Board of Directors & Circle Keepers

Huitzilin Wakan is sustained by a circle of elders and community members who serve with commitment, integrity, and respect for ancestral traditions.

Our founding elders offer guidance rooted in decades of experience in cultural preservation, ceremony, education, and community leadership. Alongside them, our members support the continuity of this work through service, organization, and collective care.

Together, they uphold the spirit and responsibility of this circle.

Our Founders and Board Members also serve as Circle Keepers, holding both the legal and spiritual stewardship of the organization.

Francisco Arias

Founder & Board President

Francisco Arias was born in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico, where his early path toward holistic well-being began. His work is rooted in honoring the interconnectedness of body, mind, spirit, and community.

He is a practitioner of holistic medicine, homeopathy, and traditional ceremonial guidance. Over the years, he has studied and practiced natural and ancestral healing approaches, understanding that true healing extends beyond symptom relief and involves restoring balance, inner clarity, and meaningful connection to life.

Francisco has accompanied individuals through personal healing processes and has helped sustain ceremonial and community spaces grounded in respect and responsibility. He values the role of intention, prayer, and collective gathering as essential elements of personal and communal transformation.

He currently offers:

Holistic medicine services in Santa Paula, California
Traditional ceremonial medicine in Los Angeles, California
Community circles and cultural activities through Huitzilin Wakan

His work is characterized by attentive listening, integrity, and a commitment to holding a safe and grounded space for those seeking well-being, guidance, and harmony.

Luzma Espinosa

Co-Founder & Board Vice President

Luzmaria Espinosa was born and raised in Santa Paula, California. She is an educator, poet, cultural bearer, and community leader whose work bridges artistic expression, ancestral traditions, and community empowerment.

She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish with a minor in Sociology from the University of California, Santa Barbara, a Master’s degree in Organizational Management from Antioch University, and a credential in Adult Education. For over four decades, she has taught theater, poetry, and cultural arts to children, youth, and adults in schools, community centers, and juvenile facilities.

Her work integrates art, storytelling, and indigenous traditions as pathways for healing, identity, and cultural preservation. She has participated in Chicano Theatre, Danza Azteca, and performance poetry, and has been invited by Chumash, Lakota, and Mexica elders to serve in traditional ceremonial spaces.

Her cultural contributions are archived at California State University Channel Islands. She has received multiple recognitions, including California Arts Council Artist in Residence, the SP Latino Town Hall Award in Cultural Arts, the Jalapeño Award from the Royal Chicano Air Force, and she served as Ventura County Poet Laureate (2020–2022, 2022–2024).

Through Huitzilin Wakan, she continues to support cultural education, ceremony, and community development with integrity, creativity, and dedication.

Circle Keepers

Huitzilin Wakan is sustained by a committed circle of guardians who serve with responsibility, integrity, and respect for ancestral traditions.
Each Circle Keeper helps hold the ceremonial space, supports community organization, and contributes to the continuity and protection of our cultural and spiritual work.
Together, they uphold the spirit, structure, and collective care of this circle.