Mattea Goetz is the Grand Canyon Program Manager with the Sierra Club’s Grand Canyon Chapter. A continuation of their ancestors’ lives and decisions, Mattea approaches this work with a deep sense of purpose and reverence. Their path has been shaped by questioning harmful Western environmental frameworks and a dedication to decolonial, relationship-centered land stewardship.
Mattea holds degrees in Archaeology and Outdoor Experiential Education, along with a minor in Ecology and certificates in Indigenous Leadership & Sustainability, and conservation leadership. Their research has centered on critiquing Western environmentalism and exploring Indigenous "agricultural" and "land management" methods. Their academic, professional, and personal journeys are deeply intertwined, rooted in a love for ancestral lifeways and a passion for just, Indigenous-led futures.
Outside the office, they can be found deepening their bond with the natural world through ethnobotany, climbing, horseback riding, hiking, rafting, crafting, and gardening.