National: Navajo Nation, University of Arizona Hello, My name is Ciara Benally. I am attending the University of Arizona as an Agricultural Engineer major in my first year. I am from Indian Wells AZ, and graduated from Holbrook High School. By becoming an Agricultural Engineer, I want to come back to the reservation and work with NRCS to reach more farmers or ranchers about the new implementation to improve their land. Just like their motto says, “Helping people help the land”. My passion for achieving this goal comes from how I was raised around animals and running a ranch. Then ..read more

National: White Mountain Apache and San Carlos Apache, San Carlos Apache College Angellisa Hoffman is an esteemed member of the White Mountain Apache tribe and the San Carlos Apache tribe. Raised in Cibecue, AZ, she embarked on an educational journey on the San Carlos Apache reservation, culminating in her graduation from San Carlos Apache High School. Her path led her to San Carlos Apache College, where her sincere commitment to environmental advocacy ignited. Angellisa’s journey has been diverse experiences across various tribal departments, including wildland firefighting, fir ..read more

National: Navajo Nation, Northern Arizona University Yá’át’ééh! (Greetings) My name is Melvita Nez. My clans are Lók’aa’ Dine’é (Reed People Clan)  eí nishłí, Bįįh bitoodnii (Deer Spring Clan) eí báshíshchíín, Hashk’ąą hadzohi  (Yucca-fruit-strung-on-a-line clan) eí dashícheí, Tł ‘ízí lání (Many goats clan) ei dashínalí. I am from a small, rural community called Tonalea, Arizona, located on the Navajo Reservation. I am currently a third-year, First-Generation student at Northern Arizona University. I am pursuing a degree in Public Health with a minor in Psychology.  ..read more

National: Acoma Pueblo and Chamorro (Guam), Fort Lewis College Sumaya has graduated from Perry High School and is continuing her education at Fort Lewis College. She’s majoring in environmental science. Ms.Quitugua served as Vice President of the Phoenix Indian Center, Future Inspired Native American Leaders (FINAL) Youth Council for the 2022-2023 Year and now serves as an Earth Ambassador for the United National Indian Tribal Youth (UNITY) Youth Council. On campus, she serves as a manager for the Fort Lewis Women’s Basketball Team as well a member of the Pueblo Alliance club on ..read more

Southwest: Navajo Nation, Lawrence University Ya’at’eeh! My name is Bailey Nez and I am from the Navajo Nation in New Mexico. I come from the Red Running into the Water Clan and Tangle Clan. I attend school in Appleton, Wisconsin, at Lawrence University where I am majoring in Environmental Science with a minor in Geoscience and also play varsity volleyball. I completed my first year with a 3.972 GPA and hope to continue on this path in my academic career. I ultimately hope to practice Environmental Law by using my education in Environmental Science and Geology to provide solid leg ..read more

Great Lakes: Ho-Chunk, Navajo, Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, Purdue University My name is Brady TwoBears Jr. I am an enrolled member of the Ho-Chunk Nation (Woonąǧire Wąąkšik) and I am also a part of the Navajo Nation (Todích’íí’nii) as well as the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe. I grew up in both Flagstaff and the Navajo reservation in a town called Birdsprings. I am a first-year master’s student in environmental science at the University of Arizona with a focus on arid and semi-arid soils. I am conducting my research on the carbon cycling and carbon/nitrogen dynamics of the Red Rock soi ..read more

Southwest: Walker River Paiute Tribe, University of Arizona Crystal Miller is a citizen of the Walker River Paiute Tribe and a PhD student in American Indian Studies at the University of Arizona. She focuses her studies on the Federal Indian Policies that govern and provide both the guidelines and restrictions on Native Nations ability to assert their own sovereignty. She has invested in the protection of tribal lands, resources and continues to fight legally and politically to ensure that the tribe’s interests are included in regard to lands directly impacted by outside agencies ..read more

Southwest: Pueblo of Jemez, Oklahoma State University Mr. Aaron Cajero Jr. and is from the Pueblo of Jemez located in northwestern New Mexico. Being raised in his community showed him early on the importance of natural resources. Having this understanding and respect, continues to fuel his interest in this field to ensure these natural resources are available to his people, children, and for future generations to come. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Wildlife Science from New Mexico State University and has dedicated 12 years to this career. His goals are to continue thes ..read more

VERY exciting news!  The textbook project that the Native American Fish & Wildlife Society and our wonderful member, Serra Hoagland, Ph.D., have been working on since 2020 is complete!  Wildlife Stewardship on Tribal Lands – Our Place Is in Our Soul, Edited by Serra Hoagland, Ph.D. and Steven Albert, is available for purchase!  You can order online form Johns Hopkins University Press with a 30% discount when you use the code: TRIBAL30 at checkout (available until December 31, 2023). Link to purchase: Wildlife Stewardship on Tribal Lands | Hopkins Press (jhu.edu)   ..read more

SAVE THE DATE: 2023 NAFWS Great Lakes Regional Conference Join us in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan on September 10- 15, 2023! Please Save the Date for the Native American Fish & Wildlife Society 2023 Great Lakes Regional Conference on September 10-15, 2023, in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan.   ..read more