Michael James Oleksa (March 16, 1947 – November 29, 2023) was an American missionary priest of the Orthodox Church in America, who spent 50 years traveling, speaking, and writing about culture and race in Alaska.

[2] In 1970, he accepted an invitation from the Alutiiq village of Old Harbor on Kodiak Island in Alaska, where he served as priest with the Russian Orthodox Church.

[1][3] In 1972, he moved to Kwethluk, where he met his wife and continued his work as a missionary priest in various small communities along the Kuskokwim River.

[1] Oleksa was versed in the fields of history, theology and linguistics and wrote books, articles, and publications focusing on multiple Alaska Native cultures.

[5] Prior to his death, he initiated the process to have Olga Michael recognized as a saint by the Russian Orthodox Church.