Octavio Alonso Cruz Coto (Chitarero/Chibcha, Lebanese, and Spanish ancestry) works as the Marine Scientific Manager in the Marine Department of the Pauquachin First Nation. Octavio completed his master’s at Western Washington University on clam garden ecology and clam health in various beaches, on the traditional territories of the We Wai Kai First Nation, the Laich-Kwil-Tach First Nation, and Coast Salish Nations on Quadra Island, British Columbia.