Welcome to Buena Vista Rancheria
Band of Me-Wuk Indians
Rhonda L. Morningstar Pope is the Chairwoman of Buena Vista Rancheria of Me-Wuk Indians. She is serving her 3rd term as Chairwoman. She is currently attending Sacramento City College pursing degrees in both Business and Native American Studies. She regularly attends conferences and consultations designed to promote responsible tribal governance and leadership. During her leadership of the Tribe, she has established a strong tribal government and infrastructure for ongoing Tribal programs. She established a Tribal office in Sacramento and on the reservation for ongoing Tribal and environmental affairs. Some of the programs established under her leadership include Tribal Member Services, which provides education, social services, and child care services for Tribal members. She has established an Environmental Department, hiring a director to handle environmental, cultural, and NAGPRA related issues. She formed the Jesse Flyingcloud Pope Foundation in 2007 in honor of her father. Resources from the Foundation are used to support charitable programs designed to assist local community members and offer educational opportunities, specifically promoting and enhancing Tribal traditions, cultural awareness and community support.
Rhonda Morningstar Pope​ [​Chairwoman]
Arnold Samuel is General Counsel to the Buena Vista Rancheria, and has served in that capacity since 2006. As General Counsel, Arnold oversees the Tribe’s legal department, providing legal support to the Tribal Council, Tribal departments and key management employees. Prior to assuming the General Counsel position, Arnold represented the Tribe as outside counsel for his firm, Albietz & Samuel. Arnold has been representing California and Nevada Native tribes in many capacities since 2000. Before his indoctrination in Indian Country, Arnold was a Deputy City Attorney for the City of Sacramento and an associate for a small litigation firm in Los Angeles.
Arnold was born and raised in Southern California. He obtained his Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration (Finance) from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo before earning his Juris Doctor from McGeorge School of Law in Sacramento. Arnold was drawn to the legal profession by the broad diversity of career paths available to law graduates and his genuine interest in doing work that helps others. His work with Buena Vista exposes Arnold to business, government, politics and just about every aspect of law.
Arnold is a proud father of a young daughter. When he is not hard at work for the Tribe or taking care of his child, Arnold enjoys watching and playing just about any sport, working out at the gym, and playing poker. One of his future ambitions is to become an expert home chef.
Arnold Samuel [General Legal Counsel]
Denean Swenson who studied at California State University, Sacramento and has a wealth of experience in Office Administration, Accounting and Customer Service. Denean is currently responsible for the Tribe’s Office Manager and Tribal Administrator Duties, including the Tribe’s accounting functions. One of Denean’s accomplishments outside of the Office was to implement and manage a summer swim lesson program in her town that she researched and presented to the Town Council for funding. The program has been in place and successful for the last 4 years, serving the youth of Denean’s community.
Denean Swenson [Tribal Administrator]
Dr. Roselynn Lwenya is an Environmental specialist with strong academic background and considerable experience in Environmental planning, Gender mainstreaming issues, Action Oriented Research and development. Roselynn has worked for Tule River Indian Reservation and North Fork Rancheria in her capacity as Natural Resources Director and Environmental Director respectively. Currently, Roselynn is the Environmental Resources Director for Buena Vista Rancheria of Me-Wuk Indians of California. She is implementing U.S. EPA, General Assistance Program (GAP) and Clean Water Act (CWA) Section 106 program ; Department of Energy- Energy Efficiency Conservation Block Grant among others. Roselynn has coordinated the training of Cultural Resources Monitors for both Buena Vista Rancheria and North Fork Rancheria.
Dr. Roselynn Lwenya [Environmental Resources Director]
Penny Arciniaga [Tribal Member Services]
Penny Arciniaga was born in Santa Clara, California and grew up in Broderick, California. She graduated from River City High School in West Sacramento California, where she then attended Sacramento City College to receive units in early education. She has experience with working with children for many years, and has had several different roles working with the Washington Unified School District in West Sacramento. Penny has been working in the Buena Vista Tribal Office for 8 ½ years as an office assistant, and has also worked in the Tribal Member Services here in the Tribal office. Along with the Buena Vista Staff and the Tribe, she has assisted in hosting several events throughout the year. Thanks to the hard work of Penny Arciniaga, every year the events have become more successful and meaningful to the Tribe and Tribal Chairwoman Rhonda L. Morningstar Pope
Serena Robertson [Adminstrative Assistant]
Serena Robertson is a life time resident of Sacramento. Serena currently is the Administrative Assistant for the Buena Vista Rancheria of Me-Wuk Indians. Her duties include managing and coordinating the Tribe’s meetings including Tribal Council and the Jesse Flyingcloud Pope Foundation. In 2010 she became the Administrative Assistant for the Tribe’s Gaming Authority Board. Serena actively participates and helps organize in the Tribe’s annual events including: Memorial Day Comeback, Honored Elders Dinner, California Native American Day at the state capitol & the Tribe’s Annual March/BBQ, & Annual Children’s Christmas Party.
Prior to her working for the tribe in pursuit of her passion for helping people, in 2005 she obtained her Medical Assisting Diploma and began working in a private practice near Sutter General. She enjoys working for the Tribe and being able to assist its members and community members.
Erik Bell [Procurement / Graphic Designer]
After the past 10 years working in Customer service, Erik has found his niche in the Buena Vista community using skills he acquired in college. Erik has experience in Audio Engineering, Graphic Designing, Photo Manipulation, and Photography. As the photo/document/ and Multimedia archiver, Erik is greatly enjoys working for Buena Vista Rancheria and can’t wait to see what the future has in store. In his spare time Erik enjoys playing air guitar.
“It’s great working with and being involved in a community of people that are constantly giving back “
Hannah Bell [Receptionist]
After the past 10 years working in Customer service, Erik has found his niche in the Buena Vista community using skills he acquired in college. Erik has experience in Audio Engineering, Graphic Designing, Photo Manipulation, and Photography. As the photo/document/ and Multimedia archiver, Erik is greatly enjoys working for Buena Vista Rancheria and can’t wait to see what the future has in store. In his spare time Erik enjoys playing air guitar.
“It’s great working with and being involved in a community of people that are constantly giving back “