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Before the elections. Before the council chambers. Before the government-to-government meetings...
Before the elections. Before the council chambers. Before the government-to-government meetings...
Raquel was already showing up — for her culture, for her community, for her people. She was leading workshops and cultural gatherings across California, passing down traditional knowledge, and strengthening the bonds that hold Indigenous communities together. She was sharing culture, organizing community, and lifting people up with nothing to gain but the knowledge that her people were stronger because of it.
She was showing up for her people's mental health and wellbeing long before it was part of any job description — advocating for suicide prevention, sitting with her community in their pain, and reminding them that their life has purpose, meaning, and belonging right here.
That is who Raquel Williams is. Not someone who found a cause when opportunity came knocking. Someone who was already deep in the work when leadership found her.
In 2018, her community recognized what they had already seen in her for years — a woman of conviction, culture, and genuine care — and elected her to the Wilton Rancheria Tribal Council. She served with dedication, showing up not just for the decisions that made headlines but for the quiet, everyday work of building a stronger tribe. Two years later, having proven what she was made of, her people called on her again.
In 2022, Raquel Williams was elected Vice-Chairwoman of the Wilton Rancheria — and she has not slowed down for a single day since.
What She has Built Since 2022
What She has Built Since 2022
Since stepping into the Vice Chair role, Raquel has carried her people's trust into rooms and relationships that matter. She has built and strengthened government-to-government relationships — sitting at tables with federal and state officials and making sure the Wilton Rancheria's voice is heard, respected, and acted upon.
She has worked alongside tribes across California, building a network of Indigenous solidarity rooted in mutual respect, shared culture, and collective strength. Because Raquel has always known that when Native people stand together, they are unstoppable.
She has been a role model and mentor to young Native women — showing them through her own example that Indigenous women belong in leadership, that their voice matters, and that their culture is not a barrier to success. It is their greatest strength.
She has championed culture initiatives that reconnect her community to who they are — their language, their traditions, their ceremonies, their identity. Because for Raquel, governance without culture is just paperwork. Culture is the foundation of everything.
She has fought on the front lines of suicide prevention — because she refuses to lose her people to despair. She shows up for the hard conversations, the painful moments, and the quiet crises that never make the news. She reminds her community again and again that they are needed, they are loved, and they belong here.
She has shared culture widely and generously — opening doors for tribal members and Native communities across California to connect with tradition, with ceremony, and with each other. Because culture shared is culture that survives.
She has made a profound impact in Indian Child Welfare — fighting to keep Native children connected to their families, their tribes, and their identity. Because every Native child deserves to know where they come from.
She has been a fierce advocate for Missing and Murdered Indigenous People — refusing to let her community's most painful losses be ignored, unseen, or forgotten. She speaks their names. She demands accountability. She will not stop.
And then there is the moment that says everything about who Raquel Williams truly is.
Together with Chairman Tarango, Raquel helped build the dance arbor on tribal land. And when it was finished — when the work was done and the space was ready — she helped hold the first dance on that land.
Read that again.
The first dance on that land.
That is not a policy. That is not a press release. That is culture being resurrected. That is healing made real. That is ancestors being honored and future generations being given something sacred to come home to. That is the kind of leadership that cannot be faked, cannot be rushed, and cannot be taken away.
This is only the beginning of what Raquel Williams has accomplished. What follows is her record — year by year, decision by decision, fight by fight — for the people of Wilton Rancheria.
Timeline of her work year by year
Timeline of her work year by year
June 2022 - June 2023
June 2022 - June 2023
1. Elected as Vice Chair in June 2022
2. Feather Alert Conference June 2022
3. San Joaquin Partnership – Regional Collaboration Meeting
4. White House Native Women Symposium: Health
5. RE: Commission on Native Children Pacific Regional Hearing Invitation to Participate in a Panel
6. Grand Opening of Sky River Casino
7. Leadership Elk Grove Class (Elk Grove Chamber of Commerce)
8. Tribal Leaders Forum
9. Supervisor Nottoli's on-site visit to Trumark Property
10. California Tribal Business Alliance meeting
11. Native Women’s Roundtable with First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom
12. G2E
13. Introduction of Northern Circle Indian Housing Authority
14. MMIP Tribal Leaders Roundtable: Summit Debrief & Next Steps for MMIP Advocacy 2022
15. NCAI Welcome 2022
16. Presentation For Elk Grove Council on Wilton Rancheria history
17. Cosumnes River College and Wilton Rancheria Land Acknowledgment Plaque Dedication Ceremony
18. Wilton Rancheria Tribal Policing Discussion
19. Tribal Leaders and Advocates MMIP Roundtable – November 2022
20. Equal Pay Native Women Initiative from Mrs. Newsom
21. California State Capitol’s Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony
22. Governor Gavin Newsom’s Second Term Land Acknowledgment and Opening Blessing
23. Recognition for Newly Elected Officials by Sacramento County’s Commission on the Status of Women and Girls
24. AB 1314 Feather Alert Implementation Roundtable
25. Elders Christmas Luncheon Invitation
26. Tribal Justice Collaborative Judges' Meeting
27. Tribal Leaders Forum and Native American Day Planning Meeting
28. Meeting with Assemblymember James C. Ramos
29. 2023 Wilton Rancheria Strategic Planning
30. Blessing for the Sacramento State Equity Garden’s Opening
31. SACOG Meeting
32. Coalition for Adequate School Housing (CASH) presenting Miwok Village Elementary School
33. Getting ready for Mental Health ECHO for Native American Youth
34. MMIP Tribal Leaders and Advocates Roundtable 2023
35. California Indian Heritage Center (CIHC) Launch Meeting
36. Na’Wasu Workshop 2022
37. Northern CA 988 Tribal Summit Leadership Meeting
38. Elders Day Planning Meeting
39. Wilton Rancheria Department Debriefs
40. Big Day of Community Opening Blessing
41. California Tribal Families Coalition Opening Blessing
42. Select Committee Hearing focusing on MMIP
43. Inaugural MMIP Week at State Capitol
44. Asian Pacific Culture Fest Opening Blessing
45. Children of the Sun Interview
46. Elk Grove Unified Native American Education Graduation 2023
47. Sacramento City College Old Lillard Hall Open Space Re-Landscaping Meeting
48. Charity Ad Hoc Discussion
49. Storm Preparation with Elected Officials for Citizens living in Wilton
50. Central California Tribal Chair Association Meeting
June 2023 - June 2024
June 2023 - June 2024
1. California Nations Indian Gaming Association Meeting
2. Mt. Diablo Visit and Colloaboration with Save Mount Diablo
3. Run4Salmon
4. Elk Grove Chamber of Commerce Presents the State of the County
5. High Conflict Institute Training
6. Gaming Authority Board Meeting (biweekly)
7. Elk Grove Unified School District Land Acknowledgment Meeting
8. Miwok Middle School Meeting
9. 2nd Annual California American Indian Symposium on Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities Building Effective and Innovative Partnerships for Tribal Communities Opening Blessing
10. 56th Annual California Native American Day
11. Salute to Fatherhood - Center for Fathers and Families
12. A Conversation with First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom: Centering Native Women and Families
13. Future Foundation Meeting with Executive Board
14. Elk Grove Native American Education Fall Welcome
15. 9th Annual All Me-Wuk Language Symposium
16. AB 338 Statue Unveiling
17. Elk Grove City Council Native American Heritage Month Proclamation
18. Fall 2023 Endorsing Convention General Session
19. Valley Hi Family Resource Center (Sacramento Children's Home) Native American Heritage Month Presentation
20. Celebration of Indigenous Peoples’ Day co-hosted by the Diversity & Inclusion Commission
21. Panel on Matriarchy, Indigenizing, and Decolonization by Sacramento State
22. Opening Blessing for the Sacramento Children’s Home Birth & Beyond Family Resource Center’s Celebration
23. Appointed to the Future Foundation Board
24. Opened Annual Boys with Braids Conference Hosted by Native Dads Network
25. Na’Wasu 2023 Workshop
26. Second Annual MMIP Summit & Day of Action
27. Na’Wasu Workshop 2024
28. Proclamation in Recognition of Women’t History Month – City of Elk Grove
29. Tribal Governance and Administration Course
30. Department of Sound Collaboration for Youth
31. Discussion with Congresswoman Doris Matsui on Wilton Rancheria’s history and goals
32. Opening of Elders Center
33. Youth Empowerment Podcast – Department of Sound
34. Fatherhood and Motherhood is Sacred Training
35. Cohosted with Yurok Tribe MMIP Conference and Day of Action 2024
36. CHEBNA Basic Needs Summit- Land Acknowledgment
37. Coffee with Leadership for Wilton Citizens
38. Esak'tima Center Grand Opening
39. Women's History Reception and AD10 Invitation
40. Acorns to Oak Trees Leadership Meeting
41. Firehouse 77 Dedication and Grand Opening
42. Cultivating Resilience: A Collective Impact Gathering
43. Sacramento Projects Groundbreaking Ceremony
44. MMIP Budget Subcommittee (Public Safety)
45. MMIP Week: Floor Ceremony ACR 133
46. Future Foundation: Scholarship Selection Process
47. BIA Trust Land Ceremony
48. Women's Foundation of CA Event and Opening Blessing
49. We Belong The 8th Annual Pacific Opening Blessing
50. Award Day for Future Foundation Student Scholarship
51. All California Tribes Meeting
52. Repatriation from Wisconsin Library
53. SCUSD American Indian Education Annual Graduation
54. 2024 Honored Elder’s Meeting
55. SheShares Land Acknowledgment
56. Northern Circle Indian Housing Authority Board meetings
June 2024 - June 2025
June 2024 - June 2025
1. Wilton Rancheria: Diablo Range District Park Entry Signage Consultation
2. Northern Circle Indian Housing Authority Board meetings
3. Acorns 2 Oak Intro Event
4. Wilton Domestic Violence Planning Meeting
5. Old Sacramento Children's Play Area Charette with Wilton Rancheria
6. Sierra Tribal Summit Planning Circle
7. CSUS Black Honors College Opening
8. California Indian Culture Awareness Event
9. Indigenous Bowl Meeting
10. Meeting with Friends of the 1883 Clarksburg Schoolhouse collaboration
11. First Fatherhood and Motherhood is Sacred Training hosted by Vice Chair and ICW
12. ECHOs Welcome Blessing
13. Future Sacramento Board Meetings
14. 2024 Native American Day
15. Naming Meeting New Initiative Sac State
16. Culture Education Day at the Capitol
17. 2024 City of Sacramento - Indigenous Peoples Day Resolution
18. State Parks Polo ‘Oo Sign Unveiling
19. Sierra Health Conference
20. 10th Annual All Me-Wuk Language Symposium Emcee
21. Native American Heritage Month Opening Prayer/Song at American River College
22. California Cultural Education Day Monument Event
23. Emceed Native American Heritage Month Parade
24. 2024 City of EG - Native American Heritage Month Proclamation
25. Sugarcane Screening for Wilton Citizens
26. Cultural Response to Fentanyl Crisis Training
27. 2024 Capitol Tree Lighting Ceremony
28. Indigenous Bowl Bi-weekly meeting
29. ARC Tribal Nations Advisory Committee Meeting
30. Sacred Circle empowerment for Elected Officials
31. CA Native Heritage Commission Meeting
32. First Quarterly Caucus and Welcome Back Reception
33. 2025 Na’Wasu Workshop
34. Annual Northern Circle Indian Housing Authority meeting
35. ARC Tribal Nations Advisory Zoom Meeting
36. Record Review meetings
37. Held First Spring Dance
38. 2nd Fatherhood and Motherhood is Sacred to Wilton Families
39. Tribal Sports Betting Roundtable
40. Tuolumne Band of Me Wuk Indians Elders Visit to the Elder Center
41. SR Employee Cultural Engagement Program Planning meeting
42. UCP of Sacramento and Northern California meeting
43. Power of Us Opening Blessing
44. Created an Activism Podcast
45. ARC MMIW/P Event at Student Center Opening Blessing
46. Sacramento Asian Pacific Cultural Village Opening Blessing
47. 4th Annual Asian Pacific Culture Fest Opening Blessing
48. Voices of Our Leaders Panel at 8th Annual Women in Tribal Gaming
49. First Annual Urban Indian Traditional Health Summit Opening Blessing
50. City of Elk Grove MMIP Proclamation
51. All California Tribes meeting CNIGA
52. EGUSD School Names Committee Meeting
June 2025 - June 2026
June 2025 - June 2026
1. Transform Youth Justice Opening Blessing
2. Joshua's House Opening Blessing
3. Worked on powerpoint and script for Cultural Enlightenment for Sky River employees
4. Vice Mayor & Mayor Pro Tem Meeting
5. FNX Introductory Board Meeting
6. School Names Committee
7. Quarterly Caucus Meeting
8. Terra Madre Americas planning
9. Native Youth for Justice Organizer Academy Opening Blessing
10. Core Values Workshop with Elders at Elders Center
11. Maori Delegation Event
12. Stadium Groundbreaking
13. Tribal Culture Program Presentation (4 times in 3 days) for all Sky River employees
14. Returning Relatives Program Opening Blessing
15. Wilton Fourth Annual Domestic Violence Planning Meeting
16. ARC Native Student Fall Welcome
17. Garage Topping Off Event
18. 58th Annual CA NAD
19. Presented and Cooked Nupa at Terra Madre
20. First Foods hosted by SNAHC Opening Blessing
21. Clean up Day! At Dance Arbor
22. Mi'way ON INDIGENOUS DAY at Ku:Chaksu
23. Grand Opening Wileety
24. Pala Elder Volleyball Tournament
25. American River College’s Ofrenda Opening Blessing
26. 11th Annual All Me-Wuk Co-Emceed
27. 2025 California Indian Cultural Education Day – Taught Mi’way to children in the Sacramento area
28. SAC STATE: California Indian Cultural Education Day - Taught Mi’way to children in the Sacramento area
29. Hosted Ku:Chaksu!
30. Emceed Native American Heritage Parade
31. UC Berkeley – Grad Students presentation on transforming food systems
32. 4th Annual MMIP Summit
33. Land Acknowledgement CHEBNA
34. UC Davis Native Medical Student visit with Leadership
35. Lunar New Year 2026
36. 2026 Na’Wasu Workshop
37. Guest Lecturer for Intro to Tribal Leadership Class – Wileety
38. 2026 Annual Meeting NCIHA
39. Shaping the Future of Chaw'se Park
40. 2026 California Land & Water Conservation Conference Opening Blessing
41. Weekly presentation on history of Wilton Rancheria to Sky River employees
42. Lo:ye:ma:non!
43. Wilton Rancheria and Sac State Athletics
44. California Tribal Nations Summit Opening Blessing
45. CIHC Groundbreaking Panel
46. CQI statewide conference Opening Blessing
47. California Tribal Families Coalition Opening Blessing
48. California Arts Council's 50th Anniversary Award Ceremony Opening Blessing
49. Arts Advocacy Day Presentation
50. Power of Us Opening Blessing
51. Sky River Casino & RESORT Groundbreaking
52. Co-Emcee Candlelight Vigil on Capitol West Steps
53. Blessing of New American River College Natomas Building
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