20, 2008; we will be celebrating “ Senior Citizens Day.” This day has been set aside to honor the numerous contributions older adults make to their communities. Senior Citizens Day provides a special day for events that promote positive attitudes toward aging and recognize the active, healthy, and independent lives many older Americans lead.
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Tribal Mentorship program helps Tribal members gain work experience for future full-time employment
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by Shelley Hanson
Kids are being victimized. They are victimized in their homes, and in our communities. Nearly every day we read another incident of a child that hasn’t been adequately taken care of or protected.
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Activity Center, and self-esteem, going up
Tribal programs find construction jobs for Tribal and community members
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As many of you may already know, March has been designated National Mental Health/Developmental Disabilities Awareness month, an opportunity for our community to learn more about the issues affecting more than seven million Americans with developmental disabilities. Spirit Mountain Community Fund (SMCF) invites you to take part in the National Mental Health/Developmental Disabilities awareness month and support children and adults with mental retardation and other developmental disabilities.
SMCF is honored to share with you the life changing impact Taylor Street Ovens, located in Corvallis, Oregon, is having in their community.
“Taylor Street Ovens means more than cookies”
Taylor Street Ovens makes more that 2,000 cookies every day, which make their way to grocery stores, coffee shops and convenience stores from Portland to Eugene.
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Washington DC Native American Internship Opportunity
The Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde located in Grand Ronde, Oregon announce that applications for the Mark O. Hatfield Congressional Fellowship are now available. Each year, a Hatfield Fellow serves as in intern for a member of Oregon's Congressional delegation. The Hatfield Fellow is selected from adult Native American applicants, 21 years and older, who are enrolled members of a federally recognized Tribe in Oregon. If there are no qualified applicants from Oregon, enrolled members of federally recognized Tribes in Washington, Idaho, and Montana will be considered and applications will reopen at a later date TBA. The successful candidate will intern in Washington DC for nine months.
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Great things are happening at Spirit Mountain Community Fund in 2008 and we’d like to tell you about them.
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At a time when families and neighbors celebrate the joy of the holiday season and have hopes for a better and brighter future, there are more and more persons who are not able to share this same prospective due to circumstances not of their making or preference.
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In an effort to continue to support our grantees, we are offering individual appointments for grant writers who need a little extra assistance in understanding and completing our online application process. On Thursday, January 31, 2008 our Director Shelley Hanson and Program Officer Louis King will have 15 minute appointments available to the smaller, inexperienced grant writers to have a one-on-one consultation. These meetings are not intended for larger, experienced organizations to come meet and greet with Shelley and Louis. They are targeted at new applicants to our electronic application process. Appointments will be held at our office in Grand Ronde by appointment only. If you would like to schedule an appointment, please contact Kluane Baer at 503-879-1400 or via email at kluane.baer@grandronde.org.
Thank you.
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For ten years, the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde, through Spirit Mountain Community Fund, has quietly been making community investments totaling $40 million. Unless you work in a western Oregon non-profit, you probably didn’t know that this was happening. It’s awe inspiring that a terminated tribe has been able to make the lives of our friends and neighbors easier and enriched to this extent.
Well, someone noticed us! On Saturday November 17th, Spirit Mountain Community Fund and the Grand Ronde Tribe were awarded the Philanthropist of the Year award by Seattle-based Potlach Fund. Potlach Fund offers fundraising training to Tribes in Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana and Alaska. Their goal is to encourage tribes to work with the philanthropic sector to meet the social and economic needs of their reservations. Each year Potlach awards outstanding leaders and Spirit Mountain Community Fund is proud to be one of their 2007 award recipients.
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The Spirit Mountain Community Fund Board of Trustees held their regularly scheduled quarterly meeting on Wednesday, October 31, 2007 and reviewed 75 grant applications. The grant applications reviewed by funding category are summarized as follows:
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We believe in what you do and are proud to support the work of a variety of non-profits in the Willamette Valley. Each year we provide nearly $5 million in funding for non-profits. Most of you know about that. It's what we do and we are proud to do it. What you may not know is the amount of partnership and contribution we are doing in other ways.
It's important for Oregon non-profits. Many of you have done an excellent job collaborating together on meeting mutual needs. We are proud to be a founding member of the newest voice for Oregon non-profits - the Non Profit Association of Oregon (NAO). Shelley Hanson, our Director, is on the NAO board. If you aren't aware of NAO, check out their website and learn more about the organization. It was formed in June (yes, only four months ago) and has grown to a membership of over 500 Oregon non-profits. Not bad for only four months of work! What it really says is that the non-profit community was hungry to have a united presence across the State. We are proud to support their effort. If you would like to learn more about NAO, please see their website at: www.ornonprofits.org. This is a really special month for NAO. In order to celebrate their success and further spread the word about the association, on November 14th, NAO is hosting four celebration events across the state where non-profit staff and board members can come and learn more about NAO and each other.
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Dennis Worden the 2007-08 Hatfield Fellow, successfully completed his fellowship experience in Congressman Wu’s Office in Washington, D.C., at the end of July 2007.
Dennis has expressed his gratitude and appreciation to the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde and the Spirit Mountain Community Fund for the Hatfield Fellowship opportunity. As Dennis reflected on his Hatfield Fellowship experience, he offered the following comments:
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We're sorry if you missed it...but it was spectacular!
Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde celebrated the 10th anniversary of the creation of Spirit Mountain Community Fund. Thursday September 13th, the Fund held its celebration at the Oregon Garden in Silverton, commemorating the Tribe's humble beginning ten years ago. In that time, the Tribe has invested over $40 million through grants to non-profit agencies in the eleven county service area.
Invited guests enjoyed an evening of excellent food as well as tribal entertainment. Kathryn Harrison, former tribal chariperson, opened the event with an invocation and blessing. Then the tribal honor guard and the Shunka Sapah drum conducted a traditional grand entry ceremony, including posting of colors. After a meal of salmon and buffalo, the founders and trustees of the Community Fund were honored with hand-made beaded gifts to recognize their efforts to earn the Grand Ronde Tribe the reputation that it has as a philanthropist and supporter of our neighbors and community members. The fifteen honorees were:
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On Monday July 16, 2007 the Siletz Tribal Charitable Contribution Fund hosted a Tribal Funders meeting in Lincoln City, Oregon. Those attending were:
Kelly Ellis, Director, Siletz Tribal Charitable Contribution Fund
Kathie Olson, Executive Director, Cow Creek Umpqua Indian Reservation
Ken Gordon, Executive Director, The Potlatch Foundation
Shelley Hanson, Director, Spirit Mountain Community Fund
Louis King, Program Officer, Spirit Mountain Community Fund
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Spirit Mountain Community Fund is delighted to announce that Rebecca Knight, a recent graduate of Willamette University in Salem, Oregon has been selected to become the 2007/2008 Hatfield Fellow. Ms. Knight was among several highly qualified and motivated candidates vying for the prestigious opportunity.
Ms. Knight is a member of the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde and has participated in many leadership activities in her community and while attending college.
The Hatfield Fellowship was created in 1998, in honor and recognition of Senator Mark O. Hatfield's public service to Oregon and the Pacific Northwest. Each year Spirit Mountain Community Fund endeavors to place the Hatfield Fellow with those in Washington, D.C. who represent the Pacific Northwest and those Federally recognized Tribes within the region. Past fellows have successfully served in seval congressional offices over the years to include: Congressman/Representatives Ron Wyden, Gordon Smith, David Wu, Darlene Hooley, Earl Blumenauer, and Greg Walden. Additional information about the Hatfield Fellowship is provided on our website.
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Please join us as we focus on the new Spirit Mountain Community Fund electronic grant application process. We will share with you what we are looking for in each document of the application that are required, and walk through the online process. The next meeting will be Thursday, October 4, 2007 from 2:00 - 4:00pm at Chemawa Indian School in Salem.
Please RSVP via email to kluane.baer@grandronde.org no later than October 1, 2007. Please include your name, organization name, and your email address. The cost for the meeting is free but you must RSVP to ensure a seat. Seating is limited.
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Spirit Mountain Community Fund (SMCF) Staff presented a $39,000 gift to Oregon Voices United (OVU) located in Hillsboro, Oregon to support their new Filial Therapy Project. This is the first year of an innovative therapy program designed to support adults who have been released from incarceration and are now reuniting with their children and family. The Filial Therapy model is a research-based approach that has been successful in several communities throughout the United States. SMCF is pleased to support the Oregon Voices United a non-profit organization that provides outreach to victims of domestic violence. The new Filial Therapy Project will provide criticalservices to a unique and underserved population within the Hillsboro community.
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On January 25th & 26th, 2007 the Spirit Mountain Community Fund Board of Trustees convened their regularly scheduled quarterly meeting in Portland, Oregon to consider some 45 grant applications. The Board reviewed applications that represented over $2.5 million in grant requests. Subsequently the Board awarded 27 grants ranging from $5,000 to $100,000 and made awards exceeding slightly over $1.2 million. The categories and amount of grant awards included; Arts & Culture, $150,000.00, Education $501,265.00, Environmental Preservation $95,959.00, Health $256,191.00, and Public Safety $20,000.00.
The second day of the Board’s agenda, hosted at Ecotrust™ in Portland, included the second presentation in a series of planned convening’s aimed at gaining a better understanding of the depth and breath of important community concerns and issues. This second convening focused on Native Americans and Ecotrust™ staffers Craig Jacobsen and Liz Woody facilitated the panel discussions. Presenting panelist and topic included Don Ivy (Coquille Tribe) – Historic Preservation, Robert Kentta (Siletz Tribe) – Arts and Culture, and Jackie Grant (Grand Ronde Tribe) – Education.
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Launch of Spirit Mountain Community Fund’s online application system
Have you ever wished that you could submit your application to us electronically? Good news! You can! This February, Spirit Mountain Community Fund is launching our new online application system. You’ll see a link on our “How to Apply” page on our website. You will use the link to launch our online Letter of Inquiry. Once you’ve submitted the letter (and yes, you can save it and come back to complete it), you will later receive a link from us that allows you access to our full application.
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For all the kids out there that are afraid of the dark, there’s a new venue in town at the Portland Children’s Museum. The venue, called the Dorothea Lensch Play It Again Theater, is “the stage that never goes dark.”
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Spirit Mountain Community FundRecognized in Nation-wide Photo Contest
Grand Ronde, OR --- The Spirit Mountain Community Fund (SMCF) announces that their entry into the National Indian Gaming Association’s (NIGA) recent “Benefits of Indian Gaming” photo contest was among those receiving recognition.
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Please join us as we focus on the new Spirit Mountain Community Fund electronic grant application process. We will share with you what we are looking for in each section of the narrative portion of the application and walk through the online process.
The cost for the meeting is free, but you must RSVP to ensure a seat. Seating is limited. RSVP to kluane.baer@grandronde.org. Please include your name, organization name, and your email address.
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Spirit Mountain Community Fund and the Tribe would like to take this opportunity to introduce Dennis Worden, this year’s Hatfield Fellow. Worden has been chosen to work with and represent the Oregon Congressional delegation in Washington D.C. through a program called the Hatfield Fellowship. The program is funded by Spirit Mountain Community Fund through the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde and was created in 1998 as a remembrance of the contributions made by Mark O. Hatfield, former Governor of Oregon and United States Senator.
The fellowship offers a unique opportunity for the chosen fellow to move to D.C. for nine months and work directly in an office of Congress, gaining knowledge about the legislative processes at the congressional level.
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