Pukúu Cultural Community Services, founded in 1971 by members of the local Fernandeno-Tataviam Band of Mission Indians, is hosting its 12th Annual scholarship gala fundraiser, Night with the Stars.

Through the generous funds raised at the event, Pukúu provides scholarships for American Indian students aiming to obtain a college education and achieve their dreams, thereby setting examples in our community.

Plan to join us in Native American Heritage month with elected officials, dignitaries and prominent community leaders on the evening of Saturday, Oct. 22, at 6 p.m. at the Angeles National Golf Club, 9401 Foothill Blvd., Sunland, CA 91040.

[PURCHASE TICKETS HERE]

Honorees

Pamela Villasenor

Fernandeño Tataviam Band of Mission Indians

Pamela Villasenor is enrolled in the Fernandeno Tataviam Band of Mission Indians (Ortega Family) where she has worked tirelessly to help with the tribe’s nation building efforts. After being elected as the youngest Tribal Senator in history, Villasenor helped establish the Department of Education and Cultural Learning by fusing culture with education. Through her efforts, the Tribe secured funding, partnerships and early education to college preparation programming to nurture the next generation of tribal leaders.

Over the years, Villasenor has held prestigious fellowships with Americans for Indian Opportunity and Native Americans in Philanthropy. Using the knowledge gained from these experiences, she helped build the capacity of the Tribe’s Special Projects division and nonprofit Pukuu Cultural Community Services. As a passionate champion for Native families, Villasenor also serves as an ICWA Trainer for county case workers.

Pamela Villasenor is married and enjoys teaching her baby culture and love for tarahat (Indian people).

Alan Salazar

Fernandeño Tataviam Band of Mission Indians

Traditional educator, spiritual adviser and monitor/consultant, enrolled in the Fernandeno Band of Mission Indians and Chairman of the Council of Elders. Alan’s family ancestry descends from Ta’apu village in Simi Valley and Chaguayanga village in Santa Clarita Valley. Alan work in construction most of his life, began as a young man as a journeyman plaster to becoming a preschool teacher and a juvenile institution officer. Actively involved with server Native American monitoring groups, Alan is a founding member of the Kern County Native American Heritage Preservation Council, member of the Chumash Maritime Association, and Environmental Review Board for the city of Malibu.

Alan is also a traditional paddler over 17 years of Chumash canoes, having helped build the first working traditional Chumash plank. Today Alan enjoys teaching the next generation of paddlers and community members of his heritage. Alan has served as a community adviser with the Ventura County Indian Education Consortium for over 19 years.

Alan’s life experiences have exposed him to many different cultures and people of different backgrounds. As a spiritual adviser within the Chumash and Tataviam community, Alan performs ceremonies and leads prayer circles during traditional gatherings.  He was raised to be proud of his Native American heritage and takes pride in being a positive role model and a respected Elder.

Stanley Ralph Rodriguez

Santa Isabel Band of the Iipay Nation

Stan is a member of the Santa Ysabel Band of the Iipay Nation.  Stan is holding the office as legislator for the band and a board member for California Indian Storytellers Association, plus a board member for Advocates for Indigenous California Language Survival. He has participated in the master apprentice program.   Stan is a proponent for language immersion and developing oral situational fluency as a primary goal for language instruction.

Prior Chairman of the board of trustees for D.Q. University and is on the board of trustees for Kumeyaay Community College. Stan has taught the iipay/Kumeyaay language on the following reservations:  Manzanita, Santa Ysabel, San Pasqual, Barona, Viejas, Sycuan La Posta and Mesa Grande.  He also, teaches at Kumeyaay community College and Cuyamuca Community College.  Assisted in developing lession plans and instruction for Kumeyaay communities in Baja California and for communities throughout California.  Stan has also conducted language training for ILI in New Mexico ALDI at the U of A in Tucson Arizona and NWILI at the university of Oregon. Also conducted language training in Canada and Australia and worked with the Seneca nation in New York and the Aleut nation in Kodiak Alaska.  Teaches traditional tool making and participated in various documentaries one which received an Emmy for best documentary 2014 and another which was nominated for an Emmy for best documentary 2015.  Stan has done presentations for the University of southern Denmark and participated in the folk life festival for the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, D.C.

Stan has a Master’s degree in Human Behavior and at the present time is a doctoral student at UCSD.  Stan is a Navy desert storm vet with 9 years honorable active service.  Stan currently teaches counseling techniques at the Navy Drug and Alcohol Counselors School in San Diego and has taught various  courses for the Department of Defense in the following places:  Japan, Korea, Singapore, Australia, Diego Garcia, Guam, Okinawa, Bahrain, Sicily, Canada and Papua New Guinea.

Master of Ceremonies

Paul Lang, actor

Paul Lang is a professional actor living in San Diego with his wife and two kids. He can be seen now in the critically acclaimed movie “A Girl Like Her” and as Captain Harrison Hawke in the Independent Star Trek Horizon.

Paul grew up in Metro Detroit. After schooling he joined the Marines where he met his wife Cindy Mendivil. Cindy and Paul are now closing in on 25 years of marriage. Currently working on several projects he will be again on the big screen portraying Al Capone in the upcoming movie Thrill Ride.

In addition to acting, Paul works for Suntrek Solar installing solar technology throughout San Diego County.