California’s Fifth Climate Change Assessment Tribal Advisory Group welcomes three new members

SACRAMENTO - The California Governor's Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation (LCI) is honored to announce three new members on California's Fifth Climate Change Assessment Tribal Advisory Group (TAG), bringing total membership to 10. The TAG will play a critical role in California's Fifth Assessment, a multi-year research effort to identify how climate change is impacting California's diverse communities and to develop ways to adapt to those impacts. The TAG will guide the Fifth Assessment's Tribal Research Program among other components, helping ensure the assessment will be meaningful to Tribal communities and support their work in advancing climate resilience.

We are thrilled to welcome the following new members to the Tribal Advisory Group of California's Fifth Climate Change Assessment:

• Casmali Lopez
  • Title: Tomol Paddler
  • Tribal Affiliation: Barbareño Band of Chumash Indians
  • Nominating Tribe: Barbareño Band of Chumash Indians
• Nathan K. Nunez
  • Title: Chief Executive Ocer of Nunez & Nunez Consulting Services, Inc.
  • Tribal Affiliation: Xaapchivitam clan of the Eastern San Gabriel Mountains
  • Nominating Tribe: Fernandeño Tataviam Band of Mission Indians
• Samantha Johnson Yang
  • Title: Cultural Officer
  • Tribal Affiliation: Gabrieleno San Gabriel Band of Mission Indians
  • Nominating Tribe: Gabrieleno San Gabriel Band of Mission Indians

These three new members join seven inaugural members:

• Tiana Williams-Claussen
  • Title: Yurok Tribe Wildlife Department Director
  • Tribal Affiliation: Yurok Nation
  • Nominating Tribe: Yurok Tribe
• Raymond Gutteriez
  • Title: Eco-Cultural Ecologist
  • Tribal Affiliation: Wuksachi Indian Tribe
  • Nominating Tribe: Wuksachi Indian Tribe
• Connor Magee
  • Title: Research and Data Application Manager, Climate Science Alliance
  • Tribal Affiliation: Pala Band of Mission Indians (Payomkawichum/Cahuilla)
  • Nominating Tribe: Pala Band of Mission Indians
• Christina McDonald
  • Title: North Fork Rancheria of Mono Indians Vice Chairperson
  • Tribal Affiliation: North Fork Rancheria of Mono Indians
  • Nominating Tribe: North Fork Rancheria of Mono Indians
• William "Yaan Yaan Eesh" Micklin
  • Title: Chief Executive Office, Ewiiaapaayp Band of Kumeyaay Indians
  • Tribal Affiliation: Tlingit & Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska, Cangukeidi (Wolf moiety), Teikweidi Clan, Kaats Hit (House of Kaats the man who married the bear), Tantakwaan (Tongass Tribe)
  • Nominating Tribe: Ewiiaapaayp Band of Kumeyaay Indians
• Michael Shaver
  • Title: Water Resources Manager
  • Nominating Tribe: Potter Valley Tribe
• Dean Tonenna
  • Title: Vice President, Mono Lake Kootzaduka'a Indian Community Cultural Preservation Association, Botanist/Ethnobotanist/Tribal Elder and Kootzaduka'a Traditionalist
  • Tribal Affiliation: Mono Lake Kootzaduka'a
  • Nominating Tribe: Mono Lake Kootzaduka'a

LCI recognizes that while there are similarities among Tribal communities, California Native American Tribes are not monolithic, rather, each Tribal Nation has a unique history and distinct cultural, spiritual and political structures. LCI staff aim for the TAG to reflect diversity in age, culture and geographic region, and to include members affiliated with both federally recognized and non-federally recognized Tribes. The TAG collectively brings expertise on a variety of topics relevant to the Fifth Assessment. Each member serves as a member at large and does not represent a specific Tribe.

LCI continues to accept nominations and aspires for the TAG to reflect the full diversity of Tribal communities across California. For more information, contact Bryce Lewis-Smith at [email protected].

While the TAG will chart the course of the Tribal Research Program, LCI's Fifth Assessment team will also continue other Tribal engagement efforts, including consultations and input sessions. Learn more about California's Fifth Climate Change Assessment and its Tribal Research Program on LCI's website.