U of A professor brings Hopi perspective to U.S. Bureau of Land Management
Michael Kotutwa Johnson divides his time between Tucson (left: in his ENR2 office) and his family home on Hopi land in northeastern Arizona (right). His passion is revitalizing the American Indian food system, which revolves around indigenous maize (center).
Leslie Hawthorne Klingler (left and center) and Michael Kotutwa Johnson (right)
U.S. Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland has appointed University of Arizona's Michael Kotutwa Johnson to the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Arizona Resource Advisory Council (RAC). He sees it as an opportunity to foster collaboration.
"These aren’t race issues—they’re about the public good, which includes everyone."
— Tucson, AZ —
U.S. Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland has appointed University of Arizona's Michael Kotutwa Johnson to the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Arizona Resource Advisory Council (RAC). Kotutwa Johnson, Ph.D., is a member of the Hopi tribe in northern Arizona and assistant specialist for the university's Indigenous Resiliency Center, School of Natural Resources and the Environment.
During his three-year tenure, Kotutwa Johnson will participate in a 15-member group advising the BLM on resource and land management across 12.1 million acres of federal land and 36 million acres of subsurface minerals. “I’m honored to be invited,” said Kotutwa Johnson. “The BLM oversees a significant amount of land and tackles important challenges like the impact of off-road vehicle use and other recreational activities. These are issues that affect everyone.”
Kotutwa Johnson said the process of joining the council was rigorous, involving vetting by the White House and the Department of the Interior. “But I made it!” he laughed. Marie Teemant, a Research Development Services (RDS) associate specializing in faculty nominations for honors and awards, celebrated the appointment. "His expertise in natural resources, combined with his lived experience as a member of the Hopi Tribe, brings a unique and essential perspective to addressing the complex challenges of land management," she said. "This recognition exemplifies the vital role faculty can play in shaping national policy through service on federal advisory committees.”
Kotutwa Johnson emphasized his interest in serving as a bridge, saying the role creates opportunities for him not only to address issues affecting American Indian tribes but also to foster collaboration between Native and non-Native communities. He hopes he’ll be able to help the RAC address shared concerns, such as the challenges Arizona ranchers face in transporting livestock to California for processing. “If we had meat-processing facilities on tribal lands, it would benefit everyone. Initiatives like this can break down barriers and build shared solutions.”
Issues vital to human life are of priority to Kotutwa Johnson. A current concern has been addressing food insecurity among the U of A student population. "Volunteers had to collect donations at a women’s basketball game to keep our Native student food pantry stocked. Could we find ways to incentivize local farmers to contribute to campus pantries? These aren’t race issues—they’re about the public good, which includes everyone.”