Oliver
"Shawn" Imitates-Dog
Shawn was born to Teresa Imitates Dog in Martin, South Dakota. Shawn is the 2nd oldest of five children. Siblings are Agnes, Celeste, Beau and Sandi.
Shawn grew up in Martin and attended Martin Grade and High Schools. At the age of 18 Shawn left the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation to live with friends in the Los Angeles area.
Shawn was raised by his grandparents Jennie and Andrew Imitates Dog and gives them credit for his great work ethics. Shawn spent summers out at Ten Bar with his grandparents picking berries, and riding horses. He also spent summers Grass Dancing at local Pow Wow's.
Shawn spent his younger years volunteering his time at the Bennett County Nursing Home. As Shawn grew older, he knew he wanted to leave the reservation to pursue his goals and experience the world. Although leaving the reservation, Shawn continues to volunteer his time for local charities and Native American organizations and is in the process of opening a restaurant in his hometown.
Over the past twelve year's, Shawn has worked at several different organizations; including Six Flags Magic Mountain, Senna Cosmetics, and was also an assistant to a Director of Motion Picture, and worked for the House of Blues for nearly 10 years. Shawn started with the House of Blues back in 1997 and has grown his career over the years. After 9 1/2 years, Shawn left House of Blues to pursue a great opportunity with AEG as their Sr. Director of Human Resources. Shawn is also very active in his industry and serves as a board member on the Entertainment Human Resources Network.
Shawn is also very involved in the Native Community. He is part of the Red Circle Project, which is a project through AIDS Project Los Angeles that focuses on the Native people living with HIV/AIDS as well as preventative work. Shawn is also the President of the Board of Directors with the Southern California Indian Center.
In addition to his business life, Shawn recently Produced a Native Short-Film with the Southern California Indian Center. In 2007, Shawn wrote and Produced his first short film, "Two Spirits, One Journey". He is also working on a film as a Producer alongside a great friend and mentor, Arthur, and co-producer, Roberta Pacino.
Shawn received his degree is Business Management and has put that to use by starting up his own travel agency in 2005, and he is also in the process of taking over and renovating a restaurant in his hometown in South Dakota. His agency focuses on group cruises around the world, and conferences.
Shawn enjoys spending time around the house doing projects and updating the family website. And when he's up for it, he is off training for a marathon in some exotic place. Shawn's first marathon was in 2001 in Hawaii, since then he has ran a marathon in Tahiti, San Diego, and Huntington Beach.
Shawn & Unci Jennie
Rabbit Dancing at the 2005 Reunion