Speaker Series Event

Voices from Across Our Community



Dr. Michael Kotutwa Johnson

Tuesday, October 13, 2026

Oro Valley Public Library

Get ready for a lively and eye‑opening evening as the Living Desert Alliance welcomes Dr. Michael Kotutwa Johnson to our rescheduled Speaker Series event. If you’ve ever wondered how people have farmed successfully in the desert for thousands of years, this talk is going to spark your curiosity.

Dr. Johnson is an Assistant Professor in the University of Arizona’s School of Natural Resources and the Environment and a key contributor to the Indigenous Resilience Center. He’s also a traditional practitioner of Hopi dryland farming— a millennia‑old system built on observation, ingenuity, and deep respect for the land.

During this engaging session, Dr. Johnson will bring these time‑tested practices to life, showing how principles like reciprocity, stewardship, and long‑term ecological balance can help communities adapt to drought, climate stress, and shifting conditions across the Southwest. It’s a chance to learn how Indigenous food systems offer practical, hopeful guidance for building resilience today.

Blending scientific insight with lived experience, Dr. Johnson delivers a forward‑looking vision of what sustainable agriculture can be in arid environments — and he makes learning about it genuinely fun.

Join us for an evening that’s sure to leave you inspired and thinking differently about our desert home.