BACKGROUND
As Peabody Western Coal Company continues with reclamation on Black Mesa, non-native grasses are being planted where the native plant communities once thrived. Peabody mined over 60,000 acres and has allocated only 5% of those reclaimed lands for “cultural sites.” Cultural sites are reclaimed areas reseeded with native plants to replicate the original vegetation. Without local plant knowledge from the communities within the mine site, the reclaimed areas would continue to be reseeded with non-native plant species.
Project Mission:
The Dził Yíjiin Nanise' (Black Mesa Plant) Project strives to create a comprehensive plant identification guide that documents Black Mesa’s native flora—including Diné names, traditional uses, and cultural significance. This project preserves traditional ecological knowledge to advocate for meaningful reclamation that restores native plant communities.
How It Started
In 2022, Tó Nizhóní Ání (TNA) hosted a Native Plant Identification Workshop in Hardrock, AZ, facilitated by Diné botanist Arnold Clifford. The community response was overwhelming—participants collected and identified over 50 specimens in a single day. Recognizing the urgent need to document Black Mesa’s plant life before it is lost, TNA organizers and Mr. Clifford began planning a comprehensive ethnobotany project. In 2023, TNA appointed a team of college students from Black Mesa to lead the work.
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Community-Centered Collection
Working alongside Diné elders and community members, each collection session became an opportunity for intergenerational knowledge—elders sharing plant names and uses while learning alongside youth.
Professional Botanical Documentation
Under Arnold Clifford’s mentorship, the team learned to collect, press, mount, and label specimens with scientific names, Diné names, collection dates, locations, and plant community data. Each specimen meets professional herbarium standards.
Digital Curation
The collection was digitally scanned and organized by genus and species, creating a permanent archive that can be shared and referenced for generations.
Reclamation Site Documentation
Our team has been on numerous reclamation tours on Black Mesa, where we observed that the areas considered “complete” were covered in non-native wheatgrass. This evidence supports our efforts to advocate for greater plant diversity in areas under reclamation.
Traditional Knowledge Revival
As we continue this work, we are reintroducing traditional plant knowledge into our communities by collaborating with local and broader Navajo herbalists, practitioners, and scholars to ensure that Diné plant knowledge is preserved.
What's Next?
The Dził Yíjiin Nanise' (DYN) Project will continue to expand traditional knowledge by collaborating with local Diné herbalists to document medicinal, ceremonial, and utilitarian uses of each species. At the end of 2026, the DYN Project plans to create a publication titled "Development of a plant identification guide for community use," featuring both scientific data and traditional Diné knowledge.
Lastly, the DYN Project will continue to push for adequate reclamation on Black Mesa by using the created documentation to advocate for proper reclamation practices that restore plants, not just ground cover. This summer, the DYN Project will be looking for Summer 2026 interns. If this is something you'd be interested in or would like to learn more about, please email info@tonizhoniani.org.
Contat Us:
Raeanna Johnson, Project Lead
raeanna@tonizhoniani.org
Adrian Herder, Media Organizer
adrian@tonizhoniani.org
Nicole Horseherder, Executive Director
nicole@tonizhoniani.org