First elected Native American VC-P school trustee wants to inspire Native children



Alfonso Kolb, who serves on the Valley Center-Pauma Unified School District board.

Alfonso Kolb Sr. has in his life been a musician, a logger, a cook and a tribal councilmen. Now he is the first Native American to be elected to the Valley Center-Pauma Unified School District  board. Where, he emphasizes: “My main goal is my advocating for Native children and all children.”   

Kolb served on the Rincon Tribal Council for six years. “I started off in recreation, jumped to the council and now I’m back as director of recreation for the tribe,” he said. In that job he helps facilitate special events, such as children’s programs. And intertribal sports. He is in charge of the annual tribal fiesta and the July 4 celebration.

Born on Rincon, Kolb and spent his first 16 years on and off the reservation (or the “rez” as many call it.) He grew up on land near the Stage Stop market. Then he moved onto the Rincon reservation. “I lived there until 16, when I took off on my adventure as a musician,” he recalls.

He went all over the U.S. and up into Canada with his band, Winterhawk, which cut its first album in Albuquerque on Mother Earth Records. “That lasted until I was 21 and then I joined another band, Jim Boyd, that’s the one that really took off,” he recalls. “We did a lot of big shows as opening bands. We worked for the 1983 US festival.”  Jim Boyd, who was the singer, song writer of the band, died in 2016. “I had the privilege of working with him, introducing artists such as Joe Cocker and Joan Baez,” recalls Kolb.

Jim Boyd Band awards include  Best Compilation Recording; Smoke Signals Soundtrack, Record of the Year Recording: Alternatives, Best Pop/Rock Recording: Live at the Met, Record of the Year Recording for: Going to the Stick Games, Songwriter of the Year Recording for: Them Old Guitars, Best Short Form Music Video for: Inchelium, Artist of the Year Recording: Tenth, Annual Native American Music Awards, Album of the Year for: Bridge Creek, Twelfth Annual Native American Music Awards. Mother Earth Records re-released Winterhawk’s albums last year.

He and his wife, Antheres, have been married for 38 years and live on the reservation. They have a daughter Morissa; sons, Alfonso Jr., and Robert Kolb and stepson James Kuro.

Kolb was semi-retired as a musician when he was elected to the tribal council in 2015. Councilmembers serve two-year terms, compared to four years on the school board.  

Last year, his friend Craig Adams—who served a term on the school board— asked him to consider running for the Valley Center-Pauma school board. “At first I was blindsided,” he said. “Craig said he was going to retire. He said I was a perfect fit to represent the native kids and my makeup of who I am.” He would have another chance to be a positive influence for Native Americans. “That would be my cross reference: music. Working for children and the school board went hand in hand.” He added, “It wasn’t like I was wanting to be on the school board but when he proposed it I said, sure.”

He was elected unopposed, the first elected Native American on that board. Not the first tribal member to serve on the board. That was Mavany Verdugo, who had been appointed to a vacancy and served several years. Being elected is a significant achievement. “I guess I’m cutting trail here or something,” said Kolb.

He took office in December and has attended two meetings. “It’s very interesting,” he said. “It almost mirrors the topics of tribal council. In the way that you are making decisions for your membership, your public clients. As far as managing budgets, making sound decision for their behalf. You are voting on policies and how you are directing funds. The human aspect. Fairness and trying to find integrity. Trying to recognize everybody’s needs.”

From his perspective, “being on tribal council was harder because as a Kolb I’m related to everybody.” When you are related to everybody, it’s not unusual for members to approach him at social gatherings and demand, “Why did you vote that way?” He adds, “There is no way to avoid that unless you don’t go to family gatherings.” 

The new trustee is still “feeling my way,” on the school board. Like at the January meeting, when he had to fill out a financial interest form. “You have to recuse yourself from votes on special interests and you have to announce to the public why you didn’t vote,” he notes.

There are other differences in the way the boards work. “When I was on tribal council I was the liaison to address any education and recreation issue,” he recalls. “It was my duty to monitor anyone who had any complaints or concerns, because when the council is trying to press forward in a positive way, we didn’t need a tribal member negatively saying anything that pulled us backwards.”

In the past, the VC-P school board has occasionally had individuals attend and criticize it for allegedly not doing enough for Native American children. Kolb thinks that is a mistaken approach. “We feel that we are gaining ground and we are working together. The one thing I have learned is, that in order to be a fair representative, you have to have your eyes open widely to just be fair. In my belief, the definition of right and wrong doesn’t need me to try to sway it. A lie is a lie and the truth is the truth. I’m not trying to say I’m Mister Walk on Water. But right and wrong is where it is.”

Bridging the gap between Native children and others has been and remains at the top of his agenda. “Many don’t believe it can be done,” he said. “The trust of each side of the playing field, that the individuals come to respect and trust the board, to narrow that gap so that they come to see that things have changed. That is important.”  The school board is listening, he said. “If we can make that a shorter bridge—maybe it will help all of us in the long run to get along. Trust is the biggest factor. Everyone has their perspective. Presumption is reality.” Often there don’t have to be facts for some people to claim they are true, he says. “If I I’m wrong, I’ll own it and try not to go down that road again.”

Kolb says it is necessary to believe that the people you deal with have good motives. “In order to find the right direction, you have to have open ears,” he said. “You might not agree with it but it’s like the old saying, ‘Walk a mile in my moccasins.’  Most people won’t do that. They are focused on their intent. Everybody is entitled to their views, but you can’t say that the fire is cold when it’s hot.”

Kolb hopes that his perspective gained from a multi-layered career will help him in his new job. “I want to represent the native children and try to inspire them to access the educational part of their life. I’ve been a musician, a logger, a cook and councilman and now a school board representative. I logged for 15 years in Washington. Talk about humbling you. Think you are tough guy? Trying logging. It will knock the stuffing out of you, but I never quit a job in my life.”

3 responses to “First elected Native American VC-P school trustee wants to inspire Native children”

  1. None Applicable says:

    First your grammar it’s horrible.

  2. Colette Adolph says:

    Awesome!

  3. Steven Z Knapp says:

    Fonzo, I have looked for years to find you, This is Steven Knapp… We used to play basketball with Nik in Calistoga .. and of course the music I miss…. ya my brotherfriend… Please respond and contact me would love to hear from you. I am on facebook , you have my email now and my phone is 425-344-7520.. All Gods Blessings my Friend…. Play On!!!!!

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