Executive Director and Acting President 

Executive Director | Seventh Generation Rising
Indigenous Leader | Environmental Justice Advocate | Ceremonialist

Eric Oztochane Walther, also known as Oztochane, is an Indigenous leader, Sundancer, and advocate committed to restoring cultural connection, community wellness, and Indigenous-led land care. He serves as Executive Director and acting President of Seventh Generation Rising (SGR), an Indigenous-led nonprofit that works across California to support youth, families, and communities through cultural programs, fire stewardship, and land-based healing.

Eric has over 20 years of experience working with Indigenous communities across the Central Coast, Bay Area, South Dakota, and Mexico. His leadership at SGR is shaped by traditional teachings passed down by his grandparents, Beatrize and Manuel Garcia, as well as his role as a danzante, firekeeper, and ceremonialist. These practices continue to guide his work building programs that center Indigenous knowledge and values.

Through SGR, Eric leads efforts to reconnect Indigenous people with land and cultural practices. He works with tribal partners, land trusts, and state agencies like CAL FIRE and the California Conservation Corps to support workforce development, wildfire prevention, and youth programs rooted in Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK). His focus is on creating practical, grounded opportunities that reflect community priorities and support long-term healing.

Eric also brings deep cross-sector experience in public service. He has worked in environmental protection and project oversight for the City of San Jose, where he helped address environmental and infrastructure challenges, and contributed to the city’s racial equity and trauma-informed workplace initiatives. His early work with Planned Parenthood Mar Monte led him to Indigenous communities in Oaxaca and Chiapas, where he researched barriers to healthcare for migrant families and helped develop culturally responsive outreach.

Eric holds a Master of Public Administration, equipping him to lead with both cultural integrity and professional rigor, managing complex programs, aligning with public systems, and delivering measurable outcomes for Indigenous communities. He also holds a Bachelor’s in Sociology and is trained as a paramedic and certified in environmental safety and construction oversight (CESSWI, QSP, RCI II, OSHA 30). He is currently attending UC Davis to acquire construction management credentials, building on his lived experience to better support infrastructure projects that serve Indigenous communities. This wide-ranging background helps him bridge community tradition with government systems to support meaningful, long-term impact.

Eric is a student of traditional healing practices and lives and works on the ancestral lands of the Amah Mutsun and Ohlone peoples. He remains committed to building systems that reflect Indigenous values, strengthen community leadership, and restore rightful connection to land.