Owen L. Oliver (Quinault / Isleta Pueblo) comes from the people of the Lower Columbia River, Salish Sea, and Southwest Pueblos. He grew up in Ketchikan, Alaska and Seattle where in 2021 he graduated from the University of Washington with a degree in American Indian Studies and Political Science. Through these disciplines he's been able to create and manage projects that range from community work, art, education, and influence on local and federal policy. His work is concentrated in Indigenous education and cultural representation, a path that he's learned from his connection to Tribal Canoe Journeys.
In Seattle, Owen has worked with the Office of Planning and Community Development, Seattle Aquarium, Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture, and Center for American Indian and Indigenous Studies. Outside of Seattle, Owen currently serves as the secretary for the Center for Native American Youth Advisory Board where he manages youth programing and event building for the Champions of Change program and regularly works with the University of British Columbia. Recently, Owen published the Indigenous Walking Tour of UW, which is a reflection of Indigenous knowledge and place making on the University of Washington campus. In his free time, Owen enjoys trail running, writing about nature, and cooking seafood for his family and friends.