diff --git a/contrib/OWNERS b/contrib/OWNERS
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..e75163c50
--- /dev/null
+++ b/contrib/OWNERS
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+# See the OWNERS docs at https://go.k8s.io/owners
+
+labels:
+  - area/contrib
diff --git a/contrib/mixin/OWNERS b/contrib/mixin/OWNERS
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..c299e9b51
--- /dev/null
+++ b/contrib/mixin/OWNERS
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+# See the OWNERS docs at https://go.k8s.io/owners
+
+labels:
+  - area/observability