Susan Masten

Susan Masten (born 1952 ) of Northern California is a leader with the Yurok tribe and the past Yurok Tribal Chairperson.

Activism With a group of Yurok fishermen, Masten founded an organization to influence fishing regulations on the Klamath River. This work had built onto her uncle Raymond Mattz's victory before the U.S. Supreme Court in Mattz v. Arnett.

Masten served as President of the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) from 1999 to 2001. She is the second women ever elected president.

Masten served as Yurok tribal chairperson from 1997 to 2004.

Awards Masten was a finalist for the 2003 Ecotrust Indigenous Leadership Award, which "honors Native leaders of merit in the fields of conservation and community development. Ecotrust honored Masten "for her work advocating the legal and human rights of indigenous communities on a local, state and national level."

Masten was also selected as an "Outstanding Young Woman of America," Humboldt County's "Outstanding Citizen", and Del Norte County's "Young Woman of the Year".