AMLT Staff

Marion Martinez, Cultural Resources Administrator (Tribal Member)

Why did you want to work for AMLT / why are you doing this work?

In the early 1990’s my uncles were Tribal Council members for the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band, they asked our family if we wanted to be involved. This is where and when I learned of my Indigenous ancestry, my mother had passed, my uncles were my resources. By attending those meetings, I found out that I am a descendant of Ascencion Solorsano de Cervantes.

I recently retired from my Administrative Assistant position and knew Amah Mutsun Land Trust was hiring but I didn’t see any part-time positions posted so I reached out to see if there was such a position available and luckily for me, there was. When I started learning of my ancestry and more of my Great-Grandmother, I felt, not only would my administrative experience be a fit for AMLT but working for AMLT and the projects they have would give me the learning experience of my ancestral heritage I didn’t have.

What from your whole life's experiences are you bringing to this role?

When I began my working career, I began working in an office as: cashier, clerk, secretary, administrative assistant. When I started attending AMTB tribal meetings I was: Tribal member, Council Secretary, and for a time on the AMLT Land Trust. I’ve been asked many times:

“Didn’t anyone tell you about Ascencion, your Great-Grandmother.” No, was my reply

“Didn’t anyone tell you about the work your mother did with John P. Harrington?” No, was my reply

My Indigenous learnings began when I was able to get some copies of the notes taken by Mr. Harrington when he came to Monterey CA to interview my Great-Grandmother Ascencion Solorsano de Cervantes in late 1929. Mr. Harrington had met her once in 1922 and knew she was the last fluent speaker of the Amah Mutsun language. She was very sick by the time he came to interview her in 1929, but she was able to give him many, many notes covering: Language, Culture, Crafts, where they lived after the closure of the Mission, and much more. In one of the notes, Ascencion says “and this book was written by Martha (notes taken by my mother) from beginning to end. When Ascencion passed in Jan 1930, Mr. Harrington went back to Washington D.C. and my mother worked at a public library in Pacific Grove. Then she was contacted by Mr. Harrington, he had asked permission from Mission San Juan Bautista if the Indigenous birth records could be copied and given to the Smithsonian Institute. He was granted permission, and my mother became his secretary. She could read and write Spanish and was able to transcribe all the information needed. She did several more jobs for Mr. Harrington and the Smithsonian Institute, as it is with Administrative Assistants positions. I feel this profession is right for me.

Where are you from?

I have lived in the Bay Area all my life. I was born and raised in Oakland. I’ve lived in Oakland’s sister cities: San Leandro, Union City, and Hayward. Hayward is where I reside today.