Fellowship spotlight: Noah Meyer

Noah Meyer is spending his Alaska Sea Grant State Fellowship working for the Central Council of the Tlingit & Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska (Tlingit & Haida) within the Indigenous Stewardship Division. Supervised by senior policy coordinator Karli Tyance Hassell, Meyer is focused on developing tools and resources to aid tribal leadership and communities in supporting mariculture throughout Southeast Alaska. 

His work emphasizes the importance of cultural continuity, sustained tribal access, Traditional Ecological Knowledge, and data sovereignty. In addition to his work in mariculture, he also supports policy analysis in other areas such as marine mammal co-management. He plans on conducting a comparative review of co-management practices related to mariculture and resource management across the Pacific, including locations outside of the U.S.

Meyer is enthusiastic about collaborating with Tlingit & Haida, as it presents a unique opportunity to utilize policy research in support of community resilience and food sovereignty initiatives in Southeast Alaska.

“This experience is providing me with valuable insights into the local effects of federal policies, and how tribal governments coordinate stewardship of traditional territories and natural resources with federal agencies,” said Meyer. “I am really looking forward to traveling across Southeast Alaska and working with the Seacoast Indigenous Guardians Network to explore traditional use and harvest mapping, which will help form a regulatory framework that promotes responsible development of mariculture in the region.”

Prior to moving to Alaska for his fellowship, Meyer received a master’s degree in global environmental affairs at the University of Denver’s Josef Korbel School of International Relations. His studies were centered on environmental conflict and resource and human security, themes he is now applying in his current role. Meyer hopes that this year will deepen his understanding of good governance and lead to a career dedicated to creating a better world for both people and the planet.

Excited to be in Alaska, Meyer enjoys spending his free time by the ocean and exploring the state’s diverse offerings.