The Wukchumni Tribe 501c3 is dedicated to revitalizing and maintaining the cultural values (traditional and spiritual) of the Wukchumni Yokuts.

We strive to develop and teach our cultural values and traditional lifeways to our children, as done by our ancestors before us. We serve our Wukchumni people by teaching and actively using methods that help us to protect and preserve our traditional food systems, plants, and traditional ecological knowledge used to sustain our traditional life ways. We work together with guidance from our Elders to provide services and programs that meet the cultural, social, emotional, physical, and housing needs of the Wukchumni people, as well as providing educational opportunities for our youth and community.

Our team is dedicated to preserving and revitalizing Wukchumni Yokuts traditions, language, lifeways, and oral histories through storytelling by incorporating culture into every program for our youth and families. We focus teachings on being good relatives to all that share this world with us and being mindful stewards of our Mother Earth and the sacred elements that gives us life.

“Storytelling has always been important to our people. That’s how we’ve passed on history, genealogy, life’s lessons. It is our way of life.” — Darlene Franco (Wukchumni Yokuts

To learn more about the storytelling project Re-Seeding: Stewarding Stories from New Generations of Indigenous People, please visit: https://bit.ly/re-seeding

Meet the Team

  • Darlene Franco

    Wukchumni Yokuts

    Chief Executive Officer

    Wukchumni Council Chairperson

  • Lisa D. Thomas

    Wukchumni Yokuts

    Administrative Assistant

    Wukchumni Elders Council

  • Yaynicut Franco

    Wukchumni Yokuts

    Director of Culture, Land Stewardship, & Tribal Housing

    Wukchumni Council Vice-Chair

  • Lahoci Franco

    Wukchumni Yokuts

    Wukchumni Farms Manager

  • Jessica Malone Nunez

    Wukchumni Yokuts

    Farm Assistant

  • Yalkis Tapleras

    Wukchumni Yokuts

    Compost Coordinator

  • Kowonash Franco

    Wukchumni Yokuts

    Cultural Resources Specialist

  • Alex Tapleras

    Wukchumni Yokuts

    Cultural Resources Assistant

  • Laura Franco

    Wukchumni Yokuts

    Language Teacher

  • Mathew Hernandez

    Wukchumni Yokuts

    Land Steward

  • Andrew Glazier

    Land Steward

  • Lizeth Calderon

    Media & Communications Assistant

  • Lillian Weese

    Wukchumni Yokuts

    Media Intern

  • Amber Thomas

    Wukchumni Yokuts

    Manager of Youth Services

    Wukchumni Council Treasurer

  • Raemie Martinez

    Wukchumni Yokuts

    Youth Coordinator

  • Lucinda Tapleras

    Wukchumni Yokuts

    Elder Consultant

    Wukchumni Elders Council

Programs & Services

Youth Services

We currently offer after school study time, storytelling, cultural enrichment, STEAM, Spring / Summer / Fall / Winter programs during school breaks, and cultural camps for youth & their parents. Youth are empowered to lead activities, talking circles, and group activities to build their leadership and public speaking skills.

We offer drop-in youth programming at our office Monday -Friday, from 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM, for youth ages 5-26.

Culture & Land Stewardship

We believe that it is our sacred responsibility to care for and actively steward our Pa’an (land), as our ancestors did for generations before us. We are currently building a seed library and a native plant nursery where we will be able to provide seeds and native plants to our tribal relatives and the community. We are currently working on the restoration of our Wuk’nain village through seed saving, planting more native trees / shrubs / flowers / grasses, cultural burns, habitat enhancements, and ground and surface water recharge.

Wukchumni Farms

Our Food Sovereignty project that began in 2020, during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Wukchumni people came together to grow our own food to nourish us and allow for us to safely gather together. Today, we have created an educational site where community members can learn gardening skills, natural building techniques, composting with K'aatru (worms) and 3-bins, how to improve soil health, cultural lessons through storytelling, and seed saving. Our Farm provides fresh produce, eggs, and medicinal plants for cultural uses to Elders and youth program families weekly through our Tribal food pantry distribution.

Tribal Food Pantry

We are a community food pantry that provides food boxes and produce to families in need. families are able to pick up food at our office in Visalia, CA during our distribution days. If you are interested in learning more about our Food Pantry please contact Lisa Thomas - lisa@wukchumnitribe.org

Community Land Trust & Housing

We are currently in the process of developing a Community Land Trust where we will provide housing for our elders, create a modern village that honors Wukchumni culture and traditional lifeways, and acquire a land base for the Wukchumni people that will be held in perpetuity for our future generations.

The idea for Wukchumni Bu’hach’hai Village comes from multiple visioning sessions and conversations that have been guided by feedback from Wukchumni youth, adults, and elders. This village will be a living community that nourishes the Wukchumni spirit and way of life, while honoring our past and future generations. Located in the Visalia area, this site will include affordable and accessible quality-built, energy efficient homes, community gardens, multi-use gathering spaces, playgrounds, and ceremonial grounds. Wukchumni Bu’hach’hai Village will offer a pathway to reclaiming traditions and community wellness. 

If you are interested in learning more about our land back efforts and Community Land Trust development, or if you would like to support our efforts please contact Yaynicut Franco - yaynicut@wukchumnitribe.org