Who's Involved

Task Force

In December 2018, the Governor’s Office issued Executive Order B-60-18 directing the Tribal Advisor to establish a task force that will oversee the development of the California Indian Heritage Center. The Tribal Advisor established a CIHC Task Force of California Native American tribal and community leaders in 2019 to inform and lead the project until its completion.

Task Force Members

Christina Snider-AshtariGovernor's Office Tribal Affairs Secretary
Wade CrowfootCA Natural Resources Agency Secretary
Armando QuinteroCA State Parks Director
Chairman Anthony RobertsYocha Dehe
Chairperson Corrina GouldConfederated Villages of Lisjan
Chairman Reid MilanovichAgua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians
Chairwoman Erica PintoJamul Indian Village
Vice-Chair Lorelle RossFederated Indians of Graton Rancheria
Shirley LaosTrinidad Rancheria
Nakia ZavallaSanta Ynez Band of Chumash Indians
Richard WestAutry Museum of the American West (Retired)
Larry Myers California Indian Heritage Center Foundation
Andrew AlejandreExecutive Secretary, NAHC

Project Team

In May, 2022, Fentress Architects was chosen out of 22 firms who submitted a Statement of Qualifications for the project. The CIHC Task Force and California State Parks established a subcommittee to review and interview the design firms. Based jointly out of Denver, Colorado and Sacramento, California, Fentress Architects has designed 52 museums, including gallery spaces and cultural heritage centers. Fentress Architects is partnering with Amaktoolik Studios for Native American architecture consultation and tribal outreach, Dennis Hendricks from the Tuolumne Band of Me-Wuk Indians as the CIHC Tribal Liaison, and James Pepper Henry, Vice Chairman Kaw Nation, and Director of First American Museum in Oklahoma City for public engagement, outreach, and expertise on museum operation and programming. The team brings over 35 years of experience in Native American outreach, public engagement and design throughout the U.S. Fentress will be supported by Amaktoolik, Studio MLA and Thinc.

Design Team

Curtis FentressFAIA, RIBA, Principal in Charge of Design, Fentress Studios
Albert RobertsAIA, DBIA, CDT, Project Manager + Point of Contact, Fentress Studios
Martin EissDesign Manager, Fentress Studios
Charles FentressAssociate AIA, ULI, Senior Designer, Fentress Studios
Kush ParekhPrincipal, Landscape Architect, Studio MLA
Eden FerrySenior Associate, Landscape Architect, Studio MLA
Jacquelyn Van EckProject Manager, Interpretive Design, Thinc Design
Oronde WrightSenior Exhibition Designer, Interpretive Design, Thinc Design
Cynthia LeeSenior Curator/Experience & Interpretation, Interpretive Design, Thinc Design

Community Outreach Team

Dennis HendricksTribal Liaison to the CIHC
Brian FagerstromAIA, Native American Consulting Architect, Amaktoolik Studios
Lisa JelliffeSenior Strategist, Amaktoolik Studios
James (Jim) Pepper HenryNative American Museum Professional

Past Participants

We would like to acknowledge the contributions of the many California Indian Advisors, past Task Force members, staff and consultants who contributed their time and effort to lay the foundation for this important work.

CALIFORNIA INDIAN CULTURAL CENTER MUSEUM TASK FORCE, ESTABLISHED IN 2002 – 2011

  • Larry Myers (Pomo), Chairman, Executive Secretary, Native American Heritage Commission
  • Cindi Alvitre (Tongva)
  • Tim Bactad (Kumeyaay)
  • Gen Denton (Miwok)
  • Jack Norton (Hupa/Cherokee)
  • Reba Fuller (Me-Wuk)
  • Bill Mungary (Paiute/Apache)

 

EX OFFICIO TASK FORCE MEMBERS

  • Mike Chrisman, Secretary, Resources Agency
  • Ruth Coleman, Director California State Parks
  • Susan Hildreth, California State Librarian
  • Walter P. Gray III, State Parks Designee, Chief Archaeology, History and Museums, California State Parks
  • David Quintana, Designee, Secretary, Resources Agency

 

PAST CIHC TASK FORCE MEMBERS

  • Loren Bommelyn (Tolowa)
  • John A. Gomez, Jr. (Luiseño)
  • Cindy La Marr (Pit River/Paiute), Former Task Force Chairperson
  • Mary Nichols, Secretary, Resources Agency
  • Dr. Kevin Starr, California State Librarian

 

PAST CIHC TASK FORCE DESIGNEES

  • Margaret Dalton, Designee, Native American Heritage Commission
  • Karen Edson, Designee, California State Librarian
  • Pilar Onate, California State Parks Designee, Director, California State Parks
  • Dr. Charlene Wear Simmons, Designee, California State Librarian
  • Michael Sweeney, Designee, Secretary, Resources Agency
  • Dave Widell, Designee, Secretary, Resources Agency

 

CIHC REVIEW ADVISORS

  • Paula Allen (Karuk/Yurok)
  • Diania Caudell (Luiseño)
  • Frank La Pena (Wintu-Nomtipom/Tunai)
  • Jack Norton (Hupa/Cherokee)
  • Connie Reitman (Pomo)
  • Adriane Tafoya (Yokuts)
  • Clifford Trafzer (Wyandot)
  • Julie Holder (Digueño/Kumeyaay), Review Advisors Liaison

 

CIHC CORE ADVISORY GROUP

  • Bill Mungary (Paiute/Apache), CIHC Task Force Representative
  • Alexandra Harris (Cherokee)
  • Frank LaPena (Nomtipom Wintu)
  • Cristina Moreno (Chumash)
  • Adriane Tafoya (Yokuts)
  • Cliff Trafzer (Wyandot)
  • Sherrie Smith-Ferri (Pomo)

 

ADVISORY GROUPS

  • Josie Talamantez, Vision Statement Facilitator

 

COLLECTIONS AND COMMUNITY TREASURES

  • Leo Carpenter Jr. (Hupa/Yurok/Karuk), Assistant Museum Planner/ Community Liaison for CIHC, California State Parks
  • Paulette Hennum, Museum Curator, Division of Archaeology, History and Museums, California State Parks
  • Alexandra Harris (Cherokee), Curator of Historic Media, Barona Cultural Center and Museum
  • Dale Ann Sherman (Yurok/Tolowa), Lecturer, Native American Studies, Humboldt State University
  • Sherrie Smith-Ferri (Pomo), Director, Grace Hudson Museum
  • Bruce Stiny, Museum Curator, State Museum Resource Center, California State Parks
  • Adriane Tafoya (Yokuts), Registrar, Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco
  • Mike Tucker, Museum Curator, Capital District, California State Parks
  • Walter P. Gray III, Chief, Division of Archaeology, History and Museums, California State Parks, Task Force Representative

 

CONTEMPORARY ARTS

  • Paula Allen (Karuk/Yurok), Arts Director, United Indian Health Services, Harry Fonseca (Nisenan Maidu), Painter
  • Paulette Hennum, Museum Curator, Division of Archaeology, History and Museums, California State Parks
  • Frank La Pena (Wintu-Nomtipom/Tunai), Professor Emeritus
    Native American Studies, CSU Sacramento, Artist, Committee Lead
  • Judith Lowry (Hammawi Pit River/ Mountain Maidu), Painter
  • Monique Sonoquie (Chumash), Filmmaker
  • Cindi Alvitre (Tongva), Educator/Activist, Task Force Representative

 

CULTURAL/OUTDOOR PROGRAMMING

  • Leo Carpenter Jr. (Hupa/Yurok/Karuk), Assistant Museum Planner/ Community Liaison for CIHC, California State Parks
  • Cristina Gonzales (Chumash), Assistant Museum Planner/ Community Liaison for CIHC, California State Parks
  • Axel Lindgren (Yurok), Park Maintenance Worker, Patrick’s Point State Park, California State Parks
  • Tim Bactad (Kumeyaay), Community Activist, Task Force Representative
  • Gen Denton (Miwok), Community Activist, Task Force Representative

 

INTERPRETIVE THEMES

  • Andy Galvan (Ohlone), Curator, Old Mission Dolores, San Francisco
  • Donna Pozzi, Chief, Interpretation and Education, California State Parks
  • Connie Reitman (Pomo), Executive Director, Inter-Tribal Council of California, Inc.
  • David Snooks (Washoe), Artist
  • Daniel Striplen (Ohlone), Assistant Museum Planner/ Community Liaison for CIHC, California State Parks
  • Helen Suri (Karuk), Basket Weaver
  • Cliff Trafzer (Wyandot), NAHC Commissioner, Professor of American Indian, and Public History, UC, Riverside
  • Randy Yonemura (Miwok), Archaeological Site Monitor
  • Jack Norton (Hupa/Cherokee), Professor Emeritus, Native American Studies, CSU Humboldt, Task Force Representative

 

LIBRARY, RESEARCH, ARCHIVES

  • John D. Berry (Choctaw), Native American Studies Librarian, Ethnic Studies Library, UC, Berkeley
  • Diania Caudell (Luiseño), Basket Weaver, Community Activist, Independent Researcher
  • Susan Hanks, Programs Consultant, California State Library, Development Services
  • Julie Holder (Digueño/Kumeyaay), Assistant Museum Planner/ Community Liaison for CIHC, California State Parks
  • Nancy Zimmelman, State Archivist and Chief, Archives Division
  • Susan Hildreth, State Librarian of California, Task Force Representative

 

OPERATIONS

  • Darren Ali, Security Supervisor, Crocker Art Museum
  • Val Bradshaw, Park Maintenance Chief III, Statewide Technical Services Manager, Park Operations, California State Parks
  • Niccolo Caldararo, Conservator, San Francisco
  • Gary Fabian, Architect, Stafford King Wiese
  • Maury Morningstar (Arikara), Supervising State Park Ranger, North Coast Redwoods State Park, Redwood Coast Sector, California State Parks
  • Bill Mungary (Paiute/Apache), Retired, Community, Housing and Economic Developer, Task Force Representative

 

CIHC PROJECT TEAM, CALIFORNIA STATE PARKS

  • Maria Baranowski, Senior Architect, Northern Service Center
  • Pauline Grenbeaux, Project Coordinator, Division of Archaeology, History and Museums
  • Paulette Hennum, Museum Curator, Division of Archaeology, History and Museums
  • Catherine Taylor, District Superintendent, Capital District State Museums and Historic Parks
  • Tara Todd, Staff Counsel, Legal Section
  • Warren Westrup, Chief, Acquisition and Real Property, Services Division
  • Rob Wood (Cherokee), CIHC Project Coordinator, Capital District State Museums and Historic Parks
  • Sarah Fonseca (Nisenan Maidu), Project Assistant, Northern Service Center

 

CIHC REVIEW ADVISORS’ LIAISON

  • Julie Holder (Digueño/Kumeyaay), Cultural Specialist, Community Liaison for CIHC

 

CIHC PROJECT ASSISTANT

  • Sarah Fonseca (Nisenan Maidu)

 

CIHC ASSISTANT MUSEUM PLANNERS/COMMUNITY LIAISONS

  • Leo Carpenter Jr. (Hupa/Yurok/Karuk)
  • Gina Diaz
  • Cristina Gonzales (Chumash)
  • Cuauhtemoc Gonzalez (Miwok)
  • Ileana Maestas
  • James Sarmento (Shasta)
  • Daniel Striplen (Ohlone)