Sequoia LaDeil Velez

Sequoia LaDeil Velez is a Chickasaw Native American entrepreneur, researcher, and visionary builder born and raised in the sovereign lands of Oklahoma. His work merges Indigenous values with scientific inquiry, shaping future-facing projects that honor land, culture, and well-being.

Sequoia has twice been invited to Washington, D.C., under both the Obama and Trump administrations, recognized for his efforts to support investment and entrepreneurship in the United States. These invitations included meetings with Austrian ambassadors and economic delegations during his time living in Austria, where his cross-cultural leadership stood out in fostering economic collaboration and visionary planning.

As a TED speaker and researcher in the field of the human microbiome, Sequoia has contributed to global conversations on nutrition, indigenous food systems, and gut health. His work is rooted in the understanding that wellness begins with the land, and that our deepest health is cultural as well as biological.

Sequoia is currently leading Aga Bali, a 13-hectare wellness and cultural sanctuary located atop the tallest hill in Tenganan Dauh Tukad, one of Bali’s most sacred and traditional villages. With sweeping ocean views, lush jungle, and a commanding vantage over Mount Agung, this is one of the most unique properties in all of Indonesia. The project is still in its planning and architectural design phase, as Sequoia carefully brings in new collaborators and visionaries to help realize this once-in-a-lifetime development.

In full partnership with the village of Tenganan, Aga Bali is committed to preserving and celebrating Bali’s Indigenous spirit. As an Indigenous person himself, Sequoia’s mission is to ensure that this land is protected, honored, and brought to life through a project that keeps Bali, Bali.