July 27, 2021 — For the first time, the federal National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has a tribal research coordinator.
Mabel Baldwin-Schaeffer was born and raised in Kiana, a small Iñupiaq village on the Kobuk River in Northwest Alaska. She said she’ll bring that perspective with her as the first tribal coordinator for the Alaska Fisheries Science Center’s communications program.
“Near and dear to my heart has always been to improve local participation and to engage rural communities and research development,” she said. “I am most excited to work with elders and local people in the community.”
NOAA is a key federal leader of environmental research. Those involved say the new position is a step toward better representation for Alaska’s Indigenous communities.