Dina Gilio-Whitaker Biography

Dina Gilio-Whitaker (Colville Confederated Tribes) serves as both a lecturer in American Indian Studies at California State University San Marcos and an independent consultant who specializes in Indigenous environmental justice and policy planning. Her academic work explores Indigenous nationalism alongside self-determination and environmental justice and education. Her teaching at Cal State San Marcos includes environmentalism and American Indians, traditional ecological knowledge, religion and philosophy, Native women’s activism, American Indians and sports, and decolonization.  

Through her work as a public intellectual Gilio-Whitaker uses her academic research to write for online publications including Indian Country Today and the Los Angeles Times and High Country News. The Beacon Press published her co-authored work All the Real Indians Died Off and 20 Other Myths About Native Americans (2016) with Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz and she released her book As Long as Grass Grows: The Indigenous Fight for Environmental Justice from Colonization to Standing Rock in 2019.  

Gilio-Whitaker serves as a senior research associate and policy director at the Center for World Indigenous Studies. She operates DGW Consulting while dedicating time to the Institute for Women Surfers and Native Like Water and the San Onofre Parks Foundation. She maintains a blog, Ruminative.  

The author Dina Gilio-Whitaker was born in Southern California where she grew up as an urban Indian because her Colville mother moved to Los Angeles during the termination era.

As a renowned expert and highly sought-after speaker, Dina Gilio-Whitaker's expertise is in high demand. To book Dina Gilio-Whitaker for your next event, conference, or workshop, please contact our speaker booking agency. Our experienced team will work closely with you to understand your specific needs and help secure Dina Gilio-Whitaker's participation. With our professional guidance and seamless booking process, you can ensure a memorable and impactful experience for your audience. Don't miss the opportunity to engage your audience with Dina Gilio-Whitaker's compelling insights and inspire positive change within your organization. Fill out the booking request form to take the first step in securing Dina Gilio-Whitaker for your next speaking engagement.