Knowledge Share Description

Since time immemorial, Indigenous tribes such as the Hopi Tribe of the U.S. Southwest have developed agricultural systems that sustained them through climate fluctuations, including droughts and floods. Their deep knowledge of place, along with adaptive management practices, has enabled tribes to grow and harvest food essential to their well-being. While methods have evolved over time, the guiding “Why” has remained unchanged: cultural and spiritual values rooted in relationships with the environment. This knowledge share will explore Indigenous Hopi tribal agriculture, emphasizing how place, culture, and values collectively shape the enduring “Why” that ensures the sustainability of these systems.

Date: Sunday November 2, 2025
Time: 3:00pm – 5:00PM EST
Cost: FREE for Living Library hbc members | Sliding Scale $45, $65, $90 for Non-members

We will explore:

• Dryland farming and maiz

• how Indigenous agricultural systems, such as those of the Hopi Tribe, have adapted to climate fluctuations like droughts and floods.

• the importance of place-based knowledge and adaptive management in sustaining food systems over time.

• the cultural and spiritual values that form the foundation of Indigenous agricultural practices.

• how the enduring “Why” guides the sustainability and resilience of Indigenous food systems across generations.

• the lessons Indigenous agriculture offers for contemporary approaches to sustainability and climate resilience.

Who this Knowledge Share is For

• Students & Educators
  Those interested in Indigenous studies, environmental science, history, or sustainability who want to deepen their understanding of place-based knowledge systems.

• Farmers, Gardeners & Growers
  People seeking inspiration from Indigenous agricultural practices that emphasize resilience, adaptability, and cultural values.

• Environmental & Climate Advocates
  Activists and community members working on sustainability and climate resilience who want to learn from longstanding Indigenous approaches to adaptation.

• Policymakers & Land Stewards
  Those engaged in land use, agriculture, or climate adaptation who can benefit from Indigenous perspectives on stewardship and sustainability.

• Curious Learners
  Anyone drawn to understanding how Indigenous agriculture connects food, culture, and environment in ways that remain vital today.

Cost

$45 - low income

$65 - standard

$90 - pay-it-forward (if you have financial abundance, this is our pay-it-forward option to fund our full tuition scholarships)

For more information on sliding scale please check out this amazing work!

The zoom link will be sent upon registration. Recording will be available for 30 days.

Please apply here for a scholarship.

or access this knowledge share for free by enrolling as a member of the Living Library

Living Library HBC

By becoming a member you have access to this live knowledge share in addition to the archive of knowledge shares. Enroll as a monthly or annual member

We invite you to become a member of our Living Library, Herban Cura’s digital school & archive. The Living Library, is a subscription giving access to over 200 hours of  present and past knowledge shares by herbalists, wisdom holders, professors, land stewards, seed keepers, and investigators spanning Indigenous horse connections & dark sky wisdom, to seaweed medicine & more.

Accessibility Information

Virtual Gathering

*ASR (automated) captioning provided

The knowledge share zoom link will be sent out immediately upon purchase, along with any other necessary information.

Sunday November 2, 2025

3:00pm - 5:00pm Eastern Standard Time

Class will be recorded and available for 30 days. This means you can join from anywhere in the world.

Facilitator

Dr. Michael Kotutwa Johnson is an Assistant Professor/Extension Specialist of Indigenous Resilience at the University of Arizona’s School of Natural Resources and the Environment. Dr. Johnson is a Hopi tribal member and an avid Hopi dryland farmer. He is a 250th-generation Hopi farmer. His research focuses on Indigenous Land Use Management schemes, such as Indigenous agriculture and the intersections of policy, science, and law. His academic work consists of peer-reviewed journal articles and tribal outreach. He recently started the Fred Aptvi Foundation, focusing on growing traditional Hopi crops, establishing a community seed bank, and developing a Hopi youth agriculture program.