Staff & Interns

Hello, and welcome!

We are pleased to introduce the members of our team at the UCSC American Indian Resource Center.

Scroll down to read more about each of us. 

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Angel Riotutar, Director

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  Angel Riotutar-Chippewa Cree Tribe of the Rocky Boy’s Reservation joins us as the Director of the American Indian Resource Center, located on the 3rd Floor of the Bay Tree Bookstore in the Ethnic Resource Centers. She is of mixed descent: American Indian, Filipino, Portuguese and European. A 2nd generation Santa Cruz Native, Angel spent time in West Virginia, Virginia and Louisiana. She has attended the local schools: Cabrillo College, Gavilan College earning her A.A. degree and as a first generation graduate to receive her B.A. in Sociology from UC Santa Cruz. While attending UCSC, she was a student  intern for the AIRC.

  
  

  Angel brings with her an extensive background, working primarily in and with the American Indian community. She volunteered for various Native Organizations as a Board Chairperson, Board Member and organizer of traditional ceremonies. She has worked in the surrounding counties of Santa Clara, San Benito, and San Mateo including more recently Southern California in the San Diego area. Angel began volunteering with the Santa Cruz Indian Council with her family, who were the founders of the organization for 15 years and finally held the position of Chairperson. She has volunteered for the Indian Health Center of Santa Clara Valley, the Costanoan Research Institute and has supported other various American Indian organizations. She focused in Human Services as Program Manager, Case Manager and Site Manager in State and Native TANF programs. As a Program Manager, she implemented culturally specific programming for families, individuals and youth. She finds motivation and strength in the ability to advocate and support our community.

  
  

  Angel is very honored to come back to UCSC AIRC, and would like to utilize all available resources, community members, faculty, and staff to support and encourage all students. She is very excited for the Native American Opportunity Program and is looking forward to creating more opportunities, programming and ensuring Native visibility on campus.

  

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Jemzi Ortiz, Program Coordinator

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  I am a proud mixed Cheyenne and third-generation Mexican American woman and first-generation college graduate. I recently graduated from UC Santa Cruz with a B.S. in Human Biology (Class of 2019). I was affiliated with Merrill College and participated in many campus organizations during my undergraduate career. I was an intern at the American Indian Resource Center for 3 years and wanted to continue working with Dr. Hernandez as the program coordinator to support and advocate for the Native American students on this campus and in our community. Working at the Ethnic Resource Centers was one of the best experiences I had at UCSC and I wanted to continue to grow, give back, and learn in this space. Areas that I am passionate about are decolonizing health and health inequalities, Indigenous people in STEM, missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls, and urban Indian related issues. I love to hang out with my partner and family, dance, go to concerts, watch movies and reality shows, read, travel, cook, nap, and watch basketball! I also love to meet new people and talk with others so please come visit me at my office at the ERC! 

  

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Graciela Sierra Moreno, Graduate Student Program Coordinator

• Hello! My name is Graciela and I am from Dos Palos, a small town in the Central Valley! I am currently pursuing a PhD in Literature at UC Santa Cruz, after completing my MA in Literature at Fresno State. I love spending time with friends and family. My community, reading, and internet scrolling are very important to me.

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Kameiko Hostler, Lead Intern

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  Hey yung! I’m Kameiko Hostler, I am an enrolled member of the Hoopa Valley Tribe. I’m originally from Humboldt County where my tribe resides but graduated high school in Sacramento, California. I started this internship with the American Indian Resource Center because it was important for me while attending UC Santa Cruz to find a Native community to interact with. Having the ability to be surrounded by other Native students like me has allowed me to create relationships and work to establish the visibility of Native students on campus. As well as having an opportunity to reach out to other students on campus who are Native and those who are not to make them aware of our Native students and resources on campus. My goal after graduating is to attend law school. Following law school, I’m unsure what I want to pursue but I would like to hopefully explore federal Indian law.

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Audrialice Evans, Intern

• Hesci! (Hello!) My name is Audrialice Evans and I am a registered citizen of the Muskogee Nation. I grew up in Los Angeles and frequently visit my family on our reservation in Oklahoma. I enjoy photography, beading jewelry, and playing the viola in my spare time.
  The AIRC has always been a safe and welcoming community for me and I am excited to intern here to provide that for others as well.

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Kauchani Heredia Bratt, Intern

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  Hello! My name is Kauchani Heredia Bratt and I am an enrolled member of the Coahuiltecan Nation from Texas. However, I grew up in San Francisco, where I attended and facilitated Native American youth-centered programs all across the Bay Area. From drum groups, to dance classes, to hoop sessions, and going on college tours to empower the youth by learning about the Native student experience in a college environment. It had always been a pleasure to work within my community while simultaneously growing as a human being in all ways and facets. As I step into UC Santa Cruz and join the AIRC, I want to continue to impact our Native peoples and students in a positive way, bringing to light our beauty and truth. 

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Alex Galvan, Intern

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  Hello! My name is Alex, and I am Muwekma Ohlone and Mexican American. As a Bay Area native and aspiring health care provider, I am passionate about addressing health inequities within California’s Indigenous and Latino communities and serving as an advocate for their members. By joining the AIRC, I hope to learn more about Native American culture and history while building community with my peers. When I’m not working, I love to spend time with my family and puppy, play video games, listen to music, and travel. 

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Andrea Lopez, Intern

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  Hello everyone! My name is Andrea and I use she/they pronouns. I am a third-year student majoring in Community Psychology. I am currently an intern at AIRC and my tribal affiliation is Lakota. I am affiliated with Rachel Carson College which is amazing! I am from East Los Angeles, California which is quite the drive from Santa Cruz. One day I hope to work with underrepresented youth in the state of California. 

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Charlie Jimenez, Intern

• Hey there! My name is Charlie, and I use he/him pronouns. I'm Blackfoot and Mexican-American, and I grew up primarily in Los Angeles, CA. I'm affiliated with Rachel Carson College and majoring in History of Arts and Visual Culture. My goal after graduation is to pursue a job outdoors, or to work with Indigenous arts. I love rabbits, the outdoors, hiking, coffee, reading, Native/Blackfoot history and arts and design. I feel it's important to hold this position at the AIRC to learn how to work better with other people, to get to know other Indigenous youth and college students, as well as make more relationships with more Indigenous folk and learn everything about my culture and heritage, all while having a fun time. 

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Jordan Perkins, Intern

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  My name is Jordan and I use she/her pronouns. I’m Mi’kmaq originally from Maine, and have been living in Vacaville, CA for the past three years. I’m a first generation student affiliated with Cowell college and majoring in Politics and Business Management Economics. After graduating from UCSC my goals are to attend law school and continue to indigenize academic and professional spaces.

  

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Teotl Veliz, Intern

• Teotl Veliz is an Indigenous student documentarian, writer, producer, and founder of Great Nations Pictures from the South Bay of California. Veliz has been a dedicated student of his family's and local community's rich storytelling culture from a young age. In his senior year of high school, he won the California State Championship for the National History Day Competition (along with his partner Indya Searchwell), representing California nationally in the category of Historical Documentary. His submission: The Tragedy of Terminal Island, has won three awards and was an official selection for the San Pedro International Film Festival. During this time, Veliz hosted a radio show on 101.5 FM based out of Boyle Heights East Los Angeles, focusing on issues in the immediate Chicano community interviewing guests such as the widely acclaimed author Luis J. Rodriguez. Currently, Veliz is writing and producing a Western comedy anthology series focusing on Indigenous experiences.
  
  Teotl studies Art History at the University of UC Santa Cruz and is passionate about incorporating Indigenous Art history in his works and events. His biggest goal is expanding native representation and opportunity in the Film Industry and maintaining the story-telling and visual culture his elders and ancestors have passed onto him.

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Maya Caminada, Intern

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