Who We Are

Meet the people behind Save California Salmon.

The board is made up of tribal leaders, fishermen, educators, and scientists from the watersheds we work in.

Chief Caleen Sisk

Caleen Sisk is the Spiritual Leader and Tribal Chief of the Winnemem Wintu Tribe. Caleen's leadership started in 2000 and has focused on maintaining cultural and religious traditions of the Tribe and has led the revitalization of the Winnemem’s H’up Chonas (or War Dance) and BaLas Chonas (Puberty Ceremony). She advocates for California salmon restoration; healthy, undammed watersheds and the human right to water. She has received international honors as a sacred site protector and leads the tribe’s resistance against the proposal to raise the Shasta Dam.

Morning Star Gali

Morning Star Gali is a member of the Ajumawi band of the Pit River Tribe in Northeastern California and a Leading Edge Fellow. Morning Star formerly worked as the Tribal Historic Preservation Officer for the Pit River Tribe. She served as a volunteer and advocate on behalf of Indigenous incarcerated tribal members in California and worked with a number of Indigenous-led grassroots organizations in the Bay Area for over a decade. Morning Star leads large-scale actions and assists with organizing Native cultural, spiritual, academic, and political gatherings throughout the state. She has been the lead organizer since 2006 for the prominent “Thanks-taking” sunrise ceremony on Alcatraz island.

Allie Hostler

Allie Hostler is a Hoopa Valley Tribal member. She is the editor of the Two Rivers Tribune and the former Communications Director for the Hoopa Valley Tribe’s Fisheries Department. She received a journalism degree from Humboldt State University in 2009 and graduated from the Freedom Forum’s American Indian Journalism Institute in 2005.

Marva Jones

Marva Jones is an enrolled Dee-ni' (Tolowa) citizen, Yurok, Karuk and Wintu of Northern California and fortunately comes from the villages of Nii~-lii~-chvn-dvn and Mvn'-sray-me' along the Smith River and the villages of Wausek and Weitspus along the Klamath River. Sii~xuutesna comes with a myriad of professional practices, experience and tribal community-building expertise. Sii~xuutesna attended Humboldt State University with an emphasis in Political Science and Native American Studies. Marva continues active participation and strategizing in ensuring language survival and maintenance, and strong traditional/cultural values.

Malissa Tayaba

Malissa Tayaba is the Vice-Chairperson of the Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians. She is also the Director of Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK). Her work includes: sharing the ways aboriginal territory and its natural resources have historically been, and continue to be, utilized and tended to by Nisenan and Miwok people and bringing cultural activities back into the tribal community, such as basketry, traditional song and dance, ceremony, land stewardship, and language revitalization. Before becoming TEK Director, Malissa spent six years as a Cultural Researcher and ten years as Director of Social Services. She is a member of the Delta Conveyance Project Stakeholder Engagement Committee and a member of the Delta Protection Commission’s National Heritage Area Management Plan Advisory Committee.

Sammy Gensaw

Sammy Gensaw is a Yurok fisherman and youth activist who has gone around the world fighting dams and displacement of natives. He is the director of Ancestral Guard and is on the board Nature Rights Council.

Maggie Peters

Maggie Peters - Secretary - is a Learning Specialist for the Native American Studies Model Curriculum at Humboldt County Office of Education. She is Ner-er-ner (Yurok) and Karuk, served as an educator/administrator for 16 years, practices traditional basket weaving and regalia making, and mother of three amazing children. Maggie is the daughter of Chris Peters and Suzanne Burcell and follows in their footsteps of professional dedication to indigenous peoples. Her educational philosophy is deeply rooted in culturally responsive teaching, trauma informed approaches, arts integration and team building. She strives to build a foundation of growth mindset, self compassion, and empathy into educational practices in hopes to create safe learning environments where students can explore new lessons, eventually fall in love with learning and as a result, always open to diverse perspectives and communal support.

Staff

Our staff is a devoted team with diverse backgrounds.

Brook Thompson Brook Thompson, Interim Executive Director, is a Ph.D. student, scientist, engineer, author, public speaker, activist, and artist whose work sits at the intersection of Indigenous knowledge, TEK, water, restoration, and public policy. She has worked for the Yurok Tribe, City of Portland, US Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, and California State Water Resources Control Board. Brook also interned for SCS in 2019 and then transitioned to a board member in 2025.	Phil Albers Phil Albers is SCS' Education Director. Phil graduated from Southern Oregon University with a degree in Health and a Certificate in Native American Studies. He has worked as a Káruk language speaker and teacher for over 20 years. Phil is dedicated to the Klamath Indigenous communities and neighbors. Phil aspires to support and facilitate cultural identity, acceptance, and healing for the youth and their respective communities.	Brittany Souza Brittany Souza is the Operations Manager for SCS. She previously served her tribe, providing support and guidance in HR and administrative functions. She is a proud mother, balancing a career with raising her children. As well as a traditional Karuk basket weaver, deeply rooted in culture and community. Brittany’s passion for traditional knowledge and environmentalism drives her efforts at SCS, where she continues to work toward the preservation of CA’s natural resources for future generations.
Valentina Dimas Valentina is a Media Marketing Producer, dedicated to environmental education, conservation, and activism. She specializes in photo and video production and post-processing, helping our viewers learn about and celebrate California's watersheds. She is known for personal and professional photography and video content that has reached thousands of Californians. When not producing content, she enjoys bookbinding and nature photography.	Helena Star Gibbens Helena Star Gibbens is a Yurok Tribal member from the village of Morek. She grew up along the Klamath and actively participates in cultural practices, events, and ceremonies. She has a degree in Early childhood Education and has twelve years of experience providing support and care to local children and families. Star has a vested interest in the well-being of our eco-cultural resources, revitalization of our traditional practices, and restoring our land and water.	Michaela Rain Ward Michaela (she/they) is a Hoopa Valley Tribal member and Youth Education Advocate at SCS since 2022. They are very active with local Tribal communities through art, and serve on the Rou Dalagurr Food Sovereignty Lab’s Native Youth Council since 2023. Michaela creates abstract art across digital, sketch, paint, and Instagram stories (@mickirain), and is studying to become an art teacher and fluent Hupa speaker.
Trisha Velasquez Trisha Velasquez (she/her) is the Central Valley Organizer for Save California Salmon. She earned her degree in Biological Sciences - Ecology, Evolution and Conservation from Sacramento State University and Field Ecology Certificate from Sacramento City College. Her professional experience includes managing tidal wetland habitat restoration projects in the Delta and Suisun Marsh as well as extensive field and literary research with special-status species in California.