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The Council consists of the general tribal
membership and the executive body, Co-Chairs, Marcus Lopez and Deborah Sanchez; Tribal Administrative
Asst. Starla Battiest; Language Committee Co-Founder John Moreno; Language Committee
Chair Steve Villa; Firekeeper Art Cisneros and the Elder's Council which includes
prominent elders Paul Pommier, Georgiana Sanchez, Ralph Morello* and Sue
Diaz. Ray Ward is the caretaker of the tomol, our cherished traditional canoe. Our council members
are also involved in the community in many ways. * Elder's Council member Ralph Morello is a respected member
of the Barbareno Chumash Council. His photograph is not available at this time.
| Co-Chair, Deborah Sanchez |
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Co-Chair Deborah Sanchez practiced
law for many years. She is a board member of the Wishtoyo Foundation, a decoder of J.P. Harrington notes on the Chumash
language and a Chumash songwriter. Deborah is a Chumash language apprentice and sits on the NGPRA Board at California
State University, Long Beach. She provides Šmuwič language lessons to
the Chumash community on a monthly basis.
Visit Wishtoyo
| Language Committee Chair, Steve Villa |
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Language Committee Chair Steve Villa
is a captain of the tomol 'Elye'wun. Steve is a language apprentice ans now facilitate's
language lessons for the Chumash community. Steve is also active in cultural resources.
Ray Ward is a captain
of the 'Elye'wun and the Chair of the Chumash Maritime Association. Ray, and other members of the Chumash community,
created a beautifully tiled artwork at the village of Syuxtun (West Beach) in Santa Barbara. The Syuxtun
Story Circle won the Santa Barbara Beautiful Award for Public Art in 2010. Ray is currently heading the building of the BCC's
community tomol. Our newest tomol is nearly built and is expected to do her first voyage this Spring 2012.
Click to visit the Chumash Maritime Association
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| Co-Chair, Captain, Marcus Lopez |
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Co-Chair Marcus Lopez is a captain of the tomol
'Elye'wun (swordfish). Marcus Lopez is a well-known community organizer
and a KPFK host on the American Indian Airwaves radio program.
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John
Moreno is one of the founders of the language committee and is a Chumash songwriter. He teaches the
Šmuwič language on a monthly basis.
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| Tomol Caretaker, Captain, Ray Ward |
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Starla Battiest
is the daughter of the beloved and respected, now departed, Chumash elders Bob and Natalie Rivera. Starla Battiest assists the Council in many ways, helping to document the meetings and distribute
information to Council members. Starla's knowledge and talents are utilized by the Council at meetings and at events.
| Tribal Administrative Assistant, Starla Battiest |
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| Elder's Council Member, Paul Pommier |
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| Elder's Council Member, Georgiana Sanchez |
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Long time former Council
Chair Paul Pommier, worked tirelessly on our tribal membership records and kept our cultural, village and
historical information. Now on the Elder's Council, Paul Pommier provides invaluable information and consultation to our executive
body. Georgiana
Sanchez, Elder's Council, is a professor at California State University, Long Beach, teaching courses through the
American Indian Studies Department. Georgiana Sanchez is also a co-founder of the Language Committee, a published writer and
poet, grantwriter, and a board member with the California Indian Storytellers Association (CISA).
Click here to visit CISA
~ Elder's Council member Susan Diaz, is a storyteller and along with her siblings Georgiana Sanchez and John Moreno, they form the foundation
for the Chumash Family Singers. Sue Diaz is also serves as a board member for the American Indian Healing Center in Whittier,
California.
| Elder's Council Member, Sue Diaz |
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Firekeeper Art
Cisneros, has provided years of service to the Council and to all the participants of the annual crossing. Art generously
shares his wisdom and advice, helping people from the young to the elderly.
Barbareno Chumash Council 1263 E. Valley Road,
Santa Barbara, California 93108 Phone (805) 969-1076
or (562) 716-1025
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