Our Living Lands

The Sky City Buffalo Ram Dancers are a group from the Acoma Pueblo. Our Living Lands Producer Daniel Spaulding attended a recent performance at the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center in Albuquerque. After, he spoke to the dancers about the importance of land, animals and culture.

A new University of Arizona study found that American Indians operate 62% of farms in Arizona and manage more than 80% of the state’s total agricultural land. But those farmers are still not getting the recognition or resources they need. Michael Kotutwa Johnson is a Hopi dry farmer and a coauthor of the study. KJZZ’s Lauren Gilger spoke with Kotutwa Johnson about the findings and the future of Indigenous agriculture.

Long before the bald eagle was an American icon, the bird was important to Indigenous nations. But eagle populations have suffered in recent years. That’s why the Iowa Tribe of Oklahoma’s Grey Snow Eagle House has rehabbed hundreds of raptors over the last 20 years. KOSU’s Sarah Liese has more on tribes’ wildlife conservation efforts.

The Nimíipuu creation story begins at what is now Heart of the Monster Nez Perce National Historic Park along the Clearwater River in Idaho. Stella Sammaripa, a Nimíipuu language teacher, and Our Living Lands Producer Daniel Spaulding spent an afternoon next to the river talking about the connections among language, culture and land.

For many coastal Arctic communities, whaling is a key food source and an important way to maintain Iñupiat traditions. But this year, in the far north, spring whaling in Utqiagvik is off to a late start because of unusual ice conditions. The Alaska Desk's Alena Naiden has more. 

Traditional foods can be used in non-traditional ways. Tawiya Andrew-Williams is a Nimíipuu Environmental Scientist and a student at Washington State University. Our Living Lands Producer Daniel Spaulding spoke to Andrew-Williams about incorporating traditional foods into modern dishes, food sovereignty, and more.

Naja Lund Aparico is Greenlandic Inuk and the author of the new children's book Seasons by the Lake. Our Living Lands Producer Daniel Spaulding spoke to her about the book, environmental changes in the Arctic, and the importance of Indigenous representation in children's literature.

Jasmine Higheagle is the secretary for the Nez Perce Fish & Wildlife Commission and has spent her life fishing on Nez Perce lands. Our Living Lands Producer Daniel Spaulding spoke to Higheagle about how the changing climate is impacting fish and water.

This story originally aired on January 20, 2025

Across the country, climate change has increased the destructive potential of wildfires. That’s why the Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California is working to reintroduce intentional, cultural fire meant to restore forest health - and reduce explosive fires. In this encore episode, the Mountain West News Bureau’s Kaleb Roedel [Ray-dull] has more.

In February, the Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California bought over 10,000 acres of land from the city of Santa Clara. This is the first of many land purchases the tribe plans to make, and part of the broader land back movement, which is restoring Indigenous land and benefiting the environment. KNPR’s Jimmy Romo has more.