Máret J. Heatta

Máret J. Heatta photo
Board Member

Máret J. Heatta is a Sami who grew up in Guovdageaidnu, Norway, a community that is rich in Sami culture and language. Her connection to the land and Sami traditions runs deep, as she was raised in an environment where subsistence activities were integral to daily life. Currently, Máret works at the Saami Council, in the Arctic environmental unit, leading the project Climate Impacts on Terrestrial Ecosystems (CITE) focused on understanding the impacts of climate change on Indigenous livelihoods. In her work, she emphasizes the importance of collaboration, striving to bridge Indigenous knowledge and Western science to develop adaptive climate policies. She is also pursuing a PhD on the same theme, studying at the Arctic University of Tromsø and Saami College of Applied Sciences. Máret has experience working as a teacher at all levels in Indigenous communities in Sápmi and Alaska, consistently including Indigenous knowledge into her teaching to enhance its relevance. Looking ahead, Máret aims to further her work on the co-production of knowledge, ensuring that Indigenous voices and knowledge are incorporated into environmental policies.