Chairwoman Erica M. Pinto is currently serving as the Chairwoman of the California Tribal Chairpersons Association (CTCA) and the Vice-President of the SCTCA.
"The establishment of the California Tribal Chairpersons Association is so important because when tribes stand together we can accomplish much more than if we are standing alone. I have seen this first hand when, most recently, we stood together to protect the Indian Child Welfare Act. We need to stand up for tribes in California and across the nation to protect our sovereignty and hold the federal government accountable as they have a trust responsibility to all tribes. As one of my favorite proverbs states, 'if you want to go fast go alone, if you want to go far, go together.'"
Erica M. Pinto currently serves as Chairwoman of the Jamul Indian Village of California, one of the 13 tribes of the Kumeyaay Nation who trace their roots back 12,000 years in San Diego County, California. Ms. Pinto has served on the Jamul Indian Village Tribal Council since 1997. In 2015 Ms. Pinto was the first woman elected Chairwoman of Jamul Indian Village and has lead JIV through significant economic progress. Ms. Pinto is committed to giving back to her community, to future generations of the Tribe and to non-gaming Tribes who continue to struggle. Her mother, Carlene A. Chamberlain continues to be her most influential role model and the driving force behind her strength.