Janet Darlene Garcia

Darlene’s lifelong commitment to protecting sacred sites, advocating for Indigenous health, and serving in leadership roles demonstrates the deep knowledge, dedication, and community trust that make her an ideal representative for the Coastal Band of the Chumash Nation as a member-at-large.

Darlene is also Quabajai Coastal Chumash Clan, one of the seven clans that help formed the Coastal Band as a tribal entity in 1982. She has dedicated over 50 years to the protection of sacred and cultural sites throughout the Santa Barbara region. Her tireless advocacy has ensured the preservation of significant places such as Hammond’s Meadow, Rincon Point, Carpinteria, Las Cruces, Los Carneros, Bacara, and the Santa Barbara County Jail, safeguarding burials and cultural landscapes for future generations.

A longtime leader within the Coastal Band of the Chumash Nation, Darlene has served in numerous roles on the tribal board, including as Tribal Chairwoman. She also represented the Chumash community on the board of the American Indian Health & Services (AIHS) for five years, advocating for Indigenous wellness and access to culturally grounded care.

Darlene’s legacy includes decades of frontline activism to uphold the sovereignty of her people and protect the land and waters they have stewarded since time immemorial. She was also an important part of the intertribal Santa Barbara Indian Center in the 1970s–80s, a hub that brought together diverse tribal communities for cultural, social, and political collaboration.