PROFILE: Barbara Warren, “the mother of the CNCV Cultural Center”
WHERE ARE RAY, BARBARA and BRANDY? An update. Well, they all are doing awesome. Ray Is 95, Barbara is 83. Barbara and Ray first met on a romantic “Horse Trail Ride” in the High Sierra; they have been married for 58 years this year. Brandy Leonard has been a vital part of the Warren family for over seven years now.
Liz and I were invited to come up and visit them at their beautiful home and property in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada, sitting above Camp Far West Reservoir in rural Wheatland.
During 2021, Ray was temporarily in hospice while residing at home. With Barbara’s loving care, he continues to live at home with his family. Ray keeps an optimistic outlook on life And loves to relate family history and stories. Ray’s maternal ancestors came to California in 1850 (which was when John Rollin Ridge arrived). Ray was born in Oakdale, California, in 1929 to a ranching family. By age seven he was shoeing his own horse which he rode to school, driving tractor by age eight. Ray joined the U S Air Force (1950-1954), and served as Command Sgt. Highway Patrol, and Operations Sgt. Town Patrol, 517th Air Police Squadron,12 Air Force Headquarters, Wiesbaden, Germany; and Armed services Police, Patrol Sgt., Washington DC. Thank you for your service, Ray. He is proud of his duty. During his duty he was detailed to escort General Dwight Eisenhower. After his service hewent to work for the Grass Valley Police Dept. Ray has worn many hats: Rancher, Ferrier, Operating Engineer, Master Mechanic and Residential Care Specialist. Over the years he has been active in the Cherokee and California Native Community, he served on the Parent Committee of the American Indian Education Program of Marysville and was an Honored Elder at the 24th Annual California Conference on American Indian Education. Ray was the Official “roadie” for the Feather River Singers (a women’s drum group), accompanying them to powwows, cultural presentations and community events.
Barbara Ann Hudson-Warren tells me she and Ray are of Cherokee descent, her maternal family coming from Oklahoma. Barbara and Ray are not Registered Cherokee Nation Citizens. Barbara is retired after 40 years as an educator in public schools. Barbara has studied Cherokee culture and language for many years; she presented many basic language lessons to the CNCV. Although not fluent in Cherokee language, Barbara does teach in basic language and songs, she is a gifted story teller and song catcher. In 2009, she founded Otsigeya (We Women) a women’s “service” drumming and singing group. They performed at many community, CNCV events, powwows, and gatherings. They recorded an album of her songs, “Keeper of the Family”, which was an honored winner of two Indian Summer Music Awards and received a Native American Music Award nomination in 2007. In 2019, Barbara retired as Drum keeper passing it on to a new generation. She no longer sings with Otsigeya. You can find her as Shining Woman Music on YouTube.
Barbara and Ray were leaders on our original CNCV Board. Their organizing knowledge and skills were instrumental in guiding, shaping and organizing the CNCV. They both were active members of the original Cherokees of Northern California Club that CNCV took over. In our first years, we were holding regular general meetings every other month and board meetings every month and more. We were always looking for literature, cultural information, presenters, and meeting ideas. We were purchasing items from the Cherokee Nation gift shop, which we sold as fundraisers. Barbara suggested to the board that we should check out Cherokee Publications in North Carolina. None of us had ever heard of them. I sent for information and we were blown away by the amount of Cherokee literature available. Rob Wood was our first Chair. Rob and the board authorized and provided the Cultural Center $700 to make an initial purchase. That was the start of what has been our very successful fundraising CNCV Cultural Center, making Barbara Warren “The mother of the CNCV Cultural Center.” Thank you for your service, Barbara and Ray.
Brandy has found a home with Ray and Barbara, living independently and happy. She loves working with her dogs and cats as well as ranch animals. Ray and Barbara feel very blessed to have Brandy in their lives. Brandy Leonard is a twelve-year military veteran (1999-2011), serving two and one half years in Iraq in the military police. After serving a total of eight years in the Army National Guard, she continued her service for three years as a T Sgt. Flight Medic/Combat Medic in the US Air Force. In 2003-2004 her unit was deployed to patrol the Baghdad area during Operation Iraqi Freedom (OSI). While riding in a Humvee on desert patrol, the vehicle was hit with a rocket propelled grenade. The occupants, including Brandy, were injured and the Humvee severely damaged. Among her military medals, she was awarded the Combat Action Badge. Thank you for your service, Brandy.
Barbara's and Ray’s service to the Cherokees of Northern Central Valley and greater community is lengthy with experiences in the capacity of secretary, board member, newsletter editor, media coordinator, webmaster, indigenous language teacher. She is a former member of the Cherokees of California, Cherokees of Northern California Club, and member of the Cherokees of Northern Central Valley. In 1996, through the sponsorship of Powersource, a website developer, Barbara created one of the first websites that included Cherokee language, history, and stories.
We value and encourage all of our CNCV membership, citizens and non-citizens, to actively participate. WADO!
— Mike Webb, CNCV Cultural Center Chair
