Our late Chief & Spiritual Leader
Ernie Perez Salas Teutimez
Gabrieleno Band of Mission Indians
The Kizh Nation (pronounced Keech), historically misnamed the Gabrieleño Band of Mission Indians, are the Indigenous people of the Los Angeles Basin and Southern Channel Islands. Their name comes from their traditional willow-brush houses (kij), and their ancestral lands span present-day Los Angeles, Orange, and parts of San Bernardino and Riverside counties. For millennia before colonization, the Kizh thrived in well-established communities with sophisticated governance, trade networks, and sustainable land practices, speaking a Takic language and living off acorns, fish, and native plants.
Spanish colonization brought devastation when Mission San Gabriel Arcángel was established in 1771, leading to forced labor, cultural suppression, and catastrophic population decline from disease and violence. Despite centuries of oppression, the Kizh Nation has persisted—reclaiming their true identity, reviving traditions, protecting sacred sites, and fighting for recognition. Today, they continue to assert their sovereignty and educate others about their enduring heritage, proving they are still here.
Matthew Teutimez
Matthew is Co-Founder and Lead Scientist of Ahnoven where he helps carry forward the traditional ecological knowledge of the Kizh-Gabrieleño Tribe of the Los Angeles Basin and Channel Islands.
With a Bachelor’s and Master’s in Biology from Cal State Long Beach, over 20 years of experience in environmental consulting, and a visiting scholar at USC, Matthew works at the intersection of science and Indigenous knowledge. His deepest teachings, however, come from his tribal lineage and the guidance of his uncle, Chief Ernie P. Salas-Teutimez, who has entrusted him with sacred responsibility to learn, protect, and respectfully share the cultural traditions of the Kizh Nation.
Matthew currently serves as the Tribal Biologist and Director of Resources for the Kizh Tribe, focusing on traditional uses of native plants and animals, cultural preservation, and environmental stewardship. He is also the founder of the Laboratory for Indigenous Knowledge Systems (LINKS), a nonprofit dedicated to integrating Indigenous wisdom into projects that heal land, foodways, and communities. Everything Matthew does is grounded in humility, gratitude, and the teachings passed down from Kizh elders such as his father John Teutimez and especially those shared by Chief Ernie, whose leadership and vision continue to guide this work.
Dr. Christina Swindall
Christina is co-owner and veterinarian focusing on the medicinal aspect of native plants. She is interested in applying these benefits to animals. She was born in San Gabriel and has lived most of her life in the surrounding areas. After receiving her BS in Biology from Boise State University, she went on to obtain her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from Colorado State University in 2002 and currently owns her own veterinary hospital in Covina. She is married and a mother of two sons. Her oldest son is an Eagle Scout and is studying Architecture at Cal Poly Pomona. Her youngest is a high school student interested in studying human medicine and has the gift of song.
Christina has been active on the Tribal Council for the Gabrieleño Band of Mission Indians – Kizh Nation for the last nine years. As such, she assists in AB52 consultations for developments, and collaborates with various agencies (from local to federal level) regarding NAGPRA and CalNAGPRA. She is also working with her son in revitalizing long lost music of the Kizh and is excited to restore authentic songs. Her other goals for the Tribe are revitalization of the language and supporting the education of the Tribe's youth.
Her goal for Tribal members is to rejuvenate our Tribe's ancestral knowledge about Southern California native flora. In addition, she would like to share this knowledge with the general public. Our native plants are overflowing with potential and applications for many of today's ailments. She is excited to utilize this knowledge to help restore and preserve native habitats so that all of our Creator's living beings can benefit.
Links to our affiliates:
