Joseph Mathiesen-Powell

Joseph Mathiesen‑Powell is an enrolled member of the Chicken Ranch Rancheria of Me‑Wuk Indians and currently serves as its Tribal Chairman, a role he assumed in late 2024. As Chairman, he represents the tribe in government‑to‑government relations, oversees its gaming and non‑gaming enterprises including the Chicken Ranch Casino Resort in Jamestown, California, and participates in community events and economic development initiatives. He is a descendant of Inez Mathiesen, who retained the tribe’s original three‑acre parcel after federal recognition in 1985.

Before becoming Chairman, Mathiesen‑Powell served as the tribe’s Tribal Treasurer, a position he held from at least 2023 until mid‑2024. In that capacity he was involved in financial oversight and tribal governance. His transition to Chairman was marked by a public welcome from Chicken Ranch Casino Resort in December 2024, and he has since been active in tribal sovereignty advocacy and local charitable causes.

In 2025, Mathiesen‑Powell spoke at a fundraising event for Resiliency Village’s Octopod housing project, helping raise about $350,000 for the initiative. He has also been featured in ribbon‑cutting ceremonies for the casino resort’s expansions and in public safety announcements during wildfire evacuations. His leadership is recognized by the California Nations Indian Gaming Association (CNIGA), which lists him as the tribe’s chair.