Who We Are

Jill Amanno, Outreach and Administrative Assistant

Jill joined the Muwekma Ohlone Preservation Foundation in 2024. As our Outreach and Administrative Assistant, she provides comprehensive support in marketing, communications, fiscal management, fundraising, and general administration. Jill has a background in business development, customer service, graphic design, and conflict resolution. She resides with her three children and partner in San Martin and enjoys spending time outdoors, going for bike rides, relaxing in their backyard, and listening to her eclectic collection of music while cooking family meals.

Tribal Member Leadership

Julie Dominguez, Muwekma Ohlone Tribal Member, Community Education Chair

Julie is a proud member of the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe of the San Francisco Bay Area and is passionate about protecting the land and waterways of her ancestral homelands and educating the public about the rich and diverse culture of her people. As the Community Education Chair, Julie leads the tribe's efforts in promoting awareness and understanding of Muwekma Ohlone history, language, and culture. She works with MOPF staff and other tribal members to develop and deliver educational programs, materials, and events for schools, libraries, museums, and other community organizations. She also represents the tribe in various forums and media outlets, sharing the tribe's perspectives and stories with a wider audience. Julie follows the footsteps of her mother, who was a leader in food justice and advocacy for underrepresented communities, including the Muwekma Ohlone. Julie lives in San Jose with her two sons, who are also active in the tribe's cultural activities. She is a California Native dancer and a lover of art, music, and culture. Her family is supporting the revitalization of dance, culture, and tradition with the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe of the San Francisco Bay Area. Julie graduated from the Green Foothills Leadership Program in 2022, a training program for environmental leaders and activists in the region.

Joseph “Joey” Iyolopixtli Torres, Muwekma Ohlone Tribal Member, Culture Bearer

Joseph Torres is a descendant of the original inhabitants of the San Francisco Bay Area, who were baptized at Mission San Jose in the early 19th century. He serves as a proud member of the Muwekma Ohlone tribe and is a spiritual leader and warrior for his people, with the responsibilities of holding sacred spaces through ceremonies. As the tribe's Culture Bearer, he mentors and guides tribal members in traditional practices such as song, dance, and regalia-making. Beyond organizing cultural gatherings for tribal members to learn, practice, and share their skills and knowledge, he also coordinates access to land for cultural practices, ceremonies, and regalia gathering, particularly involving youth. Joseph is a California Native dancer and a lover of art, music, and culture. He lives in San Jose with his wife and three children, who are also active in the tribe's cultural activities. Joseph is a respected leader and a gifted performer who inspires others with his skills and knowledge.

Bernadette Quiroz, Muwekma Ohlone Tribal Member, Language Revitalization Chair

Bernadette Qurioz, member of the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe of the San Francisco Bay Area is a dedicated and passionate leader for the preservation and promotion of the Chochenyo language. As the Language Revitalization Chair for the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe, Bernadette is responsible for developing and implementing various language learning programs and resources for tribal members. She works closely with the Culture Bearer, the Community Education Chair, and other allies to integrate the Chochenyo language into cultural and educational activities while supporting fundraising efforts for the Tribe’s language programs. With collaboration from the Tribal Council and other tribal members, she ensures that language revitalization efforts meet the needs and goals of the community. Bernadette recently relocated closer to her ancestral homelands from Topeka Kansas. She is a mother of three and enjoys beading, going to the beach with her kids, and spending time with her family. She is passionate about the language and culture of her people and her greatest joy will be hearing tribal members speak their precious native tongue.

Board of Directors

Charlene Nijmeh, Chairwoman of the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe of the San Francisco Bay Area, Board President

Chairwoman Charlene Nijmeh was elected as Chairwoman of the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe in 2018 and serves as the Board President of the Muwekma Ohlone Preservation Foundation. She is from the Marine-Sanchez lineage that descends from the first peoples of the San Francisco Bay Area. Her engagement with tribal affairs began at the age of 8, when the Tribe was working to repatriate ancestral remains during the 1980s. She is the daughter of the prior chairwoman, Rosemary Cambra, who made sure to involve Tribal children and stress the importance of being responsible for ancestral remains and ancestral lands. She is founder and chairwoman of the Green Education Foundation that educates youth about sustainability. She is also the CEO of an international textile recycling business that diverts 60 million pounds of textile waste each year.

Aaron Hébert, Secretary and Board Member

Aaron Hébert is a Senior Resource Management Specialist with the Natural Resources Department of the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District. He is an ecologist and manages cultural resources for Midpen, working with Native American communities. As a non-tribal member, Aaron works to support the Tribe by building partnerships with the conservation community in the Bay Area and providing expertise in running a land trust.

Alan Leventhal, Tribal Ethnohistorian, Board Member

Alan Leventhal has worked as non-tribal administrative staff member with the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe for over the past 40 years as an ethnohistorian and archaeologist. His work for the tribe focuses on connecting the tribe to archaeological sites and their Federal Recognition as a previously federally recognized tribe. He has co-authored multiple historical and culturally-related publications and archaeological reports with the tribal leadership, affirming their aboriginal connection to the greater Bay Area. Alan had also worked as a volunteer (1992-1998) on the Congressionally created (HR 2144) Advisory Council on California Indian Policy’s Unrecognized Tribal Task Force and was one of the few advocates for the Previously Federally Recognized Tribes in the state. Since 1978, he has taught at San Jose State University, Department of Anthropology on contemporary Native American issues and archaeological theories and methods.

Daniel Olstein, Treasurer and Board Member

Daniel Olstein is the Director of Land Programs & Stewardship at the Peninsula Open Space Trust. At POST, Dan builds partnerships and manages land with Native American communities. As a non-tribal member, Dan supports the Tribe through expertise in land conservation, stewardship, and non-profit best practices.

Dr. Mike V. Wilcox, Acting Tribal Historic Preservation Officer, Board Member

Dr. Mike V. Wilcox is a Assistant Professor in the Department of Anthropology at Stanford University and volunteers as a non-tribal member as the Acting Tribal Historic Preservation Officer for the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe. His research attempts to bridge the gap between archaeologists, anthropologists, and Native Americans and focuses on Indigenous resistance movements.