We know the most important thing in your organization is the people — here are ours.
about headwater people
- To partner with tribes, local jurisdictions, organizations, and the private sector to produce a more equitable and flourishing future.
- Create opportunities for those who belong to communities who have been historically excluded from living at the intersection of career and calling in wellness and joy.
our primary objectives
our purpose
Who We Are.
Our Mission.
To work towards a more equitable and flourishing future by partnering with public and private organizations committed to a more just and healthful world.
To deliver effective, efficient, and thoughtful results to our clients and the people they serve.
To inspire and retain talented and dedicated individuals by providing meaningful work, career opportunities, and the capacity to offer transformative service to our clients and their missions.
– Maori Proverb
He aha te mea nui o te ao
What is the most important thing in the world?
He tangata, he tangata, he tangata
It is the people, it is the people, it is the people
We are a Native-owned and led team that started from community organizing and coalition building. Our team practices are informed by graduate studies in Organization Development but primarily rooted in the continuity of learned values, techniques, and models that are taught in our own tribes, clans, and families. Our practice is rooted in honoring each person's authenticity as a part of our shared practice. At the intersection of our unique experiences and beliefs is a shared belief that humans evolve together. We celebrate ourselves and our presence highlights how versatile leadership is fluid - not just within an individual, but within a group. Our practice is rooted in a world view of continuity with people and place that are longer and wider than the colonial and imperial worldview. Our practice centers the voice of disenfranchised people. This is necessary for systems change.
Click the person below to learn more.
Our Team.
Equity & Community Healing
ana braxton
Northwest Culture & Environment
Owen l. oliver
Project Weaver
Crystal Grosshuesch
Cyndy Wilson
Indigenous Wellness
Elisabeth Kawe
Cultural Advisor
Eruera Kawe
Tribal Policy & Government
Lael Echo-Hawk
Health & Wellness
Abigail Echo-Hawk
President
Colleen Echohawk
Whole System Change & Leadership
Matthew Hayashi
Yolanda altamirano
Matthew Hayashi is the principal organization development and leadership consultant for Headwater People. He offers organizations a variety of strategic consulting services such as organization design, strategic planning, change management, process improvement, retreat planning and facilitation, and executive coaching. His passion is to help connect groups to the core mission of their work through collaborative and innovative learning and whole organizational health.
Additionally, Matthew has significant experience in facilitating empowering and productive experiences in emotionally charged and relationally challenging circumstances. Relevant bodies of work include facilitating discussion between Seattle Public Schools and Seattle’s urban native community over failed efforts to close achievement gaps for Native learners; leading a project to partner IHS and a Montana Tribe to find equitable solutions over water disputes; and facilitating team-performance workshops for a physician partnership at Swedish hospitals. Very recent clients include the Environmental Protection Agency, Indian Health Services, UW College of Education, Washington State Department of Commerce, the Native Youth Alliance of Minnesota and the Urban Native Educational Alliance. Matthew has a particular interest in supporting community-led projects that improve systems in Native American organizations and agencies. Matthew grew up in indigenous communities in Kaneohe, Hawaii and continues to be grounded in the perspective and gifts of traditional cultures.
Whole System Change & Leadership
Matthew Hayashi
Colleen Echohawk is an enrolled member of the Kithehaki Band of the Pawnee Nation and a member of the Upper Athabascan people of Mentasta Lake. Ms. Echohawk is the Executive Director of the Chief Seattle Club, a nonprofit dedicated to the needs of Native American and Alaska Native people who are experiencing homelessness in Seattle. Chief Seattle Club provides a safe and sacred place to rest, revive and nurture the spirit of urban Native people. They serve approximately 100 urban Native people a day, 7 days a week, providing services such as hot meals, clothing, laundry, showers, resources for sobriety and wellness, and cultural programming. The Chief Seattle Club is the winner of the 2017 Neighborhood Builder Award. Municipal League of King County named Chief Seattle Club organization of the year in 2016. Crosscut awarded Ms. Echohawk their annual Courage Award for Public Service, also in 2016.
As the founder of the Coalition to End Urban Native Homelessness, Ms. Echohawk is committed to homeless advocacy. The coalition is a first of its kind to respond to the trajectory of Native American and Alaska Native people living away from reservations in urban places and experiencing homelessness. Ms. Echohawk is interested in creating systems and structures that help facilitate wellness, and encourage kindness and courage. Her education has been focused on organizational development and leadership; helping brilliant people do better work for the greater good. She is the co-founder and principal at Headwater People Consulting Group.
Ms. Echohawk serves on local boards including a Mayoral appointment to both the Community Police Commission and co-chair of the City of Seattle MDAR Committee. Other board affiliations are KUOW (National Public Radio member station,) All-Home Coordinating, Metropolitan Improvement District.
In her spare time, she loves to read, sing karaoke, listen to National Public Radio and cook delicious food for her friends and family. Ms. Echohawk is a proud mom to two children and is married to Matt Hayashi.
President
Colleen Echohawk
Abigail Echo-Hawk, MA, is an enrolled member of the Kitkehahki band of the Pawnee Nation of Oklahoma. She is also a member of the Upper Athabascan people of Mentasta Village, Alaska. She was born in the heart of Alaska where she was raised in the traditional values of giving, respect for all and love.
She is a graduate of the University of Washington with a Bachelor of Arts in American Studies and Minor in Human Rights, and a Master of Arts in Policy Studies. She previously served as the Co-Director and Tribal Liaison for Partnerships for Native Health at Washington State University-Spokane. In this role she oversaw the implementation and dissemination of 24 NIH funded grants with topics ranging from suicide prevention, cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and more. Ms. Echo-Hawk focuses on policy advocacy in areas such as: maternal and child health, domestic violence, sexual assault, youth prostitution and educational disparities.
Her greatest accomplishment however, is her place within her extended family. She is a wife, a mother, an auntie, a daughter, a granddaughter, a friend and a community member. Abigail strives to serve them with love and to be a small part of ensuring a great future for the next generations.
Health & Wellness
Abigail Echo-Hawk
Lael Echo-Hawk (Pawnee) represents tribes and tribal organizations across the United States. After serving as in-house counsel for a tribe and its economic enterprises, Lael moved to Washington, D.C. to take a position as Legislative Director for the Native American Contractors Association and Counselor to the Chairwoman of the National Indian Gaming Commission. Now in private practice, Lael draws on her fifteen years of legal and advocacy experience representing tribes and tribal organizations to provide her clients the advice and guidance they need to shape the direction of their tribe or organization. She recognizes the need to represent Indian Country in a good way – respectful of leadership concerns and goals while providing expert guidance and available options to achieve those goals.
Lael is an enrolled member of the Pawnee Nation of Oklahoma but was born in Fairbanks, Alaska and raised in the Interior of Alaska. She is the adopted granddaughter of Katie John of the Upper Athabascan Mentasta Lake Village, Alaska. Lael is a Past-President of both the National Native American Bar Association and the Northwest Indian Bar Association. She is 2013 recipient of National Center for American Indian Economic Development “40 Under 40” and currently based in Washington, D.C.
Tribal Policy & Government
Lael Echo-Hawk
His tribal affiliation is Ngati Kahungungu, Ngati Ranginui. Eruera is a Cultural Advisor, Grass roots non-profit organizer, and father. Eruera Kawe was born and raised in Aotearoa (New Zealand) and runs a non-profit rooted in culture, taught by a lifetime of experience in whanau (family), tribe, international cultural exchanges and community. He leads mainly by example, always encouraging and inspiring those around him. He is a respected member of the community that he serves and respected by his peers. He has served on the Board of Island Breeze Ministries as Vice President since 2015, also serving on the boards of South Pacific Christian Camp and Alaska Ablaze. Eruera Kawe has worked as a Cultural Advisor for Headwater People since 2018, and has served as co-director of Island Breeze Makapala since 2006. He is a member of Palili o Kohala a co-op in natural farming. Has served as a mentor for youth in a local farming program Ho’okahua Ai. Eruera brings to the table a great handle on finances, administration, and cultural awareness that brings new innovative thoughts on western concepts and forms of leadership.
Cultural Advisor
ERUERA KAWE
Lis is an enrolled member of the Pawnee Nation and an adopted grandchild of Katie John, a matriarchal chief and subsistence rights activist from Mentasta Lake Village, and raised in the interior of Alaska. As an indigenous person and community organizer, Lis sees her calling as helping others to live in wellness, individually and collectively. As the Director of Indigenous Wellness for Headwater People, she offers invitational facilitation grounded in non-western perspective. Elisabeth uses her gifts in service to conflict resolution, strategic planning, equity training and transformation, leadership and community service. She is a trained nutritional and wellness therapist, certified personal trainer and full-time community organizer. She is based in Kohala on Hawai’i Island and serves in many food sovereignty, youth wellness, and community healing projects from an indigenous perspective. Lis is first and foremost a mother to 3 indigenous daughters and wife to Eruera Kawe (Māori, Ngati Ranginui) she is also a sister, auntie, niece, daughter, granddaughter, and an active part of her community these roles guide her to continue to remember how to be a good ancestor.
Indigenous Wellness
ELISABETH KAWE
Howard Echo-Hawk (Pawnee) was raised in Alaska, around the Athabaskan village of Mentasta–home to the matriarchal chief, and late Native rights activist, Katie John. As the youngest sibling of five sisters and two brothers, Howard learned early on that listening first was the best way to be heard. Steeped in indigenous culture, Howard’s passion for social justice and activism has always been at the forefront, passed on to him through storytelling and Indigenous ways of knowing.
As a communications specialist, Howard is skilled writer and storyteller, and he is passionate about using his abilities to craft messages for his clients that reflect their core values and mission in the most effective way. In his free-time, Howard enjoys writing, listening to podcasts, playing music and spending time with his partner and family. Howard’s recent clients include, the EPA, the Seattle Indian Health Board, the Seattle Indian Services Commission and the Better Way Foundation’s Montessori Education Indian Country Initiative.
Storytelling & Communications
HOWARD ECHO-HAWK
Crystal comes from a long line of storytellers, a 2nd generation Mestizo born and raised in LA. Her parent’s and familia come from Zapotitán de Hidalgo, Jalisco, Durango, and Veracruz, México. Her love for food and telling stories comes from her parent’s and abuelas ability to share stories and connections through food and growing food. She has fond memories of visiting her dad’s hometown in México. Running in the corn fields just behind her bisabuelos (great grandparent’s) home. Picking corn and roasting it in an open fire while sharing stories with her familia, these memories fuel her to continue to tell stories.
Crystal is a first-generation graduate with a degree in Digital Photography. Crystal strengthens Headwater People’s ability to hold and tell stories more deeply. Crystal intentionality brings added capacity to tell and hold stories in an honoring way as well as to provide insight into system and design thinking.
Growing up bi-lingual allows her to think, speak and write in Spanish and helps her translate and weave stories in our Latinx communities. Most importantly, Crystal is an active member of her community, family and a loyal friend.
Project Weaver
Crystal Gudiño Grosshuesch
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.
Northwest Culture & Environment
Owen L. oliver
Sarah Ballew is a Change Management and Policy Consultant with Headwater People. She is an enrolled citizen of the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians of Michigan and Indiana. Sarah grew up and was raised on the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Reservation in Michigan. She is an Anishnaabekwe environmentalist and dynamic communicator with a background supporting environmental policy and research, equitable engagement strategy and communications, and facilitation. Her work is focused on centering tribal sovereignty and Indigenous relationships to water and land in policy, systems development, and change.
Sarah received her BA in Environmental Studies from the University of Michigan. She has over 10 years of experience as a community organizer working in Native and non-Native communities, academic and youth spaces, and in Seattle. She also has over 5 years of experience as an engagement strategist in many sectors, including river corridor planning and water infrastructure development. Environmental justice is central to her current work. She supports equitable design and planning processes and collaborates to bring Indigenous ways of knowing to the process. Sarah works with jurisdictions, organizations, foundations, and community coalitions across a variety of projects including research design, race and equity training, organizational leadership, and strategic development. She is a beader, fancy shawl dancer, writer, and proud auntie. Sarah lives in Seattle, Washington.
Environmental Policy & Communications
Sarah ballew
Born and raised in Seattle, Ana is the third of four Braxton generations to be deeply rooted in working to advance social justice, community, kindness, and education in the region. It’s her family and community that keep me inspired to do equity work, with a particular focus on education systems and Black community thriving.
Ana has worked with Headwater People in a variety of roles and now focuses on group facilitation and equity projects. Ana believes her experiences and unique view as a multi-ethnic Black woman is powerful and holds the hope that these may lead others to connect with their own power. Ana is blessed to have an amazing supportive partner, and two tenacious children.
Equity & Community Healing
ANA BRAXTON
Yolanda has spent her career in outreach, marketing, and communications roles in nonprofits in the Greater Seattle area. She has always worked to include other experiences and points of view in her work to focus on highlighting anyone who may be left out. Yolanda participated in the Green Pathways Fellowship where she received technical skills training and community-centered and culturally relevant leadership development teachings. Yolanda graduated from the University of Washington with a BA in International Studies and Anthropology.
Yolanda Altamirano
Whole System Change & Leadership
Matthew Hayashi
Matthew Hayashi is the principal organization development and leadership consultant for Headwater People. He offers organizations a variety of strategic consulting services such as organization design, strategic planning, change management, process improvement, retreat planning and facilitation, and executive coaching. His passion is to help connect groups to the core mission of their work through collaborative and innovative learning and whole organizational health.
Additionally, Matthew has significant experience in facilitating empowering and productive experiences in emotionally charged and relationally challenging circumstances. Relevant bodies of work include facilitating discussion between Seattle Public Schools and Seattle’s urban native community over failed efforts to close achievement gaps for Native learners; leading a project to partner IHS and a Montana Tribe to find equitable solutions over water disputes; and facilitating team-performance workshops for a physician partnership at Swedish hospitals. Very recent clients include the Environmental Protection Agency, Indian Health Services, UW College of Education, Washington State Department of Commerce, the Native Youth Alliance of Minnesota and the Urban Native Educational Alliance. Matthew has a particular interest in supporting community-led projects that improve systems in Native American organizations and agencies. Matthew grew up in indigenous communities in Kaneohe, Hawaii and continues to be grounded in the perspective and gifts of traditional cultures.
President
colleen echohawk
Colleen Echohawk is an enrolled member of the Kithehaki Band of the Pawnee Nation and a member of the Upper Athabascan people of Mentasta Lake. Ms. Echohawk is the Executive Director of the Chief Seattle Club, a nonprofit dedicated to the needs of Native American and Alaska Native people who are experiencing homelessness in Seattle. Chief Seattle Club provides a safe and sacred place to rest, revive and nurture the spirit of urban Native people. They serve approximately 100 urban Native people a day, 7 days a week, providing services such as hot meals, clothing, laundry, showers, resources for sobriety and wellness, and cultural programming. The Chief Seattle Club is the winner of the 2017 Neighborhood Builder Award. Municipal League of King County named Chief Seattle Club organization of the year in 2016. Crosscut awarded Ms. Echohawk their annual Courage Award for Public Service, also in 2016.
As the founder of the Coalition to End Urban Native Homelessness, Ms. Echohawk is committed to homeless advocacy. The coalition is a first of its kind to respond to the trajectory of Native American and Alaska Native people living away from reservations in urban places and experiencing homelessness. Ms. Echohawk is interested in creating systems and structures that help facilitate wellness, and encourage kindness and courage. Her education has been focused on organizational development and leadership; helping brilliant people do better work for the greater good. She is the co-founder and principal at Headwater People Consulting Group.
Ms. Echohawk serves on local boards including a Mayoral appointment to both the Community Police Commission and co-chair of the City of Seattle MDAR Committee. Other board affiliations are KUOW (National Public Radio member station,) All-Home Coordinating, Metropolitan Improvement District.
In her spare time, she loves to read, sing karaoke, listen to National Public Radio and cook delicious food for her friends and family. Ms. Echohawk is a proud mom to two children and is married to Matt Hayashi.
Tribal Policy & Government
lael echo-hawk
Lael Echo-Hawk (Pawnee) represents tribes and tribal organizations across the United States. After serving as in-house counsel for a tribe and its economic enterprises, Lael moved to Washington, D.C. to take a position as Legislative Director for the Native American Contractors Association and Counselor to the Chairwoman of the National Indian Gaming Commission. Now in private practice, Lael draws on her fifteen years of legal and advocacy experience representing tribes and tribal organizations to provide her clients the advice and guidance they need to shape the direction of their tribe or organization. She recognizes the need to represent Indian Country in a good way – respectful of leadership concerns and goals while providing expert guidance and available options to achieve those goals.
Lael is an enrolled member of the Pawnee Nation of Oklahoma but was born in Fairbanks, Alaska and raised in the Interior of Alaska. She is the adopted granddaughter of Katie John of the Upper Athabascan Mentasta Lake Village, Alaska. Lael is a Past-President of both the National Native American Bar Association and the Northwest Indian Bar Association. She is 2013 recipient of National Center for American Indian Economic Development “40 Under 40” and currently based in Washington, D.C.
Health & Wellness
ABIGAIL ECHO-HAWK
Abigail Echo-Hawk, MA, is an enrolled member of the Kitkehahki band of the Pawnee Nation of Oklahoma. She is also a member of the Upper Athabascan people of Mentasta Village, Alaska. She was born in the heart of Alaska where she was raised in the traditional values of giving, respect for all and love.
She is a graduate of the University of Washington with a Bachelor of Arts in American Studies and Minor in Human Rights, and a Master of Arts in Policy Studies. She previously served as the Co-Director and Tribal Liaison for Partnerships for Native Health at Washington State University-Spokane. In this role she oversaw the implementation and dissemination of 24 NIH funded grants with topics ranging from suicide prevention, cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and more. Ms. Echo-Hawk focuses on policy advocacy in areas such as: maternal and child health, domestic violence, sexual assault, youth prostitution and educational disparities.
Her greatest accomplishment however, is her place within her extended family. She is a wife, a mother, an auntie, a daughter, a granddaughter, a friend and a community member. Abigail strives to serve them with love and to be a small part of ensuring a great future for the next generations.
Cultural Advisor
ERUERA KAWE
His tribal affiliation is Ngati Kahungungu, Ngati Ranginui. Eruera is a Cultural Advisor, Grass roots non-profit organizer, and father. Eruera Kawe was born and raised in Aotearoa (New Zealand) and runs a non-profit rooted in culture, taught by a lifetime of experience in whanau (family), tribe, international cultural exchanges and community. He leads mainly by example, always encouraging and inspiring those around him. He is a respected member of the community that he serves and respected by his peers. He has served on the Board of Island Breeze Ministries as Vice President since 2015, also serving on the boards of South Pacific Christian Camp and Alaska Ablaze. Eruera Kawe has worked as a Cultural Advisor for Headwater People since 2018, and has served as co-director of Island Breeze Makapala since 2006. He is a member of Palili o Kohala a co-op in natural farming. Has served as a mentor for youth in a local farming program Ho’okahua Ai. Eruera brings to the table a great handle on finances, administration, and cultural awareness that brings new innovative thoughts on western concepts and forms of leadership.
Indigenous Wellness
ELISABETH KAWE
Lis is an enrolled member of the Pawnee Nation and an adopted grandchild of Katie John, a matriarchal chief and subsistence rights activist from Mentasta Lake Village, and raised in the interior of Alaska. As an indigenous person and community organizer, Lis sees her calling as helping others to live in wellness, individually and collectively. As the Director of Indigenous Wellness for Headwater People, she offers invitational facilitation grounded in non-western perspective. Elisabeth uses her gifts in service to conflict resolution, strategic planning, equity training and transformation, leadership and community service. She is a trained nutritional and wellness therapist, certified personal trainer and full-time community organizer. She is based in Kohala on Hawai’i Island and serves in many food sovereignty, youth wellness, and community healing projects from an indigenous perspective. Lis is first and foremost a mother to 3 indigenous daughters and wife to Eruera Kawe (Māori, Ngati Ranginui) she is also a sister, auntie, niece, daughter, granddaughter, and an active part of her community these roles guide her to continue to remember how to be a good ancestor.
Project Weaver
CRYSTAL GROSSHUESCH
Crystal comes from a long line of storytellers, a 2nd generation Mestizo born and raised in LA. Her parent’s and familia come from Zapotitán de Hidalgo, Jalisco, Durango, and Veracruz, México. Her love for food and telling stories comes from her parent’s and abuelas ability to share stories and connections through food and growing food. She has fond memories of visiting her dad’s hometown in México. Running in the corn fields just behind her bisabuelos (great grandparent’s) home. Picking corn and roasting it in an open fire while sharing stories with her familia, these memories fuel her to continue to tell stories.
Crystal is a first-generation graduate with a degree in Digital Photography. Crystal strengthens Headwater People’s ability to hold and tell stories more deeply. Crystal intentionality brings added capacity to tell and hold stories in an honoring way as well as to provide insight into system and design thinking.
Growing up bi-lingual allows her to think, speak and write in Spanish and helps her translate and weave stories in our Latinx communities. Most importantly, Crystal is an active member of her community, family and a loyal friend.
Northwest Culture & Environment
owen l. oliver
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.
Equity & Community Healing
Ana braxton
Born and raised in Seattle, Ana is the third of four Braxton generations to be deeply rooted in working to advance social justice, community, kindness, and education in the region. It’s her family and community that keep me inspired to do equity work, with a particular focus on education systems and Black community thriving.
Ana has worked with Headwater People in a variety of roles and now focuses on group facilitation and equity projects. Ana believes her experiences and unique view as a multi-ethnic Black woman is powerful and holds the hope that these may lead others to connect with their own power. Ana is blessed to have an amazing supportive partner, and two tenacious children.
Yolanda Altamirano
Yolanda has spent her career in outreach, marketing, and communications roles in nonprofits in the Greater Seattle area. She has always worked to include other experiences and points of view in her work to focus on highlighting anyone who may be left out. Yolanda participated in the Green Pathways Fellowship where she received technical skills training and community-centered and culturally relevant leadership development teachings. Yolanda graduated from the University of Washington with a BA in International Studies and Anthropology.
Cyndy Wilson
Our Vision.
We envision a sustainable and profitable professional community whose service is transformative, empathetic, and excellent; and where the lives of our partners, clients, neighbors, and environment are enriched by our presence.
contact headwater people
reach out today to find out how we can help your organization
