Ep. 49 Dr. Michael Kotutwa Johnson
From Cultivating Indigenous Voices by KXCI
December 30, 2025 · 23 min
About this episode
Dr. Michael Kotutwa Johnson discusses his work in Indigenous resilience and shares stories of his cultural heritage as a Hopi farmer.
In this episode I sat down with Dr. Michael Kotutwa Johnson (Hopi), who is an Assistant Professor/Extension Specialist of Indigenous Resilience at the University of Arizona’s School of Natural Resources and the Environment and a core faculty member of the Indigenous Resilience Center. Dr. Johnson is a Hopi tribal member and avid Hopi dryland farmer. He is a 250th-generation Hopi farmer, embodying generational ancestral knowledge learned through cultural practice, observation, and honoring what sustains life. His research focuses on Indigenous Land Use Management while integrating cultural and scientific expertise, such as Indigenous agriculture and the intersections of policy, science, and law. Photo of Dr. Michael Kotutwa Johnson with handful of different corn types. Photo courtesy of Dr. Johnson During our conversation Dr. Johnson not only discusses his work in academia but proudly shares stories of his ancestors, homelands, and planting heritage. As he reflects on his research, mentors, and experiences that shaped his work, he also opens up in a heartfelt way sharing vivid stories of the homelands that nurtured his family and the rich planting traditions he learned from…
People in this episode
Guest: Dr. Michael Kotutwa Johnson
Topics covered
- Indigenous resilience
- Hopi culture
- Land use management
- Agriculture
- Cultural heritage
Keywords
- Indigenous agriculture
- Hopi traditions
- land use management
- cultural practices
- ancestral knowledge
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: University of Arizona, Indigenous Resilience Center
Places: Hopi, Rez
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