Louise J. Miranda Ramirez

Louise J. Miranda Ramirez is Tribal Chairwoman of the Ohlone Costanoan Esselen Nation (OCEN) and a language revitalization specialist. OCEN is a historically documented, previously recognized tribe. OCEN is the legal tribal government representative for over six hundred enrolled members of Esselen, Carmeleno, Monterey Band, Rumsen, Chalon, Soledad Mission, San Carlos Mission, and/or Costanoan Mission Indian descent of Monterey County. All OÇEN Tribal Members are the Indigenous people of Greater Monterey County, California, with proof of ancestry documented in original recordings found in Carmel Mission and Soledad Mission. Louise is Esselen, Chumash and Yaqui. She is the Great-Granddaughter of Thomas Santos Miranda and Inez Agnez Garcia Miranda, each Esselen and recorded as the Monterey Band of Monterey at the Sur Rancheria in 1906, by Special Indian Agent, C.E. Kelsey, identifying California’s Landless Indians. As Chairperson her greatest responsibility is the cultural protection of OCEN Ancestors.

From On Indigenous Wisdom and Technoshamanism, March 2026