Tribal Council approves grant applications for domestic violence and sex trafficking prevention

By Danielle Harrison

Smoke Signals editor

Tribal Council approved a grant application for a U.S. Department of Justice Office on Violence Against Women for domestic violence and sex trafficking prevention at its Wednesday, July 9, meeting.

A similar application included an Office on Violence Against Women rural domestic violence, dating violence and stalking prevention grant for up to $700,000.

These grant applications are part of the Tribe’s Warriors of Hope Domestic & Sexual Violence Program’s mission to support survivors of domestic abuse, sexual violence, stalking and human trafficking.

“This will fund 1.62 existing shelter advocates, provide funding for required training and provide funding for needed supplies, equipment and fees,” Tribal Grants Program Manager Wendy Sparks said during a Tuesday, July 8, Legislative Action Committee meeting. “It’s a three-year grant with an award anticipated in September.”

If approved, the federal grants would be used to develop and provide housing capacity that will meet the needs of domestic violence survivors, maintain current services and provide an environment that promotes recovery and healing.

In other action, Tribal Council:

• Approved a grant application from the Tribal Police Department to the Spirit Mountain Community Fund Oregon Tribal Grants Program for up to $100,000;
• Approved the 12 Tribes O’Link memorandum of agreement for fiscal year 2026. The annual agreement is necessary because the Grand Ronde Tribe’s Indian Housing Block Grant service area overlaps with 11 other Tribes in Oregon and California. The federal government requires that Tribes in overlapping service areas agree on how to distribute funding, which will include an allocation of approximately $428,577 for Grand Ronde;
• Approved the Oregon Statewide Transportation Improvement Fund transit plan agreement to help fund public transit services in Grand Ronde;
• Approved an amendment to the Tribal Transportation Program funding agreement with the U.S. Department of the Interior;
• And approved the enrollment of four infants into the Tribe because they meet the requirements under the Tribal Constitution and Enrollment Ordinance.

To watch the entire meeting, visit the Tribal government’s website at www.grandronde.org and click on the Videos tab.