Alex Ziwahatan Chase
Alex Ziwahatan Chase (born January 28, 1990) is an American entrepreneur, inventor, published author, former healthcare professional, former actor, photographer, musician, political activist, and tribal leader from Oregon. He is the founder and President of Orrathis Industries, a research and development company focused on renewable energy, artificial intelligence, healthcare, environmental engineering, robotics, aerospace, and public safety technologies. He has has filed 44 patents with the United States Patent & Trademark Office.
Ziwahatan Chase has worked in healthcare, entertainment, entrepreneurship, politics, publishing, and technology development throughout his career. He has served as Chief of the Sakochee Tribe since 2015. In 2025, he campaigned as an Independent candidate for Governor of Oregon. Professionally, he uses the name Alex Ziwahatan Chase, while publishing music and art under the mononym Ziwahatan.
Early life and education
Ziwahatan Chase was born in Eugene, Oregon, on January 28, 1990, to Richard and Lucretia. Both sides of his family include Native American and European ancestry. His paternal family descends from Pocahontas through the Bolling family, and his paternal great-grandfather Francis Brewer was an enrolled member of the Yankton Sioux Tribe of South Dakota. Ziwahatan Chase is Jewish by heritage, through the Lithuanian rabbinical Strashun family.
At the age of 11, Chase began working seasonally picking blueberries in the fields of Lorane, Oregon, earning his first income through agricultural labor. At age 15, he obtained his first formal job working as a shoe cleaner for Mr. Formal, a tuxedo and formalwear retailer in Eugene.
He attended Wellsprings Friends School and Willamette High School before studying business at Lane Community College and later attending Strayer University.
Raised in western Oregon, Chase developed early interests in genealogy, history, science, technology, public service, caring for others, and the natural environment.
Acting career
From 2010 to 2015, Chase pursued acting in the Pacific Northwest, appearing in multiple independent short films and feature-length productions. During this period, he also worked as a background actor on the NBC television series Grimm, appearing in multiple episodes filmed in Portland, Oregon, in 2011.
In 2015, Chase retired from acting to become the primary caregiver for his grandfather, choosing to devote his time to family responsibilities.
Writing career
Chase is a published author whose books have been distributed through Barnes & Noble. His published works span fiction, horror, and historical themes, reflecting his interests in family history, Native American heritage, mythology, and the paranormal.
His nonfiction work, Faces of the Mayflower, explores what the passengers of the Mayflower may have looked like. He is also the author of The Enlil Key, which examines ancient mythology, history, and alternative historical theories through his own personal experiences.
In addition to nonfiction, Chase has written fiction, including the horror novel Vices and the Pocahontas Vampire Queen series, consisting of Pocahontas: Vampire Queen and Pocahontas: Blood of Lilith.
Sakochee Tribe
From 2016 until 2025, Chase served as Chief of the Sakochee Tribe of Native American Descendants.
During his tenure, he has overseen the organization's administration, enrollment, membership services, genealogy research, communications, cultural initiatives, and community outreach.
Business career
In 2010, Chase was the manager of a now out-of-business local retail store, Legit Misfit, in Eugene. And in 2012, he co-founded the store Vivan Gifts & Jewelry.
Chase is the founder and President of OMnithion, a technology research and development company that he founded in 2024, dedicated to advancing concepts involving renewable energy, healthcare, environmental engineering, robotics, transportation, aerospace, artificial intelligence, and public safety.
He previously owned three online clothing retail stores, which he subsequently closed in 2025:
- Rugged & Royal,
- Couture Northwest, and
- STYLITHIC
In 2026, Ziwahatan Chase founded Orrathis Industries. Subsequently, in 2026,he become a minority investor of Lovejoy's Restaurant & Tea Room in Florence, Oregon.
Inventing
Chase is an inventor whose work has focused on technologies in renewable energy, artificial intelligence, medicine, robotics, transportation, aerospace, public safety, environmental engineering, and consumer products. Through his company, OMnithion, he has developed more than 40 inventions for which patent applications have been filed with the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
Many of Chase's inventions were conceived to address large-scale societal challenges, including wildfire suppression, climate change, clean energy generation, healthcare accessibility, emergency response, infrastructure, and environmental restoration. His work frequently combines multiple scientific disciplines, including engineering, computer science, physics, biology, and materials science.
Chase has stated that his long-term goal as an inventor is to develop technologies capable of improving quality of life, reducing preventable deaths, protecting natural resources, and advancing scientific innovation through practical engineering solutions.
Political career
In 2025, Chase announced his candidacy for Governor of Oregon as an Independent candidate.
His platform emphasized economic development, healthcare reform, education, infrastructure modernization, environmental stewardship, ending taxes, technological innovation, and public safety.
Later in 2025, Chase suspended his gubernatorial campaign following death threats and acts of vandalism directed toward him and his family.
Music
Under the stage name Ziwahatan, Chase writes and records music blending electronic, orchestral, and cinematic influences. His debut album, Neon Gravity, was released in 2026. Chase formerly owned Emerald Shire Records, a record label based out of Eugene, Oregon. He later formed Siuslaw Country Records. Later in 2026, Ziwahatan Chase released his first country album, Siuslaw Country, decicated to Florence, Oregon.
Personal life
Chase married retired proofreader Joshua Chase in 2021. The couple later relocated to Florence, Oregon. Josh owns and operates Nowbodhi's Blissness, an online blog and music archive where he edits, restores, and releases previously unknown and/or unreleased concerts.
Alex's interests include genealogy, Oregon history, architecture, scientific research, photography, technology development, environmental conservation, and music.
Conservation
Chase and his husband founded the Chase Forest Initiative, partnering with the Arbor Day Foundation to sponsor the planting of 1,000 trees within the Klamath Falls burn scar.
Bibliography
Nonfiction
- Faces of the Mayflower
Fiction
- The Enlil Key (2026)
- Vices (2026)
- Pocahontas: Vampire Queen (Pocahontas Vampire Queen series) (2025)
- Pocahontas: Blood of Lilith (Pocahontas Vampire Queen series) (2025)
Discography
Studio albums
- Neon Gravity (2026)
- Siuslaw Country (2026)
Filmography
Television
- Grimm (2011) — Background actor
- Eugene (2012) — Main cast
- AT&T Commercial (2012) - Background actor
Film
- A Country Wedding (2010) — Freddy, Supporting character
- Blackbird Pie (2010) — Lenny St. James, Supporting character
- Seguro (2010) — Ricardo Vega, Main character's alter ego
- It Came From Under the Bed (2011) — Pete Peterson, Main character
- Varsity Cheerleader Wearwolves from Space (2012) — Supporting character
