By Laurie Jervis

Noozhawk Columnist

Kitá Wines, the label founded by the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians and led by Chumash native and winemaker Tara Gomez, will sell off remaining case goods, close its Lompoc tasting room and halt production, the tribe announced last week.

Gomez, a native of Santa Maria and the daughter of Richard Gomez, a former vice chairman of the tribe, launched Kitá Wines in 2010 with just three tons of grapes.

When I last interviewed her in August 2019, Gomez noted that the label had grown to about 2,000 cases annually.

In 2021, Gomez earned several honors, among them “Winemaker of the Year” by VinePair, and was named as an advisor to the James Beard Foundation Legacy Network Foundation.

Gomez referred my questions about the label’s closure to Mike Traphagen, senior public relations manager for the tribe, who emailed back a statement from Kenneth Kahn, tribal chairman for the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians:

“The tribe, with a focus on diversifying our investment portfolio, has made the business decision to leave the wine industry at this time. Tara Gomez successfully produced award-winning wines while telling the story of our tribe to a new audience. We thank Tara for the years of dedication and hard work she poured into Kitá Wines, and we congratulate her on cementing her legacy as a top-flight Native American woman winemaker. Thank you to all of you who enjoyed and supported Kitá Wines throughout the years.”

Traphagen also shared an email Gomez wrote to Kitá’s club members:

“It is with a heavy heart that I send you this email today to announce that the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians has made the business decision to cease production of Kitá Wines, and we will be closing our facilities in April.”

The label’s tasting room and winery is located in the Sta. Rita Hills Wine Center in Lompoc.

“When we embarked on this journey in 2010, my mission from the very beginning was to approach these wines the same way I approach life: with a heart full of gratitude and a healthy appetite for adventure,” Gomez wrote. “Every step of the way I have been grateful for the opportunities provided by my tribe, through education and this incredible opportunity to tell the story of our ancestors through wine cultivated from our ancestral lands.”

In 2010, the Chumash purchased Camp 4 Vineyard, located on the western edge of Happy Canyon AVA, from the Fess Parker family. The 1,400-acre site, planted to 256 acres of vines, will not be affected by the tribe’s decision to close Kitá, Traphagen said.

In 2017, Gomez and her wife, Mireia Taribó, founded their own wine label, Camins 2 Dreams, and that winery and tasting room is also in Lompoc. The two produce syrah, gruner veltliner and rose from vineyards in the Sta. Rita Hills.

Laurie Jervis tweets at @lauriejervis and can be reached via winecountrywriter@gmail.com. The opinions expressed are her own.

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On the heels of raising the hourly minimum wage to $17 for nontipped positions at its properties, the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians will host job fairs on Tuesday, January 11 at the Dick DeWees Community Center in Lompoc and on Thursday, January 13 at the Santa Maria Inn. 

While California instituted its new minimum wage of $15 an hour on January 1, the tribe raised wages for entry-level, nontipped positions to $17 an hour in December, along with reviewing and increasing compensation for employees throughout the enterprise. 

“We have reassessed our compensation offering to attract quality candidates for open positions throughout the organization,” said John Elliott, CEO for the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians. “For entry-level, hourly positions, raising the minimum wage to $17 per hour will improve our ability to hire team members in crucial areas, such as custodial, hotel operations and food and beverage.” 

Full-time employees are offered competitive pay and a host of benefits, including medical, dental and vision insurance, a 401(k) with a matching-funds program, tuition reimbursement and free shuttle service to and from the Chumash Casino Resort for Lompoc and Santa Maria residents. 

The Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians is one of the largest employers in Santa Barbara County with a workforce of nearly 1,800. It owns and operates the Chumash Casino Resort in Santa Ynez, two Solvang hotels – Hotel Corque and Hadsten House – Kitá Wines in Lompoc and offices in Buellton, while also running the Santa Ynez Tribal Health Clinic and tribal operations on its Reservation. 

The job fair in Lompoc will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on January 11 at Dick DeWees Community Center. The Santa Maria-area job fair will run from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on January 13 at the Santa Maria Inn. 

Applicants are asked to arrive five minutes prior to their appointment, dress appropriately and bring a valid ID. 

Walk-ins are welcome, but candidates with appointments will be given priority. To schedule an interview, visit https://www.chumashcareers.com/were-hiring.

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The 15^th annual Chumash Culture Day will be hosted on Facebook Live, featuring California-style Native American singing and dancing, from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, October 23.

The presentation will feature the tribe’s Samala Singers, dancers and contributions from several other tribes throughout California in a broadcast on the “SY Chumash Culture Day 2021” Facebook page, which can be found at https://bit.ly/sycultureday.

“We’re looking forward to presenting our collection of songs and dances from multiple California tribes to a wider audience through Facebook,” said Nakia Zavalla, Culture Director for the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians. “In this format, viewers can watch our presentation when we go live on October 23, or they can watch it later at their leisure. We hope this will help expose more people, who may be curious about Native American culture, to our special Culture Day.” 

The program will begin with a calling of the ancestors, followed by remarks from Zavalla, songs and dances from the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians’ Samala Singers, then a showcase of singers and storytellers from a variety of California tribes.

The Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians is located in Santa Barbara County, California.  Its reservation was established and officially recognized by the federal government in 1901. Today, the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians remains the only federally recognized Chumash tribe in the nation. 

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Hadsten House, the Solvang-area hotel owned by the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians, will close on September 1 for significant renovations, with an approximate reopening date slated for spring of 2022.

The 71-room hotel located at 1450 Mission Drive in Solvang was built in 1972 and bought by the tribe in 2012, adding the property to a hospitality portfolio that includes the Chumash Casino Resort in Santa Ynez and Hotel Corque in Solvang.

“This will be a complete room and property remodel aimed at positioning Hadsten House as a highly favorable option in the competitive Solvang hotel market,” said John Elliott, CEO of the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians. “The renovation will include the removal of the property’s indoor swimming pool, which will allow space for an outdoor courtyard area that will surely become a popular gathering spot for both guests and the local community.”

Hadsten House’s employees were made aware of the pending closure in June and provided with opportunities to transfer to similar positions at the Chumash Casino Resort Hotel and Hotel Corque.

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Kenneth Kahn was re-elected tribal chairman of the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians in a recent vote that was held to appoint the tribe’s governing body. Also re-elected were all four members of the tribe’s Business Committee: Mike Lopez, Maxine Littlejohn, Gary Pace and Raul Armenta.

Kahn was elected to the tribe’s Business Committee in 2003 and served for seven consecutive terms as secretary/treasurer and vice chairman. He became tribal chairman in a special election in 2016 and is currently serving his third term in that position. Under his chairmanship, the tribe completed its casino expansion project, Camp 4 was placed into federal trust by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and progress continues on the tribe’s Santa Ynez Chumash Museum and Cultural Center project.

After serving for almost a decade as the gaming commission chairman, Lopez joined the Business Committee in 2015. The recent election serves as his fourth consecutive term on the tribe’s leadership team, and his first term as vice chairman. In addition to his role on the Business Committee, Lopez serves as a representative for the tribe’s Education Committee, is currently a board member for the United Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Barbara County and also serves as vice chairman for the California Nations Indian Gaming Association’s executive board.

Littlejohn was first elected to the Business Committee in 2000 and became secretary/treasurer in 2003 until she temporarily left the committee to serve on the Gaming Commission from 2005 to 2009. Littlejohn returned to the Business Committee in 2015 and is amid her fourth consecutive term on the board. She serves as the committee’s secretary/treasurer.

Pace was first elected in 2004 and has been re-elected to the tribe’s Business Committee in nine consecutive elections. During his time on the Business Committee, Pace has worked diligently on the tribe’s behalf through many important tribal milestones, including the purchase of Camp 4 and the acquisition of Hotel Corque and Hadsten House.

Armenta first joined the board in 2016 following a special election. Prior to his ascension to the Business Committee, he served almost two decades on the Santa Ynez Gaming Commission where he, along with four other members, were responsible for providing regulatory oversight of the Chumash Casino Resort.

The tribe’s chairman and Business Committee members each serve two-year terms and are responsible for establishing policies and overseeing the legal and business affairs of the tribe while providing for the economic well-being of its members.

In 1934, the U.S. Congress passed the Indian Reorganization Act and attached a model constitution and bylaws that are still followed by tribes today.

The Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians owns and operates the Chumash Casino Resort, which is located on the tribe’s reservation on Highway 246 in Santa Ynez, California. As the largest employer in the Santa Ynez Valley, the tribe employs more than 1,600 residents of Santa Barbara County.

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Staff Report

Construction and exhibit development for the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians’ Santa Ynez Chumash Museum and Cultural Center is making impressive progress. The museum will be a monument dedicated to celebrating the Santa Ynez Chumash tribe’s heritage and history while providing educational opportunities to visitors wanting to learn more about the Chumash people and their rich culture.

“We are excited to see firsthand the progress that is being made on the Santa Ynez Chumash Museum and Cultural Center” said Kenneth Kahn, tribal chairman for the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians. “This has been a long-anticipated dream of the tribe, and we are committed to telling the story of our people so visitors will come away with a deeper understanding of the challenges and opportunities Chumash ancestors faced living in the Santa Ynez Valley for more than 8,000 years.”

The 14,000-square-foot facility will feature architecture reflecting Chumash culture, offering visitors a unique experience and intimate look into the first people of this region. The design of the museum includes a Welcome House, Heritage House, Traditional Tule House, Samala Language House, and a Tomol House; symbolically bringing together several houses to make a village. The project will include a 3.5-acre cultural park featuring native plants used by the Chumash.

The museum was designed by the Seattle-based, award-winning Jones & Jones Architects and Landscape Architects. Founding Partner Johnpaul Jones, who was awarded a National Humanities Medal by President Barack Obama at the White House in 2014, is Choctaw/Cherokee by heritage and was one of the principal designers of the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian on the Mall in Washington, D.C.

Jones & Jones specializes in works of integrated architecture and landscape architecture rooted in nature and culture as diverse as the places they celebrate, giving voice to the region and its people.

Bernards, a California-based construction company, is providing general contracting and construction services, while Summit Project Management of Culver City has been retained to manage the project. 

Throughout the pre-planning, design and build process, the tribe also seeks to advance the legacy of Chumash environmental stewardship by its pursuit to become one of the first LEED-certified tribal museums in the United States. The project will feature high-efficiency systems to protect the tribe’s artifact collection, locally sourced materials – such as stone from the Santa Ynez Valley – and landscape irrigation that utilizes recycled water.

Other features will include informative exhibits and cultural objects that have been collected throughout the decades-long planning process for the museum. In all, a collection of more than 20,000 cultural objects have been amassed and preserved to help tell the story of Santa Ynez Chumash. 

The project is slated for completion later this year.

The Santa Ynez Reservation is located in Santa Barbara County and was established and officially recognized by the federal government on Dec. 27, 1901. Today, the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians remains the only federally recognized Chumash tribe in the nation. The tribe is a self-governing tribal sovereign nation and follows the laws set forth in its tribal constitution.

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The Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians Foundation has delivered $100,000 in donations to Santa Ynez Valley schools in order to help educators meet high-tech needs and the unique challenges distance learning has presented at the start of this school year.

The foundation’s Remote Learning Resources grant sizes were based on each school’s expressed need and its student enrollment. Using this formula, Santa Ynez Valley Union High School, which boasts the largest student population in the valley with an enrollment of 853, received the top grant of $32,175.

The high school has taken a creative approach to reducing the distance some students may be feeling while learning from home.

“This donation to our school district has allowed us to fund a ‘community liaison’ position that will provide a critical point of contact with, and support for, valley families that are experiencing unique struggles with facilitating distance learning for their children,” said Scott Cory, Superintendent of Santa Ynez Valley Union High School District. “The Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians continues to be amazing community partners with us.” 

The foundation’s Remote Learning Resource program was developed to help schools address unforeseen costs caused by COVID-19 restrictions. 

The other 11 schools receiving donations were Ballard Elementary, Dunn High School, Dunn Middle School, Jonata Middle School, Los Olivos Elementary, Oak Valley Elementary, Santa Ynez Charter School, Santa Ynez Elementary, Santa Ynez Valley Christian Academy, Solvang Elementary and The Family School, with grants ranging from $14,625 to $2,500 for these schools.

Randal Haggard, Superintendent of the Buellton Union School District, said donations to Oak Valley Elementary and Jonata Middle School will help some students gain access to the Internet.

“We have students who live on ranches and in areas that have shadow spots for cell service and wifi access, and connecting those families can be a significant expense,” he said. “These funds will help defray some of those costs. Also, it was the tribe’s generosity that helped us kick-start our one-to-one technology program, so this donation will be another shot in the arm for that effort.”

Haggard added that the gesture from the tribe represents the strength of the local community and its willingness to support its youth.

“At a time when we probably use the word unprecedented too frequently, this is truly a situation we’ve never experienced before,” he said of distance learning during a pandemic. “A donation like this meets the immediate needs. I can’t say enough about how grateful we are to have our community reaching out and being a safety net during this incredibly difficult time.”

Kenneth Kahn, Tribal Chairman for the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians, said the foundation’s board has been inspired by the extraordinary lengths schools have gone to ensuring that students are successful in today’s new learning environment.

“Our tribe places a high value on education, and we felt it was important to help our local schools with additional funds during these challenging times,” he said. “We’re proud to be part of a community that will go the extra mile to meet the educational needs for our future leaders and innovators.”

The Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians has donated more than $25 million to hundreds of groups, organizations and schools in the community and across the nation as part of the tribe’s long-standing tradition of giving.

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The inequities that have long existed within our community have suddenly come into sharp focus as the coronavirus pandemic continues. We are seeing profound food, housing, and employment insecurity, as well as the need for accessible behavioral health support and access to quality, affordable health care. 

At the same time, the Black Lives Matter movement is calling for justice and equity for Black and indigenous peoples, and other people of color, who continue to face racism and violence.

“The first step in addressing inequities is acknowledging that they exist,” explained Dr. Niki Sandoval, education director for the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians and Santa Barbara Foundation trustee. “We have rich diversity throughout Santa Barbara County. When we connect with those whose experiences are different than ours, when we listen to their perspectives, and when we learn from each other, we can begin to address systemic forms of oppression.”

Niki Sandoval
Photo contributedSanta Barbara 

Sandoval has spent her career addressing inequity in the education system. As education director for the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians for the past 11 years, she has helped dramatically improve educational outcomes for the tribe. Additionally, she is a lecturer at UCSB, where she engages undergraduate and graduate students in the examination of equity issues in education.

Sandoval’s impact has also been felt at the state level. As a member of the California State Board of Education (2013 to 2020), she served as liaison to the Advisory Commission on Special Education (focusing on educational equity and inclusion for individuals with disabilities, students of color in special education, and youth in the juvenile justice system) and as liaison to the History Social Science subcommittee of the Instructional Quality Commission of California, which resulted in more accurate and sensitive representation of people from diverse cultures and communities in state-adopted textbooks.

Recently, Sandoval was a guest speaker alongside James Joyce III from Coffee with a Black Guy and Ken Barrow of the Diversity Collective, on an Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) panel that discussed diversity, equity, and inclusion in the nonprofit world.

“What I love about working with people in the social sector is that there is a willingness to listen and learn from each other,” Sandoval said. “The Fundraising Professionals invited us together out of a sincere interest in being as inclusive in their practice as possible. This inclusion relates to hiring personnel, contractors, vendors, recruiting volunteers and board members, and ensuring that their workplaces are welcoming to those who bring diverse perspectives.”

As a member of the SBF board, Sandoval’s unique perspective and expertise in addressing inequity is invaluable to the foundation as it endeavors to build empathetic, inclusive and resilient communities.

Interestingly, Sandoval’s initial affiliation with the Santa Barbara Foundation is not through her contributions as a trustee, nor through her involvement as a Katherine Harvey Fellow in 2008 — but as a scholarship recipient.

“When I was a student at Allan Hancock College, former Foundation Trustee Agnes Grogan came into the classroom to share information about the Santa Barbara Foundation Scholarship,” Sandoval recalled. “As a first-generation college student from a family with few economic resources, I was navigating an unknown. I will always be grateful to the Santa Barbara Foundation’s donors for their investment in my education.”

Sandoval eventually transferred to Pepperdine University, where she earned a Bachelor’s degree in public relations, and later earned a Master’s degree in museum studies from George Washington University and a Ph.D. in education from UCSB. She is the first member of the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians to earn a doctorate in education.

“I have received. I am compelled to give. I am grateful for the opportunity to have been of service as a donor, volunteer, fellow, and Trustee,” Sandoval said. “My hope is that community members will join me in contributing to the Santa Barbara Foundation in a way that is meaningful for them. Every gift makes a profound difference. Our efforts are most powerful when we come together for the good.”

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As local schools prepare to reopen with distance learning in place, the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians Foundation has announced it will commit $100,000 to Santa Ynez Valley schools to help address unforeseen costs caused by COVID-19 restrictions.

The funds will be split among 12 schools in the Santa Ynez Valley, and the amounts will be announced in the coming weeks.

“We felt this was an opportunity to give our schools some assistance as they navigate distance learning and continue to provide a proper education for local youth,” said Kenneth Kahn, Tribal Chairman for the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians. “The schools in our community have different needs, so we’re hoping these funds will help ease the burden and provide access to the resources they need to operate a virtual classroom.”

The Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians has donated more than $25 million to hundreds of groups, organizations and schools in the community and across the nation as part of the tribe’s long-standing tradition of giving.

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The Chumash Casino Resort will reopen its doors at noon on Wednesday, June 10 with strict safety measures and cleaning procedures in place after being closed for nearly 13 weeks in a statewide effort to slow the spread of COVID-19.

The Chumash Casino will reopen June 10.
Photo by George Rose

“We all understand the reality of the situation. An Asymptomatic person can be out shopping in stores, dining in restaurants, or visiting friends’ homes and exposing others to COVID-19. As we developed a plan for reopening, we listened to the medical experts, we abided by Gov. Gavin Newsom’s phased reopening plan and we made a significant investment in our operation to create a safe environment everyone can enjoy,” said Kenneth Kahn, Chumash Tribal Chairman.  

On March 15, the tribe announced the casino would close its doors days ahead of California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s issued statewide stay-at-home order to combat the virus’s spread. 

The gaming floor will feature reduced seating and more than 1,000 protective barriers have been affixed between slot machines and separating table games dealers and patrons to promote social distancing, while the food court, with fewer tables, and the Grains & Grounds eatery will be open for guests. The food court will be open from noon to midnight, and the coffee shop open 24 hours. 

All guests and employees are required to take their temperature at the WelloStationX automated non-contact thermometer kiosk.
Photo by George Rose

All guests and employees will be required to take temperatures at their WelloStationX™ non-contact temperature screening devices before entering and no one with 100.4 degrees will be allowed to go in. There have been 30 WelloStation’s added, that will print out an “I’m wello” sticker everyone will be asked to wear. There will also be security walking the floor to ensure everyone has a sticker on and they will have handheld, non-contact devices to check temperatures. 

Hand sanitizer stations have been placed on the gaming floor and guests will be encouraged to use them. Their enhanced HVAC system provides 100 percent ventilation with no recirculation. There is also a non-smoking section with its own specific air system. 

While walking on the gaming floor everyone is required to wear a mask, however guests that are sitting can remove their masks between partitions. Dealers will be required to wear masks and gloves, and there are limits to four players on most games. 

“From temperature checks to enhanced cleaning schedules, to plexiglass barriers between slot machines and separating table games patrons, to requiring guests and employees to wear masks. When we resume operations, we’ll be ready to welcome guests back with safety measures to help protect them while they’re here,” Kahn said. 

Until further notice, bingo sessions, the Poker Room, the fine-dining restaurant Willows, The Café, The Buffet and The Spa will be temporarily unavailable.

The Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians’ other properties – Hotel Corque, Hadsten House, Root 246 restaurant and the Kitá Wines tasting room – will remain temporarily closed.

All employees are going through reopening training.
Photo by George Rose

As the Chumash Casino Resort prepares to reopen its doors, it will welcome back employees in the coming weeks. On their return, all employees are receiving training on COVID-19 safety and sanitation protocols with more comprehensive training for those who interact frequently with guests. In addition, employees will be required to wear appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), and follow safety guidelines while on property.

“We believe we’ve waited until the right time to reopen the resort,” Kahn said. “All throughout the closure, we’ve reminded our employees and guests that their health and well-being are our top priority. By securing high-tech equipment, implementing strict safety procedures and working closely with the state to determine a sensible reopen date, we believe we’ve met the challenge of creating a safe environment under the current conditions.”

Located on Highway 246 in Santa Ynez, California, the Chumash Casino Resort is owned and operated by the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians.

The tribe also owns Hotel Corque, Root 246, and Hadsten House in Solvang, two gas stations in Santa Ynez, and its own wine label – Kitá Wines. As the largest employer in the Santa Ynez Valley, the tribe employs more than 2,000 residents of Santa Barbara County. 

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