Development & Fundraising Staff

Marsha (Anāhkūkiw) Uutela is an enrolled tribal member of the Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin, with Ojibwe ancestry rooted in White Earth, Minnesota. Her father is Menominee, and her mother is Ojibwe and Menominee, grounding her work in strong cultural values and Indigenous perspectives.

She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Business Management from National University (2015) and a Master of Business Administration from St. Norbert College (2022). Marsha brings extensive experience in administration, tribal governance, grant management, and program development, with a strong focus on supporting Native students, families, and communities.

Marsha currently serves as the Director of Tribal Relations & Resource Development at California Indian Nations College, where she leads efforts to strengthen partnerships, advance resource development, and support the college’s mission of serving Native American and Indigenous communities. Her professional background also includes leadership and administrative roles with the College of Menominee Nation and the Menominee Indian Tribe, where she contributed to strategic planning, policy development, and community-driven initiatives. She continued her work at Scared Oaks Healing Center, supporting youth through crisis intervention, behavioral health support, and culturally responsive care practices.

Marsha’s work is rooted in cultural competency, tribal knowledge systems, and a deep commitment to equity and inclusion. She has extensive training in trauma-informed care, mental health support, and youth advocacy, and is passionate about creating systems that uplift and empower tribal communities.

In addition to her professional work, Marsha is a devoted mother to her two sons, Adrian and Andrew, who inspire her continued dedication to strengthening the next seven generations.

Rachel Montanez has a multicultural background. She was born and raised in Southern California. She is a descendant of Gidutikad Paiute Band of Fort Bidwell Indian Community and descendant of the Shoshone-Paiute Tribe of the Duck Valley Indian Reservation. She has a lot of respect for her Mexican heritage and the French-Canadian family that has positively impacted her life. She and her husband are raising one son. Being a part of the community as they travel is a priority as they provide strong cultural representation in their son’s upbringing. She is a CINC (California Indian Nations College) alumni who graduated in 2021 with an associate degree in business and technology; and in 2023 received an associate degree in Sociology. She credits her family for her strong morals and extraordinary ambitions. She is passionate about positively impacting her community and those she encounters. She is enthusiastic to be employed at CINC and reciprocate the inspiration to future students.

Juliana Taboada is a second-generation Chicana, proudly from the Coachella Valley. Before joining CINC, Juliana advocated for Eastern Coachella Valley communities, having participated/worked in the non-profit force for almost 10 years. She has a background in conservation, and educational justice advocacy, and youth leadership building. She was featured in initiatives such as Future Women Leaders by the California Endowment in 2016, and has volunteered in the Women’s Foundation, and Youth Leadership Institute.

Outside of work, Juliana enjoys reading, hiking, baking, writing short stories, and poems, and hosts a radio show on KUCR called Florecita Rockera on Friday nights. She also holds a California Naturalist certification, specifically to the desert region.
Juliana is extremely excited to join the CINC team as their Events and External Relations Coordinator and supports the meaningful work CINC conducts.