Episode Transcription

Indigenous Agriculture: Lessons From The Hopi Tradition

Guest: Michael Kotutwa Johnson

Introduction

Sara Rego: Thank you, Michael, for joining us at the We Need to Act podcast. It’s a great honor to have you here. I wanted to start by asking about yourself. You are a member of the Hopi tribe in Northern Arizona. Could you tell us more about yourself and the work you do?

Michael Kotutwa Johnson: My name is Michael Kotutwa Johnson. Kotutwa is my Hopi name—it means “burning embers at the bottom of the fire.” I am a 250th generation Hopi farmer. I also work as an assistant professor at the School of Natural Resources and Environment at the University of Arizona, where I focus on agricultural work. I hold an appointment with the Indigenous Resilience Center, which focuses on food, energy, and water. So I do a bit of everything—both at the university and on my farm on the Hopi Reservation.

Indigenous Agriculture and Resilience

Sara Rego: We are witnessing soil degradation, extreme weather, rising temperatures, and water scarcity globally. These conditions are pushing us toward a crisis in our food systems. How can ancestral agricultural knowledge, like what you study and practice, help build resilience in the face of these challenges?

Michael Kotutwa Johnson: The biggest problem isn’t just climate; it’s also the agricultural practices used worldwide. Conventional agriculture focuses on efficiency and quantity, which requires many inputs like pesticides and non-native crops. This clears land, reduces biodiversity, and often destroys food systems that have existed for thousands of years.

At Hopi, we are trying to revitalize these practices while holding onto our ancestral seeds. These seeds are like children—they’ve learned to adapt over generations. Removing them from their environment leads to soil degradation and other problems because modern agricultural practices don’t account for the balance between crops and land.

Sara Rego: Could ancestral practices feed the world’s population, especially when modern farming uses pesticides to increase yields?

Michael Kotutwa Johnson: Many people don’t realize that 70% of the world’s population is fed from very small fields, only one to five acres. Traditional systems are small and localized, but if you combine them across many farms, they can have a large impact. Ancestral practices are place-based—they thrive in the environments where they were developed. To revitalize these systems, we have to study what people grew before modern agriculture, and understand how to integrate that knowledge today.

Local Empowerment and Cultural Values

Sara Rego: Is empowering local communities the answer, as discussed by Helena Norberg-Hodge and Local Futures?

Michael Kotutwa Johnson: Yes, it’s part of the answer. But traditional ways are labor-intensive. You can’t just drive a tractor; it requires dedication and hard work. If communities want sustainable agriculture, they need values like hard work, discipline, and stewardship. These values are what make indigenous agricultural systems last for thousands of years.

Sara Rego: So it’s not just about methods, but also about underlying cultural values.

Michael Kotutwa Johnson: Exactly. Without values, agricultural systems won’t be sustainable—they’ll be temporary fixes. Indigenous societies last because of these values, which maintain balance with nature and the community.

Health Impacts and Food Systems

Sara Rego: The quality of agriculture and the soils we rely on are connected to health. Indigenous communities in the U.S. and Canada experience disproportionate rates of diabetes, heart disease, mental health challenges, and substance abuse. How are these health issues connected to shifts away from traditional diets?

Michael Kotutwa Johnson: Historically, Native peoples had free access to hunting, gathering, and farming. When people were relocated to reservations, they were forced onto diets that their bodies weren’t adapted to, like white flour and sugar. This shift has led to extremely high rates of diabetes and other health issues.

For example, one U.S. reservation has a diabetes rate of 80%, and another has a life expectancy of only 52 years. Four-year-old children are being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. It’s preventable, but only if we restore access to high-quality, traditional foods and work to revive ancestral agricultural practices.

Sara Rego: That’s heartbreaking. How can food systems be improved to support health?

Michael Kotutwa Johnson: Subsidizing access to nutritious foods is key. SNAP cards help, but they don’t fully cover higher-quality food. If governments subsidized organic or traditional foods, and if we revitalized local small-scale agriculture, communities could access healthy foods. Money should never be an obstacle to nutritious food.

Faith, Hope, and the Agricultural Cycle

Sara Rego: You’ve mentioned the importance of faith in agriculture. How does that play a role in your practices?

Michael Kotutwa Johnson: Faith is central. When we plant crops, even during droughts, we trust the process. In 2018, I planted a small portion of my field despite dry soil. Months later, rain came, and the crops thrived. Faith gives hope. Without hope, you cannot persist. Our belief systems are deeply integrated with agriculture. For example, a week-old baby might be given sweet corn pudding at birth, tying them symbolically to the land.

Matrilineal Society and Agricultural Balance

Sara Rego: I’m also intrigued by the Hopi matriarchal society. How does it relate to agriculture?

Michael Kotutwa Johnson: Hopi society is matrilineal. Women own the seeds and fields, prepare them, and give them to men to plant. After harvest, the produce belongs to women, who distribute it to those in need. Men tend the crops, and women manage the ceremonies and preparations. This balance between genders maintains the health of the society and the land.

Hopi Cosmovision and the Future

Sara Rego: How does Hopi cosmovision guide your perspective on current environmental crises?

Michael Kotutwa Johnson: Hopi prophecy tells of two paths: one leading to collapse through modern conveniences, and another leading to sustainability through adherence to ancestral beliefs and agricultural practices. There is a “choice line” connecting these paths, showing that we can still choose to return to values, balance, and respect for nature.

Sara Rego: So there is hope, but it requires intentional choices?

Michael Kotutwa Johnson: Exactly. Hope and faith are inseparable. By practicing our values and integrating traditional ecological knowledge, we can navigate the current crises and ensure future generations thrive.

Nature-Based Knowledge and Biomimicry

Sara Rego: How does traditional ecological knowledge relate to modern ideas like regenerative agriculture and biomimicry?

Michael Kotutwa Johnson: Traditional ecological knowledge is essentially what my grandfather taught me. Modern terms like “biomimicry” and “regenerative agriculture” describe what indigenous peoples have practiced for millennia. The key difference is values: we understand and respect the land and integrate our culture into agricultural practice, not just the techniques.

Closing Thoughts: Faith, Hope, and Respect

Sara Rego: Any final thoughts for our listeners?

Michael Kotutwa Johnson: Faith brings hope. Hope drives action. Respect for the land, for each other, and for the values that guide us is essential. Slow down, observe life, and remember that everything is connected. These principles are what sustain communities and the planet.

Sara Rego: Thank you so much, Michael. Your perspective is inspiring, and your message is one of hope, resilience, and respect for the earth.

Michael Kotutwa Johnson: Thank you for hosting me. I hope this conversation inspires people to reconnect with nature, honor ancestral knowledge, and have faith in the future.

Photo: Jan Canty