Director Pat Mata

Patrick (Pat) Mata is a member of the yak tityu tityu yak tiłhini (the people of tiłhini) YTT Northern Chumash Tribe, located on the Central California Coast. Pat is the son of Edward David Mata and grandson of Mary Olivas, she was the daughter of Francisco Olivas, his mother was Rosario Cooper daughter of Ana Maria Masta. Pat lives with his wife, Bonnie married for 27 years, in the mountains of Tehachapi, California.

Although working full-time at Edward’s Air Force Base (AFB) for the 412th Test Wing, Civil Engineering Group’s electric shop, where he also served as the Installation’s Special Emphases Program Manager for the American Indian/Alaska Native Programs on base. Pat is actively involved in supporting his tribe as part of the repatriation crew and sacred ceremonies in 2021, preforming with the Tribal singing group at the annual Cal Poly San Luis Obispo event, and participating in the annual event for campers at the North Beach state campground at Pismo Beach, where tribal members have an opportunity to  educate the public about their heritage with songs, activities, and presentations. Pat also assists as part of the fire crew that has had training from Cal Fire and has been able to participate during most of our prescribed burns and training. for several years now is another way I honor my ancestors and support Tribal education. Currently, Pat serves on the Non-Profit committee of YTT committee to help raise funds to support tribal endeavors.

Pat honors his tribal heritage as the drummer for the Blue Mountain Tribe, a Tehachapi-based Native American blues-rock band, that has earned multiple Native American Music Awards and international film festival accolades. Key honors include Best Blues Recording (2016), Best Live Performance for "Children on the Rez" (2019), and awards for "Pray for Our Planet". The tribe recently won awards for their recording “Sacred Flowers”, in memory of (MMIW) missing and murdered indigenous women.