Executive Director, Carly Tex
A basketweaver, linguist, language instructor, community organizer and advocate, Carly has been creating a career in language and culture ever since she began weaving baskets at the age of ten. Carly is a member of North Fork Rancheria Band of Mono Indians on her father’s side and a descendant of Dunlap Band of Mono Indians on her mother’s side. She has a bachelor’s degree in Anthropology with emphasis in Linguistic Studies from CSU Sonoma, and a Master’s degree in Linguistics from University of Arizona through the Native American Languages Master’s Program (NAMA). Upon graduating, Carly made a point to attend as much language revitalization training as possible to gain teaching methods, resources, and professional connections to assist in sustaining her heritage language, Western Mono. Currently, Carly is the Executive Director for the Advocates for Indigenous California Language Survival (AICLS) and is responsible for the implementation of the Advocates’ programs, vision, and mission to support the revitalization of languages Indigenous to California. She also is a co-convener for the Collaborative Language Institute (CoLang) and sits on the Board of Directors for the Alliance for California Traditional Arts. In her spare time, Carly facilitates online language courses and YouTube videos, and is developing a website of online Mono resources.
Program Assistant, Carmen Moreno
Carmen Moreno is a lineal descendant of the Tachi and Wukchumni Yokut tribes and Hispanic from the central valley. She lives near the foothills in Orosi,Ca with her husband and son. A wife, mother of 3 daughters and 1 son. Her career mostly was in the medical field for 25 years. From a CNA, MedicalAssistant, Health Educator at the end a Lactation Educator. Currently working with Advocates for Indigenous California Language Survival (AICLS) as a Program Assistant. Was a past apprentice in the MAP Program with late Mother. With the family, she has continued to participate for many years with AICLS Trainings and events. Throughout her childhood she was taught many cultural traditions,language and as an adult learned basketry.She is the daughter of the late Lawona “Oswick” Icho Jasso who was a Tachi language teacher and basket weaver. Working with her late Mother, Brother Gregory Ignacio and family had a positive impactful outlook to their culture. The family worked together in many ways. From learning the language, practicing cultural traditions, stories, songs, prayers, gathering food items, gathering basket materials and most of all, respect to the land and others. The family would go out and educate the community at different events sharing their culture and traditions.
Today, Carmen and her family have and will continue her mother’s work and legacy that has been given to them to share with others.
Outreach Coordinator, Regina Gradias
Regina Gradias (she/her) is Barbareno Chumash, from the villages of Syuxtun, Mikiw, Kaswaa, and Swaxhil, in the Santa Barbara/Goleta area and Santa Cruz Island. Regina is the great-grandaughter of Mary Yee, the last first language speaker of Barbareno Chumash. Regina has been involved in many culturally responsive place-based Indigenous education programs in Washington state, Alaska, and California. She is a proud first-generation student, and has earned a bachelor’s degree in Sociocultural Anthropology from the University of Washington and is currently working on a graduate degree at UC Davis.
Program Mentor, Laura Grant
As a community organizer, immersion methods coach, documentary media producer, language learner and teacher, Laura supports Indigenous peoples in their drive for language reclamation as a means to strengthen their communities. Beginning in 1997, her association with Paul Chavez and Elders Norma Nelson, Luther Girado, Betty Hernandez and Lucille Girado Hicks have been central in guiding her actions as a language advocate. Laura was the initial director of the Nüümü Yadoha Language Program in Bishop, California, and worked there through 2006. She developed community programs for the Kawaiisu Language and Cultural Center in Tehachapi through 2019. Laura has ties to the language reclamation movement of Manitoba and other Canadian provinces through her work with the Prairies to Woodlands Indigenous Language Revitalization Circle. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Old Dominion University of Virginia and a Master of Arts degree in Indigenous Language Revitalization from the University of Victoria, British Columbia. As a Mentor for AICLS, Laura provides guidance and support to promote skills for language development in new speakers of the Indigenous languages of California.