Biography

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Gabrielle (Rocha) Crowe is the Co-Chair and the Secretary of Environmental Sciences for the Gabrielino-Shoshone Nation of Southern California. She is one of Co-Founders of the Climate Resilient LA Coalition. She is a Cultural and Environmental Education Consultant for the Ballona Wetlands, and collaborator with Anawakalmekak, the only indigenous TK-12 charter school in Los Angeles where she works for Tzicatl CDC as the Intergenerational Gabrielino Language Ecosystem Grant Program manager. She provides cultural education at Chief Ya’anna Vera Rocha Regenerative Learning Village  located on the 12 acres of land recently rematriated to the Gabrielino-Shoshone Nation. She also assists with creating science curriculum, an instructor for their IndigeNations Summer Program, was an Indigenous Land Rematriation Fellow, a member of the Tribal Marine Collaborative, a member of several MPA (Marine Protected Areas) Collaboratives in Southern California,  Co-Chair for OCMPAC’s Racial, Indigenous Social Justice Committee,and incoming Co-Chair for OCMPAC. She is a certified Naturalist for the State of California. She is also a representative in several tribal advisory groups. Overseeing projects at the Ballona Wetlands Ecological Reserve, the Los Cerritos Wetlands, and a partnership with the Catalina Island Conservancy. She has recently been chosen as a member of the California MPA Social Science Working Group which is working to form the development of a Social Science Research and Monitoring Plan for California’s MPA Network, as well as a 30 x 30 ambassador for the state of California. Her role in the tribal council is bridging the gap between environmental and cultural education for different non-profit organizations as well as facilitating communication between her nation and various state agencies. Gabrielle received her Bachelor of Science in Animal Science from Cal Poly Pomona and has twenty one years of experience as a naturalist including work as an Ocean Educator, Outdoor Education Coordinator/Science Instructor at the Ocean Institute, Lead Naturalist at the Mary Vagle Nature Center, and as an Animal Educator at the Aquarium of the Pacific. She is passionate about getting our youth out on the land and in the ocean and creating educational and career pathways with traditional ecological knowledge at the forefront. She is a strong proponent of cultural revitalization and participates in traditional basketweaving, language revitalization, and expanding her knowledge about ethnobotany. She realizes the incredible responsibility she has to continue her Grandmother Chief Ya’Anna Vera Rocha’s legacy of protecting our Earth for future generations. Her hobbies include trail running, hiking, bodyboarding, surfing, teaching art to elementary students, singing, baking, making jewelry, coaching youth sports, and taking her three children to the beach and on other outdoor adventures.

Biography

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Makana Nova is a co-chair for OCMPAC and works as the Coastal Planning Manager at the County of Orange, OC Parks. In her role at OC Parks, she helps support beneficial sand re-use for Orange County and facilitates coastal erosion engineering projects at County-owned beaches.

Makana previously worked as a local municipal planner for 15 years at the City of Newport Beach. She has a master’s degree in Urban & Regional Planning, an undergraduate degree in Environmental Analysis and Design, and a minor in Education from UC Irvine. Makana became a Certified Coastal Practitioner in 2024 and is also certified with the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP). She is experienced in processing complex development projects, CEQA analysis, and coastal development permits including large residential projects, mixed-use development, habitat restoration, and Public Works CIP projects.

Makana was born on Oahu, HI, raised in the Bay Area, and is a long-time resident of Southern California. She enjoys ‘ori Tahiti, swimming, and going to the beach with her family. She has an appreciation for the ocean and marine life, having interned at the Back Bay Science Center in Upper Newport Bay and volunteered for the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach.

Biography

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Tina Calderon, a Tongva and Chumash Culture Bearer and environmental advocate works with Sacred Places Institute for Indigenous Peoples as the Ocean Protectors Program Director and Indigenous Waters Associate.

Tina currently serves as the Co-chair for the Orange County Marine Protected Area Collaborative (OCMPAC) and was the previous Co-chair of their Racial, Indigenous, Social Justice committee (RISJ).

Tina is devoted to speaking up for the rights and protection of the lands and waters and focusing on Marine Protected Areas (MPAS), Traditional Knowledge, outreach & networking with Tribal Collaboratives and Environmental Protection organizations focusing on all issues including offshore wind energy, offshore oil extraction, seismic testing which affects our marine life in cruel ways, deep sea mining and other ways capitalist and settler colonial societies are threatening the health and wellness of our ocean.