curators corner
  Lorene Sisquoc, Curator
Lorene Sisquoc, Curator


Lorene Sisquoc was born and raised in Riverside, California. She is a member of the Fort Sill Apache Tribe and a descendant of the Mountain Cahuilla of Southern California. She is direct descendant of Mangas Coloradas, the last chief of the Mimbreno Apaches, Chief Loco of the Warm Springs Apaches and Mountain Cahuilla Net Manuel Largo.

When Lorene was born her family lived on the campus of Sherman Indian High School, where she spent most of her childhood with her Grandmother Ida Gooday- Largo and mother Tonita Largo-Glover.

Lorene has been active in the Traditional Native American community since 1973 when she began to spend her summers at the Redwind Foundation in Topanga Canyon and later in San Luis Obispo County. She learned customs, crafts, songs and languages of the many indigenous peoples whom she met there. From 1978 to 1982 she spent most of her time raising her three children, creating and selling beaded and leather works of art.

In 1982 she began work at Sherman Indian High School as dormitory staff. In 1985 she began volunteer training under the guidance of Co-founder and Curator of Sherman Indian Museum, Ramona K. Bradley.   In 1986, Ms. Sisquoc co-founded the Mother Earth Clan Cultural Programs (please see link).

In 1991 she became Volunteer Curator/Manager of Sherman Indian Museum.   She has taught Native American Traditions and Basketry classes at Sherman Indian High School since 1995.

She is on the Board of Directors of California Indian Basket Weavers Association and Secretary on the Board of Natachee, a non- profit organization dedicated to the continuance of American Indian culture and spirituality.

Lorene has offered her knowledge of the indigenous material culture, traditional basketry and plant uses to many private and public groups since 1986.  She has coordinated many traditional weaving circles with local tribal members.  She is co-founder and Treasurer of the Nex'wetem, Southern California Indian Basketweavers Organization which was organized to assure the continuance of this art.   She is one of five to receive the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Visionary award for community cultural awareness in the City of Riverside, 1997.

As traditional artist and presenter, she is dedicated to the preservation and continuance of Native American culture, insuring that the public is accurately educated about American Indian History and our future generations are offered the opportunity to carry-on these traditions.

curators choice
Interested in learning more about Native Americans and their culture?  Visit our  Curator's Choice Links, sites on the World Wide Web recommended  by Lorene Sisquoc.