Ernest “Ernie” Perez Teutimez Salas, chief and spiritual leader of the Kizh tribe, blesses the bear wood carving in Pomona’s Ganesha Park with a short prayer and burning sage in an abalone shell perched on a deer antler.
This story was originally published by La Verne Magazine. This piece won First Place in Magazine Personality Story at the University of La Verne’s Communication Department Awards.
Natasha Brennan 