California Indian Nation

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Our Team

Marciano Lopez is passionate about ensuring California Indians understand that they are entitled t

Marciano Lopez Jr.-Chief Executive Officer /Board President

Laura Vignoli - Executive Vice President/ Wellness and Healing

Marciano Lopez Jr. is passionate about ensuring California Indians understand that they are entitled to their constitutional rights. Including spiritual rights, religious rights ,and land rights. Most importantly, that they possess an inheritance. He has evidence that California Indians played an important role in the civil rights movement. He has researched his family's genealogy and retrieved family documents through archives, books, interviews, and he has established relationships with California Colleges and most importantly the 21 Missions of California. He has records of baptismal, marriages, deaths, and military records. His ancestors were the first explorers, pobladores, and are traced in the early written records of California’s History. His ancestors' written records began with the 1769 Mission Era. Mexico’s independence, California’s Missions Secularization, and Mexico’s war with the Anglo Americans. His ancestors' history reflects the1928 California Indian census and during that same year, the horrible Repatriation Act of 1928 where Millions Californians were forced to Mexico, while the others that stayed in California were forced to reclassify themselves. Marciano’s passion stems from his personal journey to find his ancestors true factual story and he uncovered the truth that his ancestors were not hunters and gatherers but lived in a preexisting California and he uncovered that the story that is being told is a revisal of history. He would like to pass the knowledge of his ancestors' heritage and nobility onto the next generation. He stumbled upon these remarkable facts that his lineage does not originate from a band, tribe, or organization, but rather it is the last name that makes up family tribes and blood lines. This is proven in records that show the cities, towns, street names that still carry his family's names. It's important for him to tell the factual role that his family played from the very beginnings of California. The roles depended on the periods, for example, during the Spanish period , his grandparents were a part of the expeditions. Marciano has communicated with tribal leaders, historians, Indian Bureau of affairs, Mission affiliates, colleges, linguists, churches , state parks, Caltrans, and conducted interviews. He has discovered that a multitude of his family works are held in museums, missions, online archives, colleges, books, and he is on a spiritual journey to reclaim his ancestral ways, spirituality, and language.

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Laura Vignoli - Executive Vice President/ Wellness and Healing

Laura Vignoli is the Vice Chairwoman of the California Indian Nation and a dedicated advocate for truth, integrity, leadership, and the inherent rights of California Indian people. Guided by extensive research, knowledge, and a deep understanding of California Indian history, Laura believes that knowledge is power and uses it as a foundation for her advocacy, leadership, and work within the community. She also honors the ancestral guidance that continues to inspire and strengthen her path forward for today’s and future generations.

A proud grandmother of six, Laura is both a healer and a strong voice within her community. For over eight years, she has successfully operated her own wellness business, assisting family and community members through natural California herbal medicine and holistic healing practices rooted in connection to the land, traditional knowledge, and community healing.

Laura firmly believes that the rights of California Indian people are inherent—not granted—and continues to advocate fearlessly for truth, cultural preservation, community empowerment, and the protection of ancestral heritage for generations to come.

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Johnny Soria - Chief Development Director/Board Member

Laura Vignoli - Executive Vice President/ Wellness and Healing

Johnny Soria - Chief Development Director/Board Member

Johnny Soria is a Living California Indian Descendant. He is hoping to revive these experiences to be able to give his children and grandchildren the same. His passions stem from wanting to learn more about his ancestors and being able to pass the knowledge onto his 3 children and grandchildren. He was a site supervisor of security for the SF Moma Museum managing staff and overseeing projects, maintaining safety protocols and implementing site procedures. He has experience working with all levels in the organization to identify, analyze and solve problems and create opportunities for continuous improvement. We are very lucky to have Johnny as our Vice President of the Administrative and Membership Committee.

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David Vignoli-Chief Project Manager/Board Member

Angela Rivera Chief Customer Operations/ Board of Directors

Johnny Soria - Chief Development Director/Board Member

David is from Woodland California, and a dedicated father of four children. He has over 12 plus years experience with coaching and working with Youth Football Programs. David also has over 25+ years of executive management experience, and currently employed with the State of California at the University of California Davis in their facilities management for over 8 years. He has over 20 years of experience in property management. He previously worked as a Regional Project Manager and Asset Manager for Gala Construction Company and Capital Valley Investments, and also served as General Manager at Floor Masters Inc. David is a strong-willed and motivated individual who is passionate about finding solutions, and is plays an important role as California Indian Nation's Youth Committee President. He is passionate about preserving his ancestors’ legacy and ensuring their story is passed down for generations to come. Serving as President of the Stewardship and Watershed Committee allows him to help carry that mission forward.

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Angela Rivera Chief Customer Operations/ Board of Directors

Angela has 20 plus years of elite customer service and professional administrative experience. Born in Woodland, California, she is a dedicated mother of five children and a survivor of breast cancer for over 10 years. She is very compassionate, easy going, detailed and family oriented person who is strongly in touch with her spirituality. Currently employed with The State of California, State Controller’s Office & The State of California, Department of Child Support Services 5+ years. Experienced Front Desk Medical Specialist for Dermatology/ Skin Cancer & Laser Surgery CenterAdvanced in computer literacy. A Member of Sutter Davis Patient Advocate Committee, and we are lucky to have her as president of California Indian Nation's Administrative and Membership Committee. Angela is a strong advocate, not only for her community, but also her tribe.

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LaMaurian Durell Frazier Sr. - Media and Communications

Angela Rivera Chief Customer Operations/ Board of Directors

LaMaurian is is a media creator and visual storyteller proudly affiliated with the California Indian Nation. As Vice President of the Media and Communications Committee, he helps lead community outreach,

media production, and cultural storytelling through photography, film, and digital communications. His work

focuses on preserving culture, uplifting Indigenous voices, and strengthening community connections through

creative media.

Viviann Barnett - Media and Communications

Viviann is a devoted wife and mother of two boys, who descend from California Native ancestors. She is family oriented with goals of teaching her children and family about their ancestral history. Viviann plays an important role in California Indian Nation's Media and Communications Committee. With years of experience in media and communications, as well as a degree in media from Arizona State University, she has built a strong background in public relations, content development, and community engagement. She is dedicated to creating stories and connecting with audiences, as well as bring families and communities together. Viviann brings creativity, professionalism, and effective communication to every project and initiative, and hopes to tell the story of how California Indian Nation came to be, as well as the story of their ancestors who came before them.

Melony Stenson - Youth Committee President

Viviann Barnett - Media and Communications

Born in Berkeley, California in 1988, Melony grew up in the East Bay Area. After graduating high school, she began her career as a preschool teacher and spent over 10 years working with young children, helping support their growth, learning, and development. She developed a strong passion for working with children and serving her community. She later continued my education at San Joaquin Delta College, where she earned an Associate’s Degree in Business Management. Alongside her professional and educational journey, she is also a dedicated mother of three children who are homeschooled. Her family is very active in youth sports, especially softball. She has two daughters who play softball, and she proudly volunteer as a coach for her daughters softball team. Coaching has allowed her to continue mentoring youth, encouraging teamwork, confidence, discipline, and leadership both on and off the field. Her background in youth makes her an excellent choice as President of our Youth Committee.