Tribal Council

Sherry Treppa

Executive Council – Chairperson

Sherry Treppa is Chairperson of the Habematolel Pomo of Upper Lake, a federally recognized Indian Nation in Upper Lake, California. Treppa has served the Tribe as an elected official since 2004, serving as the Chairperson since 2008. While tasked to preserve the Tribe’s Pomo culture, Treppa leads the effort to continually strive for economic self-reliance, through e-commerce, gaming and other economic opportunities within the Tribe’s jurisdiction.

Treppa worked in private industry for 18 years prior to her role with the Tribe. She was born in Lake County and graduated with a Bachelor of Science from the University of San Francisco. Treppa’s ongoing efforts have contributed to the process of restoring the Tribe’s land base and the furtherance of the Tribe’s goal of economic self-reliance. She has spearheaded efforts funding negotiations and recently its refinance for the Tribe’s current gaming ventures, played a vital role in overseeing the construction of the Tribe’s Casino and represented the Tribe in raising capital, structuring and development of the Tribe’s e-commerce businesses.

Chairperson Treppa is often called upon to testify in her capacity as an experienced tribal leader at legislative hearings for a variety of issues impacting Indian Country demonstrating her commitment to Native American interests and their mission of achieving economic growth and financial stability. She was awarded 2021 Tribal Chairperson of the Year by NAFOA (Native American Finance Officers Association), a national respected tribal organization focused on growing tribal economies and strengthening tribal finance. In 2019 Treppa and her Tribe co-produced “Saving the Sacred” a short documentary recently nominated for an Emmy on development of an MOA-Memorandum of Agreement- with other local Sovereign Tribal Governments and the County of Lake for protection of sacred sites and artifacts. An effort (MOA) that earned the California State Governor’s Historic Preservation Award in 2016.

Michael Marcks

Executive Council – Vice-Chairperson

Michael Marcks is Vice Chairperson of the Habematolel Pomo of Upper Lake, a federally recognized Native American Tribe located in Upper Lake, California, on the scenic northwest shores of Clear Lake (California’s largest natural lake and one of North America’s oldest). Vice Chairperson Marcks won election to the Tribe’s seven-member Executive Council in the summer of 2022. Michael follows in the footsteps of his mother, Georgeanne Marcks, who formerly served on the Executive Council. Michael is eager to serve the Tribe, and its Members, by being transparent, making levelheaded decisions that serve the best interests to the majority of the Tribe, and yet never leaving any Member behind.

Until recently, Vice Chairperson Marcks served as secretary of both the Tribe’s Housing Commission (HC), and the Tribal Cultural Committee (TCC). He is currently serving on the Tribe’s Scholarship Fund Selection Committee (SFSC).

Prior to election, Michael was the Tribe’s Education Coordinator for over 10 years. Michael feels that education is not only an important and necessary tool for the wellbeing of the Tribe, but is also important for them to be successful for generations to come. As a father of three children, Michael is proactive in promoting education and culture, and the long-term value they bring. Whether young or old, one can never stop learning and exploring new things – self-growth is essential. Knowledge can help one gain balance and inner peace, forging unity with others and their environment.

The Pomo culture and all native traditions possess strong values; it is the foundation that bonds tribal people, it is what connects Indigenous people in ways unseen by the human eye yet connects our spirits with one another and the Creator. It is what binds us together – resiliency and perseverance, a common thread Indigenous people have woven for thousands of years – a spirit that can never be broken!

Michael continues to take immense pride in being a Native American Man, standing up for equality and justice for all, having empathy and compassion for others and for Mother Earth, and not doing what is popular but what is Right.

OH! To the Creator and to our Hinth’el ancestors….

Vicky Hutchison

Executive Council – Member-at-Large

Vicky Hutchison is a Member-at-Large for the Executive Council of the the Habematolel Pomo of Upper Lake, a federally recognized Native American Indian Nation located in Upper Lake, California. Member-at-Large Hutchison was first elected to the Tribe’s seven-member Executive Council in the summer of 2022. Member-at-Large Hutchison was born in Lakeport, CA and grew up in Sonoma County and currently resides in Lake County near the shorelines of Clearlake Oaks, CA. She is a proud mother of 3 adult children and 3 beautiful grandchildren, all of whom are enrolled Tribal Members of the Habematolel Pomo of Upper Lake Tribe.

Prior to the election, Member-at-Large Hutchison served on the Tribe’s Grievance Review Board (GRB) until being elected in June 2022. She is currently continuing to serve as a committee member of the Tribe’s Tribal Garden Project, as well as the Constitutional Review Committee (CRC).

Member-at-Large Hutchison has worked in various roles within the Tribe since 2018, beginning with managing the transportation department – this included maintaining Tribal vehicles, managing rentals of Tribal vehicles, and transporting Tribal youth and other Tribal Members to various functions. From there, Hutchison transferred to the environmental department as a solid waste technician coordinating and facilitating the proper collection/removal and disposal of large recyclable items, contributing to a cleaner, greener planet. Hutchison views all Tribal lands as sacred, therefore should be cherished and honored as Mother nature intended. In early 2022, she was promoted to the Tribe’s interim environmental director, overseeing the entire department which included managing personnel and reporting of federal grants., Moreso Hutchison was an integral part of the department’s “Saving the Clear Lake Hitch” (Lavinia exilicauda) tagging program that aided in the preservation of this endangered species, a species that is only found in Northern California’s Clear Lake and tributaries and which plays a vital part of the lake’s ecosystem. For our ancestors Hitch was and still would be (if not endangered) an important food source not only to its People, but for the habitat (birds, other fish, and wildlife). The preservation of tribal territories, land, water, and air are a fundamental way of life for Native people and is something held near and dear to Hutchison’s heart.

With over 30 years of experience in a male dominated field, Member-at-Large Hutchison brings her expertise and knowledge of construction and general contracting to the table. Hutchison has persevered and proven she can do whatever she sets her mind to. Hutchison intends to invest her experience, time, and efforts towards the Tribe’s economic benefit and will be working closely with the property management department in property, structure, and land development.

Member-at-Large Hutchison knows as a strong Native woman with a voice, it can be challenging to always be heard and understood. Hutchison wants to ensure that Tribal Members know, she hears your voice and will continue to listen and understand with an open mind and an open heart.

Hutchison aspires to be a part of elevating the Tribe indefinitely to the next level, to its fullest, whether that be culturally, financially, or spiritually. Hutchison tributes the ancestors before us, for all that they have taught us and given us for that Hutchison is thankful!

EXECUTIVE COUNCIL