Mona Olives Tucker is honored to be the Tribal Chair for yak tityu tityu yak tiłhini- Northern Chumash Tribe of San Luis Obispo County and Region (ytt Tribe).  She was born in San Luis Obispo and has lived continuously in the southern part of the county, currently residing in rural Arroyo Grande. She is the great-granddaughter of Rosario Cooper who was the last known fluent speaker of the tiłhini language.   With gratitude, she recognizes her knowledge of her culture, traditional values, and her homeland from the wisdom and influence of her father, Timothy Olivas, and her sister, LeiLynn Olivas Odom. 

The ytt Northern Chumash has been cohesive tribe for hundreds of years and Mona was privileged to help the tribe obtain State Tribal acknowledgment, to participate on a Government to Government basis, per SB18 and AB52 from the California Native American Heritage Commission.  She has decades of experience working with City, County, State, and Federal governmental agencies in matters concerning Tribal issues and cultural resources. She also was instrumental in the in the formation of the Tribe’s 501 (c) 3 ytt Northern Chumash Nonprofit. 

Along with Tribal responsibilities, Mona is an associate member of the ytt Northern Chumash Nonprofit, a member of the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History California Indian Advisory Committee and the Calif Environmental Protection Agency Tribal Advisory Committee.  Mona is a co-author and a participant in the ytt Tribe receiving the 2018 Governor’s Historic Preservation Award: “Research and Collaboration for the Restoration of Tstyiwi on the Pecho Coast”.   Mona is a recipient of the Bill Denneen Environmental Award. Additionally Mona is a member of the ytt Tribe’s Land Back committee who is working to reacquire Diablo Lands on the Pecho Coast of San Luis Obispo County.

She has been married to John Tucker for 44 years, and is a mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.  Mona is a retired real estate broker of 39 years and a former President of the Pismo Coast Association of REALTORS.  Mona enjoys walking in her homeland, history, working with tule rush, and spending time with her family, friends and tribal members.