Noela Altvater

she/her | 19 | Passamaquoddy Reservation at Sipayik | Washington County Community College

Indigenous clean water advocate and community leader

Designed and developed a storymap to amplify the voices and stories of her family’s daily struggle with polluted and toxic water.

Advocating for policy solutions in the state legislature

Noela grew up on the Passamaquoddy reservation at Sipayik. For decades, water in the community has been dirty, full of pollution, and undrinkable. Instead of ignoring the problem, as many have done over the years, Noela utilized the Passamaquoddy tradition of storytelling and modern technology in the form of a storymap to amplify the voices of her community and advocate for change. Noela creatively wove pictures, videos, scientific research, social statistics, and personal stories into a compelling virtual storymap to highlight the daily struggle for clean water in her community. Noela is proud to continue the work her grandmother, Denise, started many years ago and to fight for the rights of her community and for water, which her people consider sacred.

Noela overcame self-doubt at the outset of the project, gathered strength and direction from her mentors, and gained confidence and determination as a leader as the project took shape. Noela is a powerful young woman who is making a difference for her community by using creative tools, powerful storytelling, and speaking out for justice.