Alex Ziwahatan Chase

Alex Ziwahatan Chase (born January 28, 1990) is an American entrepreneur, inventor, published author, healthcare professional, former actor, photographer, musician, political activist, and former tribal leader from Oregon. He is the founder and President of OMnithion, a research and development company focused on renewable energy, artificial intelligence, healthcare, environmental engineering, robotics, aerospace, and public safety technologies. He has had more than 40 patents-pending with the United States Patent & Trademark Office.

Chase has worked in healthcare, entertainment, entrepreneurship, politics, publishing, and technology development throughout his career. From 2016 to 2025, he served as Chief of the Sakochee Tribe. In 2025, he campaigned as an Independent candidate for Governor of Oregon, and in 2026 sought election as the Republican candidate for Oregon State Senate District 7. Professionally, he uses the name Alex Ziwahatan Chase, while publishing music and art under the mononym Ziwahatan.

Early life and education

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, his paternal great-grandfather Francis Brewer was an enrolled member of the Yankton Sioux Tribe of South Dakota, and th his paternal grandmother descended from the Lithuanian rabbinic 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 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.

Healthcare career

Chase began working professionally as a caregiver in 2008, providing in-home care for elderly and disabled individuals.

Sakochee Tribe

From 2016 until 2025, Chase served as Chief of the Sakochee Tribe of Native American Descendants.

During his tenure, he oversaw the organization's administration, enrollment, membership services, genealogy research, communications, cultural initiatives, and community outreach. In 2025, he formally dissolved the organization, ending its operations.

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-found 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

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.

In 2026, Chase sought election as the Republican candidate for Oregon State Senate District 7.

Photography

Chase is a photographer whose work focuses primarily on Oregon's Central Coast.

His photography project, Siuslaw Country, documents the forests, rivers, coastline, wildlife, historic communities, and landscapes of the Siuslaw region, with particular emphasis on the Florence area.

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 owns Emerald Shire Records, a record label based out of Oregon.

Personal life

Chase married retied proofreader Joshua Chase in 2021. The couple later relocated to Florence, Oregon. Josh owns and operates Nowbodhi's Blissness, a 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)
250: Red, White, and True (2026)

Filmography

Television

Grimm (2011) — Background actor
Eugene (2012) — Main cast

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

Selected projects