Jay Corwin was born in Wrangell, Alaska. He is a member of the Tlingit tribe, of the Eagle moiety and Kaayaashkeíditaan clan, enrolled in the Central Council of Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska, and an original shareholder of Sealaska Corporation. Phd (1995) in Spanish and Latin American literature from the Florida State university and author of works on various pieces of 20th century Latin American fiction. He is currently Head of the Spanish programme at the University of Cape Town.