About Zachary Blackowl

My name is Zachary Blackowl, and my work sits at the intersection of lived experience, community service, and systems-level change. I am a Cheyenne and Arapaho tribal member, mental health and suicide prevention advocate, lived-experience speaker, and community organizer with a background spanning tribal government, behavioral health, prevention programming, crisis response, civic engagement, and youth leadership.

My path into this work was not linear—it was shaped by loss, growth, and the decision to keep showing up for my community even when things were hard.

In 2022, I lost my mother, Clara Bushyhead, to cancer. In the months that followed, grief overwhelmed every part of my life. During one of my lowest moments, I reached out to 988 for support. That call became a turning point. It reminded me that asking for help is not weakness—it is survival. That experience continues to guide my work and fuels my commitment to building systems that respond with compassion, dignity, and cultural understanding.

I have worked extensively within tribal government and public service, holding roles that required trust, accountability, and a deep understanding of community needs. My experience includes serving as:

• Community Outreach Specialist for the 988 Tribal Response Program, where I supported awareness, education, and implementation of culturally responsive crisis services for tribal communities
• Director’s Assistant within the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes Prevention Programs, supporting leadership, program coordination, communications, and strategic initiatives
• Tobacco Prevention Specialist, focusing on community education, youth engagement, and prevention strategies
• Licensing Manager / Background Investigator, ensuring compliance, safety, and accountability within tribal systems
• Staff Accountant, managing financial records and gaining firsthand experience in fiscal responsibility and government operations

Outside of tribal government, I have also worked in banking and retail, including positions with City National Bank and Trust and Polo Ralph Lauren, experiences that strengthened my professionalism, customer service skills, and understanding of workplace accountability.

Across every role, my focus has remained the same: creating access, building trust, and showing up consistently for people.

In addition to my professional roles, I am deeply involved in national and community-based advocacy efforts. I am a:

• Member of the National Action Committee for Suicide Prevention Crisis Care Continuum Advisory Group
• Board Member on the 988 Tribal Oklahoma - Policy and Advocacy Committee 
• Lived-experience speaker at local, regional, and national conferences, including behavioral health and crisis response summits

I have collaborated with partners at the federal and national level, including work connected to the White House communications team, national media campaigns on 988, and storytelling efforts that center Indigenous and lived-experience voices.

I regularly speak at schools, colleges, conferences, and community events, sharing my story and facilitating conversations around mental health, grief, substance use, recovery, and resilience. My speaking style is honest, grounded, and relational—I don’t speak at people, I speak with them.

Volunteerism has always been central to who I am. I have spent years giving my time to causes that strengthen civic participation, youth leadership, and community connection, including:

• Serving as a Hope Squad Advisor, supporting youth-led suicide prevention efforts in schools
• Acting as a Voter Registration Coordinator for the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes
• Volunteering with local, state, federal, and tribal political campaigns, and serving as a Fellow with the Native Organizers Alliance
• Supporting community events, cultural gatherings, youth programming, community outreach, and memorial runs

My educational journey has been shaped by persistence, lived experience, and a commitment to lifelong learning. Like many first-generation and non-traditional students, my path through higher education has not been linear—but it has been intentional.

I am currently pursuing an Associate of Arts degree in Political Science with a Pre-Law focus at Oklahoma City Community College, where my studies center on government, public policy, law, and civic engagement. My academic interests align closely with my professional work in tribal governance, public service, mental health advocacy, and community organizing.

Balancing education with full-time work, community leadership, and advocacy has required discipline and adaptability. Returning to school as an adult learner has given me a deeper appreciation for education as a tool for empowerment, not just credentialing. I approach my studies with purpose, knowing that each class strengthens my capacity to lead, advocate, and create meaningful change.

As I continue my academic journey, I plan to build upon this foundation through advanced studies in public service, leadership, and policy, with the long-term goal of contributing at higher levels of tribal, state, and federal leadership.

Education, for me, is not about checking boxes—it is about sharpening my voice, honoring my responsibilities to my community, and preparing myself to serve with integrity.

 The work I do is guided by a small set of values that shape how I show up, who I work with, and the impact I aim to create. These aren’t buzzwords—they’re principles I try to live by, both personally and professionally.

I believe real change starts with telling the truth. About our struggles. About our limits. About what’s working—and what isn’t. I lead with honesty because it creates space for trust, understanding, and meaningful conversation.

Experience matters. The voices of people who have lived through grief, crisis, and recovery belong in the rooms where decisions are made. I value lived experience not as a story to be shared once, but as knowledge that should shape systems and solutions.

Every person, every community, and every culture deserves to be treated with dignity. I approach my work with respect for community knowledge, cultural practices, and individual journeys—especially in spaces where trust has not always been honored.

Showing up means more than being present—it means following through. I value clear communication, preparation, and responsibility in every space I enter. If I commit to something, I take that commitment seriously.

Healing doesn’t happen in isolation. I value connection—between people, across generations, and within communities. I believe conversation is one of the most powerful tools we have to reduce stigma and build understanding.

I don’t believe in having everything figured out. I believe in learning, reflecting, and doing better over time. Growth requires humility, openness, and the willingness to evolve—and I bring that mindset into my work every day.