Tribal Government

  • Business Committee Members:
    • Tribal Chairman – Vincent Armenta
    • Vice Chairman - Richard Gomez
    • Secretary/Treasurer – Kenneth Kahn
    • Business Committee Member – Gary Pace
    • Business Committee Member – David Dominguez
  • Elections for the Business Committee are held every two years
  • Next election: March 2007
  • Number of enrolled tribal members: 153
  • Voting age: 21

Santa Ynez Reservation

  • The Santa Ynez Reservation was established through an Executive Order in 1901. We are the only federally recognized Chumash tribe in the nation.
  • At 137 acres, our reservation is one of the smallest in the state
  • Running right through our reservation is the Sanja de Cota Creek -- 1 mile long and 50 ft wide.
  • There are 97 homes on the Reservation housing 287 residents.
  • In 2004, the tribe installed a waste water treatment plant that services all residents on the Reservation as well as the Chumash Casino Resort.
  • Enrolled tribal members receive 100% medical insurance coverage.
  • The tribe supports language revitalization by holding period Chumash language classes for adults and children on the reservation. Also, the tribe is currently working on a Chumash language dictionary to be published in the summer of 2006.

The Tribe and the Community

  • Over the past several years, the tribe has contributed $7 million to the community through a variety of non profit organizations
  • To date, the tribe has contributed $13.5 million to the Special Distribution Fund (money contributed to this fund is distributed back into the community).
  • To date, the tribe has contributed $6.0 million to the Revenue Sharing Trust Fund (money contributed to this fund is distributed among non-gaming tribes in California).
  • Members of the tribe are very active in the community – through volunteerism, involvement on community boards and participation in local schools.

Chumash Casino Resort

  • The Chumash Casino first opened its doors in May 1994.
  • The casino is regulated on three levels:
    • Tribal Gaming Commission (a five member panel that is elected by the tribal membership)
    • State of California
    • Federal Government
  • Members of the Santa Ynez Tribal Gaming Commission are:
    • Mike Lopez, Chairman of the Gaming Commission
    • Maxine Littlejohn
    • Lydia Quiroga
    • Anthony Romero, Jr
    • E. Alex Valencia
  • All employees hired by the Chumash Casino resort must go through a thorough background check administered by the Tribal Gaming Commission.
  • All employees must renew their license every two years.
  • The casino is 190,000 square feet and offers Las Vegas-style gaming 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
  • The hotel is a AAA Four Diamond-rated property
  • The hotel has 106 guest rooms, including 17 suites, a swimming pool, Jacuzzi and a fitness center
  • The hotel’s Spa features a wide variety of top-rated spa services
  • The Chumash Casino Resort has three restaurants: The Willows (fine dining), the Creekside Buffet and the Chumash Casino Café (open 24 hours)
  • The Willows received an AAA Four Diamond Award of Excellence, the only restaurant on a tribal gaming property to earn this distinction
  • The Samala Showroom, where headline entertainers perform, seats 1,330
  • The Chumash Casino Resort employs 1,500
  • For more information, go to the Chumash Casino Resort website at www.chumashcasino.comwww.chumashcasino.com