About the Native American Heritage Commission
History
In 1976, the California State Government passed AB 4239, establishing the Native American Heritage Commission (NAHC) as the primary government agency responsible for identifying and cataloging Native American cultural resources. Up until this point, there had been little government participation in the protection of California’s cultural resources. As such, one of the NAHC’s primary duties, as stated in AB 4239, was to prevent irreparable damage to designated sacred sites, as well as to prevent interference with the expression of Native American religion in California.
Furthermore, the bill authorized the Commission to act in order to prevent damage to and ensure Native American access to sacred sites. Moreover, the Commission could request that the court issue an injunction for the site, unless it found evidence that public interest and necessity required otherwise.
In addition, the bill authorized the commission to prepare an inventory of Native American sacred sites located on public lands and required the commission to review current administrative and statutory protections accorded to such sites.
In 1982, legislation was passed authorizing the Commission to identify a Most Likely Descendant (MLD) when Native American human remains were discovered any place other than a dedicated cemetery. MLDs were granted the legal authority to make recommendations regarding the treatment and disposition of the discovered remains. These recommendations, although they cannot halt work on the project site, give MLDs a means by which to ensure that the Native American human remains are treated in the appropriate manner.
Today, the NAHC provides protection to Native American human burials and skeletal remains from vandalism and inadvertent destruction. It also provides a legal means by which Native American descendents can make known their concerns regarding the need for sensitive treatment and disposition of Native American burials, skeletal remains, and items associated with Native American burials.
Commissioners
Back row: Raymond C. Hitchcock, Sara Dutschke, Wayne Nelson, Stanley Rodriguez, Isaac Bojorquez, Reid Milanovich
Front row: Buffy McQuillen, Laurena Bolden, Reginald Pagaling, Assemblymember James C. Ramos
Chairperson Reginald Pagaling
Tribal Elder, Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians
Tribal Affiliation: Chumash
Commissioner Pagaling is an enrolled member of the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians and a tribal elder. He has devoted his time to re-establishing the traditional maritime culture of the Tribe since 1996, and has also served as chairman of the Indian Gaming Local Community Benefit Committee of Santa Barbara County since 2010. Pagaling was tribal education program coordinator for the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians from 1993 to 1996. He was public relations manager for the Chumash Casino Resort from 1991 to 1993 and was cultural resources coordinator and Native American monitor at the Tribal Elders Council of Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians from 1988 to 1990. Pagaling built the Tomol “Muptami of Kalawashaq,” a traditional Chumash plank canoe, and co-organizes the annual Tomol crossing from Channel Islands Harbor to Santa Cruz Island. Pagaling is a member of the Chumash Maritime Association.
Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. appointed Commissioner Pagaling to the Native American Heritage Commission on March 28, 2013.
Vice Chairperson Buffy McQuillen
Tribal Heritage Preservation Officer, Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria
Tribal Affiliation: Yokayo Pomo, Yuki, Nomlaki
Commissioner McQuillen is a descendant of Yokayo Pomo, Yuki, Nomlaki and an enrolled Tribal Citizen of Round Valley Indian Tribes. She has been Tribal Heritage Preservation Officer at the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria since 2015. Commissioner McQuillen held several positions at the Yurok Tribe between 2001 and 2015, including Acting Assistant to the Social Services Director and Youth Outreach Coordinator and Repatriation and Cultural Collections Manager. She was Repatriation Specialist for Tolowa Dee-ni’ Nation from 2012 to 2013.
Governor Gavin Newsom appointed Commissioner McQuillen to the Native American Heritage Commission on October 28, 2021.
Secretary Sara Dutschke
Chairman, Ione Band of Miwok Indians
Tribal Affiliation: Miwok
Commissioner Dutschke has been a Partner at Kaplan Kirsch & Rockwell since 2019 and is an enrolled member of and has been Chair for the Ione Band of Miwok Indians since 2018. She was an Attorney at Dentons US LLP from 2010 to 2019, Associate at Karshmer & Associates from 2006 to 2010 and Program Analyst and Administrative Officer at the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Indian Affairs Pacific Regional Office from 1998 to 2006. Commissioner Dutschke earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law and a Master of Fine Arts degree in Native American Studies from the University of California, Davis.
Governor Gavin Newsom appointed Commissioner Dutschke to the Native American Heritage Commission on October 28, 2021.
Parliamentarian Wayne Nelson
Culture Resource Manager, Native Ground Monitoring, Research and Consulting
Tribal Affiliation: Luiseño
Commissioner Nelson is an enrolled member of the La Jolla Band of Luiseño Indians and has been Culture Resource Manager at Native Ground Monitoring, Research and Consulting since 1999.
Governor Gavin Newsom appointed Commissioner Nelson to the Native American Heritage Commission on October 28, 2021.
Commissioner Isaac Bojorquez
Chairman, KaKoon Ta Ruk Band of Ohlone-Costanoan Indians of the Big Sur Rancheria
Tribal Affiliation: Ohlone-Costanoan
Commissioner Bojorquez, is an enrolled member of and has been Tribal Chairman for the KaKoon Ta Ruk Band of Ohlone-Costanoan Indians of the Big Sur Rancheria since 2018. He held several positions at the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation between 2000 and 2021, including Director of Cultural Resources and Executive Assistant of the Tribal Gaming Agency. Commissioner Bojorquez was a Security Screener at the Transportation Security Administration from 2003 to 2004, Detention Officer I and Deputy Probation Officer Intern at Yolo County Probation from 1999 to 2000 and Supervisor at Valley Media Inc. from 1994 to 1999.
Governor Gavin Newsom appointed Commissioner Bojorquez to the Native American Heritage Commission on October 28, 2021.
Commissioner Stanley Rodriguez
Director, Kumeyaay Community College
Tribal Affiliation: Iipay
Commissioner Rodriguez has been Director of the Kumeyaay Community College since 2018, Adjunct Instructor at California State University, San Marcos since 2017, Kumeyaay Language Instructor at Kumeyaay Community College since 2005 and Instructor and Advisor at the Navy Drug and Alcohol Counselor School since 1995. Commissioner Rodriguez served as an E-5 in the U.S. Navy from 1985 to 1991. He is an enrolled member and serves as a Council Member of the Santa Ysabel Band of the Iipay Nation. Commissioner Rodriguez earned a Doctor of Education degree in Educational Leadership from the University of California, San Diego and a Master of Arts degree in Human Behavior from National University.
Governor Gavin Newsom appointed Commissioner Rodriguez to the Native American Heritage Commission on October 28, 2021.
Commissioner Laurena Bolden
Commissioner Bolden has served as Second Governing Council Member and Culture Pillar Co-Lead with the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians since 2022. She is a three-term member of the San Manuel Education Board and currently serves as Vice Chair. Bolden earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminal Justice from California State University, San Bernardino.
Governor Gavin Newsom appointed Commissioner Bolden to the Native American Heritage Commission on September 1, 2023.
Commissioner Reid Milanovich
Chairman, Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians
Tribal Affiliation: Cahuilla
Commissioner Milanovich has served as Chairman of the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians since 2022. Milanovich served as Tribal Council Vice Chair there from 2019 to 2022 and was a member of the Tribal Council from 2014 to 2019. Milanovich earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from California Baptist University.
Governor Gavin Newsom appointed Commissioner Milanovich to the Native American Heritage Commission on September 1, 2023.
Commissioner – Bennae Calac
Enrolled Member, Pauma Band of Luiseño Indians
Tribal Affiliation: Luiseño
Commissioner Calac has been President, Owner and Managing Member at Native Grounds Monitoring Research and Consulting LLC since 2000, at 7G Foundation since 2018, and at Onoo Po Strategies since 2020. She is an enrolled member of the Pauma Band of Luiseño Indians, President of the Strong Hearted Native Women’s Coalition, and a member of the 7G Foundation.
Governor Gavin Newsom appointed Commissioner Calac to the Native American Heritage Commission on February 29, 2024.
Executive Secretary Vacant