Summer 2024

back to the 1700s to the village of Tucutnut in Carmel Valley. Over the years,Tanous has been instrumental in sharing her heritage with the broader Monterey Peninsula community. She is active in Indigenous groups and events like Red Dress Day and she has organized numerous pow- wows at CSUMB in years past (something she hopes to bring back in the near future). Tanous also worked for the Monterey Visitors Center and for the Monterey Chamber of Commerce, where she was able to share her history and local knowledge with visitors and locals. One might not think there is a link between Native Americans and golf, but there is in fact a strong link through Tanous’ family to the earliest days of golf in the U.S.Tanous’ great uncles, Abe and Al Espinosa, were famed golf pros who grew up playing golf at Old Del Monte. They were known both for their skill and their dash- ing attire. Both men played in the first Masters Tournament. Abe won three PGA titles. Al went on to win nine PGA titles and was on the Ryder Cup team for three years. Tanous’ great aunt Annette Espinosa was also a celebrated golfer and was the first female golfer to teach lessons at Pebble Beach. And today, the tradition of golf continues in her family, “My daughter was six years old when I put a club in her hands and she joined the Jr. AT&T for about 11 years and won several tournaments,” shares Tanous. C ARI H ERTHEL Vice Chair of the Esselen Tribe of Monterey County Cari Herthel is extremely active within the tribe and in our community—even at the national level—as an expert, a resource recov- ery specialist and an advocate for victims of human trafficking, serving as the chair of the Monterey and Santa Cruz Counties’ Coalition to End Human Trafficking. Herthel shares her incredible story fully and candidly—from her Tanous’ family kept their Indigenous roots hidden. Being deemed Hispanic likely afforded them more opportunity in Old Monterey. Her great grandfather, Abel Espinosa, Sr. (third from left), was a prominent member of the community. Photo: Courtesy of Pamela Tanous 172 C A R M E L M A G A Z I N E • S U M M E R 2 0 2 4 Tanous’ great uncles Abe and Al Espinosa were some of golf’s earliest legends. Photo: Courtesy of Janette Ritter Cate