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https://amahmutsun.org/governance/tribal-council

https://sfsuais.sfsu.edu/sites/default/files/Suspension-Boards-Final.pdf

https://amahmutsun.org/governance/tribal-council

https://womensearthalliance.org/corrina-gould/

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Tribal Council

Valentin Lopez has been the Chairman of the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band since 2003, one of three historic tribes that are recognized as Ohlone. Valentin is Mutsun, Chumash and Yokuts. The Amah Mutsun are comprised of the documented descendants of Missions San Juan Bautista and Santa Cruz. Valentin Lopez is a Native American Advisor to the University o f California, Office of the President on issues related to repatriation. He is also a Native American Advisor to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) and the Phoebe Hearst Museum of Anthropology. Valentin is actively involved in efforts to restore tribal indigenous knowledge and ensure our history is accurately told. Finally, Valentin is working to restore the Mutsun Language and is a traditional Mutsun singer and dancer. As Chairman, Valentin is a standing member on all Tribal committees and Boards.

Ed Katechum is the Vice-Chairman of the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band. Ed has been a Council member since 1992: Ed also serves as the Tribal Historian and Natural Resource Coordinator. He has studied Mutsun history and culture since childhood. Ed regularly presents tribal history to members and the public, he particularly enjoys telling the Mutsun creation stories to our youth. In addition to being the Tribal historian he has represented the tribe with organizations providing our goals of restoring habitat and protecting culturally significant lands. Ed is also registered with the Native American Heritage Commission as the Most Likely Descendent for most of San Benito County and portions of Merced and Santa Clara Counties.

Lisa Carrier is the Tribal Secretary and has been on Council since 2003. She was a Co-Founder, Director of the Mutsun Language Foundation which was founded in 2001. In addition to working on language, Lisa is a traditional dancer & singer. She continues to preserve her Mutsun heritage through basket weaving, music, regalia making, traditional jewelry and studying the horticulture & genealogy of her ancestors. She has taught Mutsun traditions and skills through presentations and classroom demonstrations at schools, universities and state, regional and county parks and for the native people in her community. Lisa is a member of the Humunya Foundation, releases all Tribal announcements & other communication to her Tribe and is employed as Director of Operations with the Amah Mutsun Land Trust.

Denise Espinosa , Tribal Treasurer and has been on Council since 2003, is a retired professional therapist and expertise on issues related to Native American Mental Health including: drugs and alcohol, Native identity, using ceremony in healing. Denise is the Treasurer of the Humunya Foundation.

Eleanor Castro , Member: Eleanor has been on Council since 2019. Eleanor has serviced on the Humunya Foundation. She volunteers as a Tribal Elder for the Native Stewardship Corps of the Amah Mutsun Land Trust, she is a cultural practitioner and has taught her mutsun traditions through presentations and demonstrations schools, universities and state, regional and county parks and for the native people in her community.

Marcella Luna , Member: Marcella has been a Council member since 2021. Marcella works as a Administrative Specialist and leader for the Native Stewardship Corps of the Amah Mutsun Land Trust. Specializing in cultural burns, ocean and coastal monitoring and native plant restoration.

Catherine Luna-Rodriguez , Member: Catherine has been on Council since 2021 and participates in all Tribal meetings related to wellness and helps members with their understanding of difficult topics. Catherine is a tribal elder who assists our Youth Group and leads the UwiSmak singers.

Mark Mondragon , Member: Mark has been on Tribal Council since 1999. Mark has expertise in wild fires and as such helps the Tribe develop policies related to land management, and habitat restoration..

Sonya Pineida , Member: Sonia Has been on Council since 2007. Sonia serves as member liaison for all lineages. Sonya keeps members informed of Tribal events and helps coordinate transportation, to meetings, etc. Sonya also helps members with individual issues as requested. Sonya has specialize training from Cornell University in Library Science with emphasis on Native American archival records.

Marie Luna, Member. Marie has been on Council since 2021 and participates in all Tribal meetings related to wellness and helps members with their understanding of difficult topics.

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Valentin Lopez has been the Chairman of the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band since 2003, one of three historic tribes that are recognized as Ohlone. Valentin is Mutsun, Chumash and Yokuts. The Amah Mutsun are comprised of the documented descendants of Missions San Juan Bautista and Santa Cruz.

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traditional, environmental knowledge is important, property laws, TEK, examples of how Native Americans preserved land and water use.  Preserve the salmon they had by lighting fires to create a cloud and protect the water from getting too hot.  This protects the salmon.   Cool to see how Native Americans have preserved the land and their way of living - sustainability.

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traditional, environmental knowledge is important, property laws, TEK, examples of how Native Americans preserved land and water use.  Preserve the salmon they had by lighting fires to create a cloud and protect the water from getting too hot.  This protects the salmon.   Cool to see how Native Americans have preserved the land and their way of living - sustainability.

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It is great to see other Native people here - we moved from S Dakota because we were looking for a less racist area.  Don't tell lies e.g. the missions and how they were eld captive there.  How native people lost their language because they were forced to speak Spanish.  now Native languages are coming back - the languages and cultures and traditions of the different community groups.  Study Dakota Language, Navajo is starting next year.  Dispel the stereotypes of mascots - the negative connotations from classmates and adults.

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It is great to see other Native people here - we moved from S Dakota because we were looking for a less racist area.  Don't tell lies e.g. the missions and how they were eld captive there.  How native people lost their language because they were forced to speak Spanish.  now Native languages are coming back - the languages and cultures and traditions of the different community groups.  Study Dakota Language, Navajo is starting next year.  Dispel the stereotypes of mascots - the negative connotations from classmates and adults.

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Native Americans are still here!
Contributions and importance of first nations is very important.
We want the Genocide story told! It is reality!
To explain what tribal communities were like prior to first contact--women held highest positions; nurturing; traditional healers; no alcohol/drug issues.
Students to learn about utilization of doctrine of discovery
CA Indian history--proper education on what REALLY happened in the Mission Era: violence; death; disease
What really happened in Gold Rush error--bording schools; Native children not allowed to speak their language, etc. family separations
Relocation Era
Indian Adoption Scoop Era
Age appropriate

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Not just about the topics they could learn but a different type of engagement with community organizations - get students involved in projects which have current value to current Native Americans.  

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Not just about the topics they could learn but a different type of engagement with community organizations - get students involved in projects which have current value to current Native Americans.  

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Connect through a Native perspective of relocation and not the American mythology that is typically taught. That was damaging and now ethnic studies can show more different people's perspective - a different approach to the curriculum. Bring in the new resources - material resources to support ethnic studies. Real resources and training for teachers. If it is the same teachers then they need more training on standards and ethnic studies. Not realistic to expect someone to jump in and teach something that is not their area of expertise. Partner with the local colleges to get train and specialists in ethnic studies.

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Sophomore Student (CVHS) shared most information is censored
Talking about WHY is so important!
What besides diseases wiped out Native people
What traditions were thwarted--we need to learn about those traditions and what life was actually like! Not in reference to the colonizers.
Need to talk about more tribes than just a few!

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the point about the right teacher is very important.  we are lucky to have teachers already who a re very passionate about ethnic studies.  Also we should look at all of our curriculum with a critical eye even in elementary school.  Put supplemental materials in place of the inaccurate textbooks.

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the point about the right teacher is very important.  we are lucky to have teachers already who a re very passionate about ethnic studies.  Also we should look at all of our curriculum with a critical eye even in elementary school.  Put supplemental materials in place of the inaccurate textbooks.

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Community is so important!
How to run a circle
How important the environment is to the community
Treaties! Even now many are broken; speak truthfully; accurately; speak the horrible history that has not been spoken
Also, talk about the beautiful things people carry through their food, stories, taking care of land
Teach to find out what "your" stories and "your" history is...where do YOU come from...
Take those discovered stories and teach to the elementary age group

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Importance of language!
There is a revitalization of the language going on in many tribal nations
VISIBILITY; Not objectification

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Are there any mascot issues in the local area?

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Where are the resources - there is a Native American museum in Fremont.  There are places close by that have actual Native American history.  Coyote Hills is a place where students can experience indigenous lands.  All of this area has Native roots - Mount Diablo is named because of Native People.  CA Govt paid bounties on Native Americans to bring in their dead remains.

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Where are the resources - there is a Native American museum in Fremont.  There are places close by that have actual Native American history.  Coyote Hills is a place where students can experience indigenous lands.  All of this area has Native roots - Mount Diablo is named because of Native People.  CA Govt paid bounties on Native Americans to bring in their dead remains.

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Mission projects is an example of how history has been twisted. There are projects in Santa Cruz about how history should be taught. Go to the community to get real resources. the mission project is ignorant and incorrect. Change that to be better. Revamp and go somewhere to teach the right history.

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Music
Arts-complexity of basketry
Be careful letting someone take that and "own" it
It is NOT just art
How do we sustain it?

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Traditional
Environmental
Knowledge
Taking care of land before it was taken

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Lots of tie-in sounds like that could also be discussed in science classes with sustaining our earth while at the same time discussing the ethnic heritage here!

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California Indians' Truth and Healing Council

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California Indians' Truth and Healing Council

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More Native AMerican teachers to teach who we are. Where we have been and where we are going

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Teach what is happening today as well!
missing/murdered women

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It is important to teach about what is happening today and not make the history seem like it is so long ago.  

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It is important to teach about what is happening today and not make the history seem like it is so long ago.  

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There are many missing and murdered Indian women now - no investigations happen - girls are missing and then they end up murdered

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There are many missing and murdered Indian women now - no investigations happen - girls are missing and then they end up murdered

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Carina Gould- active in oakland . Ohlone. Educates on Ohlone history and what is happening now. Great public speaker.

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Stanford Pow Wow in person this year. Coming up

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A man at the San Jose Mission Delores is Ohlone and is an educator, speaker- Greg Castro

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RoseMary Cambra works with Ohlone in South Bay- Stanford University

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WHO IS GOING TO TEACH THE AMERICAN INDIAN COMPONENT?

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WHO IS GOING TO TEACH THE AMERICAN INDIAN COMPONENT?

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AB 703, CA Indian History Bill, integrate this history in the CA framework
Assembly Member James Ramos (Serrano/Cahuilla)