Nakia Zavalla (Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians) serves as Vice Chairwoman and Secretary of the Native Star Foundation and has been the Culture and Language Director for her Tribe since 2007. She manages all aspects of cultural programming, language revitalization, and public education, and is the creator of the Sʰamala Language Apprentice Program. Nakia played a key role in the passage of California legislation (AB 544 and AB 163) establishing the Teaching Credential in American Indian Languages and Culture, earning her credential in Sʰamala in 2012. Holding a Master’s in Cultural Sustainability from Goucher College, she is a respected advocate for indigenous language and cultural survival and a proud mother of two daughters, Tani and Hannah.