San Manuel Chairwoman Lynn Valbuena is named as the Asian Hall of Fame’s 2025 “Woman of the Year”
Interview by Terria Smith
The Asian Hall of Fame hosted its star-studded California Icons Gala at the Biltmore in downtown Los Angeles this spring to celebrate this year’s honorees. Among the politicians, performing artists, dignitaries, and philanthropists was Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation’s Tribal Chairwoman Lynn Valbuena who has been named “Woman of the Year” for 2025.
Chairwoman Valbuena, who has served her tribe’s leadership for almost 50 years, is currently in her sixth term as Tribal Chairwoman. Directly descending from one of the most valiant of leaders, she is the great-great granddaughter of Paakuma (Santos Manuel) who led the Yuhaaviatam people into safety as they were being pursued by settlers. During Chairwoman Valbuena’s years as a leader she helped establish the Tribal Alliance for Sovereign Indian Nations (TASIN), has served as a trustee for the Smithsonean’s National Museum of the American Indian, and has been an Advisory Council Member for the American Indian Chamber of Commerce of California for 30 years. The Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation have held strong in the tradition of Yawa, and have been more than generous to their surrounding communities.
News from Native California was lucky enough to be able to have a few minutes to interview Chairwoman Valbuena on the red carpet:
Terria Smith: I wanted to ask you what values you picked up through your decades of leadership with the tribe?
Chairwoman Valbuena: I think the values that I’ve picked up is that doing what we can to assist and help our own tribal citizens and our tribal community and to do what we can to make them successful and also to mentor our younger generation because we do have a youth committee.
And by educating them on what we do as tribal leaders, hopefully when they get to the age where they can run for a tribal council seat, looking out for the best interest of their tribal community and their tribal members, they’ll do that. But they have to have the passion.
And I always say, with passion comes dedication and commitment and it’ll get done. But they have to be able to understand about the sacrifices, the support at home. Quick notice, you’ve got to go to DC or go to Sacramento on a day’s notice for whatever issue might come up.
And some may want to and some may like, “No, it’s not for me.” But if you love what you do, it’s going to happen.
Terria Smith: Wonderful. What does this recognition mean to you to be inducted as a woman of the year?
Chairwoman Valbuena: Yes. Well, the recognition today from the Asian Hall of Fame, it makes me so happy because it’s so great that we have cross culture, other cultures to get together and learn more about each other.
And I have Asian friends already, but to get more involved and see exactly what they do is so similar to what we do as a tribe because we do give back to those in need, we do build relationships. We want to learn more about the culture with other organizations and other people, but more importantly, just educating them about what a tribe is and why we’re sovereign and what’s a tribal chair.
I’ve had many elected officials and mayors come up to me and say, “You say you’re the chair of the tribe. What does that mean?” As soon as I say, “Well, it’s like you being a mayor or it’s like a governor of a state or the President of the United States.” And I said, “We’re a nation within a nation.” I said, “That’s what the position is.”
And then they open their arms, “I get it. Thank you for educating us. We didn’t know.” So there are still some that don’t know.
Terria Smith: What do you find is the most important piece of leadership?
Chairwoman Valbuena: I think the most important piece of leadership, what I’ve been doing, and these are words of wisdom from my mom and my grandmother who was our chair in the 1950s, is my grandmother, and was, always treat people like you would want them to treat you, with respect. And never forget who you are or where you came from.
So I’ve lived with those words of wisdom for decades in my leadership and it’s really helped me get through whatever I can get through. And just have to move forward and move on, but those two words of wisdom is what I share about what got me to where I’m at today.
Terria Smith: Okay, thank you. And one more question. Can you talk a little bit about Yawa, the spirit of giving that the tribe has as a value?
Chairwoman Valbuena: Yes. So the word Yawa in our Serrano language means to act on one’s belief. So we do a lot of giving through philanthropy. In fact, just two days ago, we had our annual, what we call Forging Hope with the community where communities that we have given grants to for whatever their needs may be, we give through our philanthropy program.
And we had them come to our event at Yaamava couple of days ago and we would present them with a handmade board rattle that our tribal youth have made themselves and painted and had it encased in a glass, and beautiful glass.
And it was an award to give to them for their thank you for being good partners with us in the community. So giving back and knowing what to do when people are in need.
Terria Smith: Thank you so much. I appreciate you!
