Edward Chacon was seated on Tribal Council as the Vice Chairman in January 2022. Edward is married to his wife Melissa Powless-Chacon (Oneida Tribe of Wisconsin) and they have three beautiful children Aiyana, Jesse, and Elijah. Edward was raised on the Cahuilla Indian Reservation and he did not leave until he attended college.

Edward’s educational journey navigated him to Lawrence Kansas where he attended Haskell Indian Nations University and he earned his Associates of Arts degree in Liberal Arts. Years later he attended Azusa Pacific University to earn a Bachelor’s degree in Organizational Leadership.

Edward’s Bachelor’s degree helped create a career change and allowed him to work for his Tribe. It also allowed him the opportunity to get more involved with Tribal committees, serving as a delegate for Inter-Tribal Sports, Youth and Family, Cultural committee, California Tribal College and AMIHA.

Edward has had the honor of working for the tribe since 2011 in several different capacities and he now serves the Tribe as a member of the Tribal Council. His Organizational Leadership degree has helped him apply leadership skills which has become a valuable part of his professional career. This process has helped create an understanding of how to work with others that do not share the same background, issues, and views.

Edward’s commitment is to strongly represent the Cahuilla Band of Indians at the National, State, and local levels by asserting our Tribal Sovereignty and ensuring that our ideas and opinions influence the direction that is best for the Cahuilla people.