Tribally-Guided
Tribally-Guided
Board of Directors
Jesus Alvarez
Fernandeño Tataviam
Our Histories Drive Us.
Our Futures Inspire Us.
Board President
Jesus Alvarez (Fernandeño Tataviam) is the Board President of the Tataviam Land Conservancy. He obtained his Bachelor of Arts in Education in 1993 and spent the following years working in early childhood instruction. He currently serves as a Financial Aid Administrator for California State University Northridge (CSUN). A lifelong resident of the homelands of his Fernandeño ancestors, Jesus enjoys volunteering for local educational programs, especially those curated by his Tribe.
Lucia Alfaro
Fernandeño Tataviam
Board Member
Lucia Alfaro (Fernandeño Tataviam) is a Board Member and Vice President of the Tataviam Land Conservancy. Lucia is proud of her heritage and is dedicated to preserving and enriching Tribal culture and honoring the memory of those who have struggled for dignity, respect, and prosperity on the Tribe’s behalf. Through the TLC, Lucia works to recover ancestral homelands, preserve historically and culturally significant landscapes, and develop education and cultural awareness programs. Lucia has been employed with the State of California for over 20 years.
Richard Ortega
Fernandeño Tataviam
Board Member
Richard Ortega (Fernandeño Tataviam) is a Tataviam Land Conservancy Board Member. Following his heart and affinity for the Tribe, Richard retired from the collision repair industry after 30 years in management to serve as a lead Tribal monitor. He feels the call of his ancestors and believes it is a great honor to live and work on the ancestral lands of his people. Richard hopes that through the efforts of the TLC, land will be restored to the Tribe and be protected so that generations to come will learn to love and respect the land and gain wisdom from the many life lessons that nature holds.
Alan Salazar
Fernandeño Tataviam
Board Member
Alan Salazar (Fernandeño Tataviam & Ventureño Chumash) is a traditional educator, storyteller, cultural monitor, and spiritual advisor. He has been involved with cultural resources and protecting ancestral lands for over 25 years, working with archaeologists, environmentalists, developers, and government agencies on many levels. Alan’s family traces its ancestry to the Chumash village of Ta’apu at Tapo Canyon, the Tataviam village of Chaguayanga in Newhall, the Pipimaram village at Suitcanga in Encino, and the Tataviam village of Tochonanga near Towsley Canyon in Santa Clarita. Alan has been a cultural resource monitor and consultant since 1995, working to actively protect his ancestors’ village sites and Tribal territories.
Kevin Nuñez
Gabrielino
Board Member
Kevin Nuñez, Cultural Bearer, is a descendant of a Native American village called Japchibit, located in the San Gabriel Mountains, Angeles National Forest. Kevin’s family has lived in the present-day City of Azusa since 1886, twelve years before its incorporation. With his deep connection to Azusa area, he has prioritized meaningful relationships in the Indigenous and broader Los Angeles communities. Kevin continues his support of land management, recreation, and conservation work and has built strong friendships and supporters from various governmental and non-governmental organizations.
Sarah Brewer Thompson
Board Member
Sarah Brewer is honored to serve as a Tataviam Land Conservancy Board Member. Sarah’s love for the land and the Fernandeño Tataviam Tribe began at a very young age, from her parents’ inspiration, who instilled in their daughters a deep respect for natural and historic resources and the importance of public service. Sarah’s passions guided her through her college years, where she obtained a dual BA in history and anthropology/archaeology and an MA in history. She previously served as a Recreation Services Leader for the County of Los Angeles Department of Parks and Recreation and is the Acting Superintendent of San Dimas Canyon Nature Center.
Katherine Pease
Board Member
Dr. Katherine Pease assesses the biological health and water quality of LA watersheds’ and assists stakeholder groups with policy recommendations. At Barnard College, she studied Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. She later earned a Ph.D. from UCLA, where she wrote her dissertation on the impacts of invasive crayfish on native frog tadpoles in the Santa Monica Mountains. Dr. Pease is passionate about freshwater ecosystems and loves to explore LA’s wilderness.
Board of Directors
Jesus Alvarez
Fernandeño Tataviam
Board President
Jesus Alvarez (Fernandeño Tataviam) is the Board President of the Tataviam Land Conservancy. He obtained his Bachelor of Arts in Education in 1993 and spent the following years working in early childhood instruction. He currently serves as a Financial Aid Administrator for California State University Northridge (CSUN). A lifelong resident of the homelands of his Fernandeño ancestors, Jesus enjoys volunteering for local educational programs, especially those curated by his Tribe.
Lucia Alfaro
Fernandeño Tataviam
Board Member
Lucia Alfaro (Fernandeño Tataviam) is a Board Member and Vice President of the Tataviam Land Conservancy. Lucia is proud of her heritage and is dedicated to preserving and enriching Tribal culture and honoring the memory of those who have struggled for dignity, respect, and prosperity on the Tribe’s behalf. Through the TLC, Lucia works to recover ancestral homelands, preserve historically and culturally significant landscapes, and develop education and cultural awareness programs. Lucia has been employed with the State of California for over 20 years.
Richard Ortega
Fernandeño Tataviam
Board Member
Richard Ortega (Fernandeño Tataviam) is a Tataviam Land Conservancy Board Member. Following his heart and affinity for the Tribe, Richard retired from the collision repair industry after 30 years in management to serve as a lead Tribal monitor. He feels the call of his ancestors and believes it is a great honor to live and work on the ancestral lands of his people. Richard hopes that through the efforts of the TLC, land will be restored to the Tribe and be protected so that generations to come will learn to love and respect the land and gain wisdom from the many life lessons that nature holds.
Alan Salazar
Fernandeño Tataviam
Board Member
Alan Salazar (Fernandeño Tataviam & Ventureño Chumash) is a traditional educator, storyteller, cultural monitor, and spiritual advisor. He has been involved with cultural resources and protecting ancestral lands for over 25 years, working with archaeologists, environmentalists, developers, and government agencies on many levels. Alan’s family traces its ancestry to the Chumash village of Ta’apu at Tapo Canyon, the Tataviam village of Chaguayanga in Newhall, the Pipimaram village at Suitcanga in Encino, and the Tataviam village of Tochonanga near Towsley Canyon in Santa Clarita. Alan has been a cultural resource monitor and consultant since 1995, working to actively protect his ancestors’ village sites and Tribal territories.
Kevin Nuñez
Gabrielino
Board Member
Kevin Nuñez, Cultural Bearer, is a descendant of a Native American village called Japchibit, located in the San Gabriel Mountains, Angeles National Forest. Kevin’s family has lived in the present-day City of Azusa since 1886, twelve years before its incorporation. With his deep connection to Azusa area, he has prioritized meaningful relationships in the Indigenous and broader Los Angeles communities. Kevin continues his support of land management, recreation, and conservation work and has built strong friendships and supporters from various governmental and non-governmental organizations.
Sarah Brewer Thompson
Board Member
Sarah Brewer is honored to serve as a Tataviam Land Conservancy Board Member. Sarah’s love for the land and the Fernandeño Tataviam Tribe began at a very young age, from her parents’ inspiration, who instilled in their daughters a deep respect for natural and historic resources and the importance of public service. Sarah’s passions guided her through her college years, where she obtained a dual BA in history and anthropology/archaeology and an MA in history. She previously served as a Recreation Services Leader for the County of Los Angeles Department of Parks and Recreation and is the Acting Superintendent of San Dimas Canyon Nature Center.
Katherine Pease
Board Member
Dr. Katherine Pease assesses the biological health and water quality of LA watersheds’ and assists stakeholder groups with policy recommendations. At Barnard College, she studied Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. She later earned a Ph.D. from UCLA, where she wrote her dissertation on the impacts of invasive crayfish on native frog tadpoles in the Santa Monica Mountains. Dr. Pease is passionate about freshwater ecosystems and loves to explore LA’s wilderness.
The Tataviam Land Conservancy is driven by a majority Native governing body, most of whom are Fernandeño Tataviam.
Our Histories Drive Us.
Our Futures Inspire Us.
