Policy Coordinator

Zia NoiseCat is a proud member of the Canim Lake Band Tsq’escen and a descendant of the Lil’wat Nation in British Columbia. Having returned to Sitka after a brief college internship with SCS, she now serves as a Policy Coordinator working primarily on holistic policy approaches, public engagement, and Indigenous advocacy. Zia has always strived to center Indigenous voices and local communities in her professional work to ensure policies and initiatives are not only effective but also place-based, culturally attuned, and rooted in reciprocity.

She holds her degree in Environmental Studies from Carleton College where her education equipped her with a comprehensive understanding of the intricate web of relationships that define our ecosystems. Zia has a genuine passion for traditional teachings and the invaluable wisdom embedded in the Indigenous practices that have sustained ecosystems for generations. She is filled with gratitude to be a visitor in Sheet’ká Ḵwáan and experience the rich culture, land, and waters this place has to offer. Zia looks forward to continuing to learn, expanding upon her current knowledge and skill set, and using that knowledge to promote environmental sustainability and climate resilience.