A descendent of the Eastern Pomo Xabenapo village and the Colusa Wintun, Ron Montez Sr. is an enrolled member of the Big Valley Band of Pomo Indians and grew up on Elem Indian Colony, adjacent to the EPA Sulphur Bank Mercury Mine Superfund site. A Pomo Big Head Dancer and Traditional Singer, Ron participated in the 1969 Native American occupation of Alcatraz Island and the 1970 occupation of lands near Forestville, California, now known as Ya-Ka-Ama (“Our Land”).
