Suscol Blog

Suscol Intertribal Council

is a community-based, 501(c) 3 organization, founded in 1972 and reactivated in 1992, seeking to bring healing between the existing population and the people who historically inhabited Napa Valley and nearby counties.

The Mission of Suscol Intertribal Council

is to develop and maintain a Native American Cultural Center in Chiles-Pope Valley, located in the Northeastern corner of Napa County, CA. The Cultural Center will be a sustainable, environmentally-friendly, open space whose living sculpture building will be used for educational outreach as well as preserving and protecting Native American sacred sites and traditions. Suscol Council is dedicated to preserving human rights for indigenous people by linking with other NGOs around the world. The Arbor at Suskol House

Since 1992 Suscol Council has developed local educational outreach programs for public schools (K-14), community clubs, and other organizations. Suscol Council develops contracts with organizations that seek to connect with California tribes or urban Indians. Suscol Council has developed a mentorship program to help California Native people make connections with agencies, foundations, and corporations that might be helpful to them.

Suscol Council is located in the Napa Valley, believed to be one of the oldest inhabited areas in North America. There is however, no longer a land-based tribe in this county, due to historical mass relocations and detrimental exposure to diseases. 

Suscol Council Flow Chart

Suscol Council Budget 2007-08

NEWSLETTER summer 2007


NEWSLETTER winter 2007


NEWSLETTER Spring 2008


Pow-wow 2007-2008

Art and Wine Auction 2007-2008

"Our friends" and Links

Suscol Blog

The Suscol Council Executive Board

as of April 2009



Chair:

Tom Tilton,
(Choctaw)
nltilton@sbcglobal.net

Resides in Napa Valley

Affiliations:
Mantracking Association with Fernando Moreira;
Accomplished Traditional Artisan

Vice-Chair,
website maintentance:

Tom King-McMahon,
(Algonquian-Wendat-Métis)

Affiliations:
Congress of Aboriginal Peoples;
Canadian Métis Council


Secretary:

Madonna Feather-Cruz,
(Pomo/ Lakota from Round Valley)

 

Treasurer:

Jerry Hale,
(Cheyenne, Seneca and Cherokee)

Affiliations:
Masonic Lodge

Director:

Ms. Charlie Toledo,
(Towa)

Affiliations:
California Women's Action Agenda (CAWA) Napa Co. chair;
DQ University, Board of Trustee, (1996-2003);
Napa Valley Alliance for Arts and Culture, (Suscol Council rep);
Community Technology Foundation of California, trustee; Women's Intercultural Network (WIN), Chair;
Coalition of Native American Associations(Suscol Council rep);
California Rural Indian Health Board program;
AITEN advisory commission

Members at Large:



Hilario Mata,
(Apache)

Affiliations:
Volunteer Center Contra Costa County,
Habitat for Humanity,
Board of Directors.

Margarita Servin Mata,
(Aztec)

Affiliations:
Habitat for Humanity volunteer,
Concord Moose Woman's Meals on Wheels program,
Volunteer Center's RSVP and Adopt a Family programs, Monument Crisis Center Christmas program etc,

Mother and grandmother, married to Hilario for 40 years.

Robert Craig,
(Cherokee)

Affiliations:



Suscol Council Cultural Advisory Committee

Elder Advisors:


Norma Knight,

is a Pomo and Mountain Maidu Elder, is a registered member of the Round Valley Indian reservation. An original founder of the Suscol Indian Council (1972), since 1980 she has served on the Board of Trustees at DQ University, (one of the first tribally run Indian colleges in California) and was a tribal advisor to the Indian Health Board. She is now a principal elder advisor to the Suscol Intertribal Council, providing direction for activities and programs, and fair resolution of problems or conflicts that arise among tribes or individuals.
April Jackson,

Born in Lakeport California . April is a descendant of the Pomo and Cun Cow Tribes of California .
She is a third generation basket maker and craftswoman (verified from available records in addition to family oral tradition).. April is the mother of three children, has an adopted daughter and has twelve grandchildren. Her time is spent helping to impart to them and the Indian community the values and discipline which were once the way of life of her people. April currently serves on several tribal committees and is a strong voice for traditional values. She has an ultimate dream of having a place where Indian people can come to find a way of life free from drugs and alcohol and regain the ways and values of traditional Indian culture.

http://spiritualrivers.com/index.html

In Memorial


Jim Big Bear King: (Montana Crow) will be missed dearly.
He was a veteran of two wars and one of the founders of American Indian Movement AIM, Suskol Indian Council which helped establish protocols for Native burial sites in California through the establishment of the Native American Heritage Commission. He also supported the take-over of Alcatraz and DQU back in the rowdy 70's. I have been honored to have had him as a personal mentor all these years and give thanks for all the great jokes and memories he leaves on his final Warrior's journey home! (Charlie Toledo)


Spiritual Advisor:


George Sommersall,

is a Wappo/Pomo registered member of Dry Creek Rancheria. He is an experienced basket weaver, California traditional dancer, and multi-media artist. He has worked with Suscol Intertribal Council as a volunteer consultant off and on through its inception and most recently designed and built a model for an arbor in the northeastern part of rural Napa County. He continues to teach participants about construction, respectful behavior around the ceremonial space. In July 2006, construction was begun on a ceremonial arbor under the direction of George Sommersall, Wappo-Pomo from Ukiah. He created the design for the arbor made of cedar poles with cross beams of cedar, pine and willow. There was an intertribal work crew of 15 men and women. This arbor is dedicated to “UNITY”… unity of all people and healing for tribal people and to be used for ceremonies and classes. It will be available as an intertribal gathering place.

Advisors:


Ronald W. Lincoln Sr.,

of Pomo, Wylackii, and Kankow descent, is a registered member of the Round Valley Indian Reservation. He has 26 years experience in tribal governance and administration. He is the culture bearer for his tribe, does outreach, and travels through Mendocino, Sonoma , and Napa counties as an advisor and consultant.



Coleen McCloud,

is of Pomo-Wappo descent, is a registered member of the Stewarts Point Rancheria (Kashaya). She is experienced in the making of regalia and has for many years taught her family and tribal traditions. She is the culture bearer for her tribe at Kashaya.

McCloud's Beaded Pomo Gifts
Copyright 2007 - Suscol Intertribal Council - All rights reserved