Gottfriedson is from Kamloops, BC.

He is strongly rooted in his Secwepemc (Shuswap) cultural teachings.

He holds a Masters of Education Degree from Simon Fraser University. 

Gottfriedson also achieved an Honorary Doctor of Laws from theUniversity of Northern British Columbia in 2023.

In 1987, the Naropa Institute in Boulder, Colorado awarded a Creative Writing Scholarship to Gottfriedson for Masters of Fine Arts Creative Writing. There, he studied under Allen Ginsberg,
Marianne Faithful and others.  Gottfriedson has 13 published books. He has read
from his work across Canada, United States, South America, New Zealand, Europe,
and Asia.

Gottfriedson’s work unapologetically unveils the truth of Canada’s
treatment of First Nations. His work has been anthologized and published
nationally and internationally.