Deandra Jones

"Black Bears, Cultural Knowledge, and Conservation on the Navajo Nation"

Advisor: Dr. Michael Bogan

This project focuses on black bears and their relationships with people on the Navajo Nation, drawing on ecological patterns and cultural meaning. Black bears hold deep cultural significance in Diné teachings, and this work centers respect, responsibility, and relational understanding in how knowledge is interpreted and shared. Fieldwork and data collection have been completed, including noninvasive genetic sampling to estimate population size, as well as interviews and surveys to better understand human bear interactions and community perspectives. The current phase of this work focuses on completing data analysis and dissertation writing. This includes finalizing population estimates, analyzing patterns of human bear interactions, and synthesizing cultural knowledge shared by community members. The final goal is degree completion through a PhD dissertation that brings together ecological and cultural insights in ways that are accountable to community priorities and that supports ongoing conversations about bear management and coexistence on the Navajo Nation.