Dean is a member of the Mono Lake Kutzadika’a Tribe, the southernmost band of the Northern Paiute and has lived his whole life on the lands and waters of his ancestors. Gathering native food from the land, like deer, fish, buck berries, and pine nuts is a tradition for Dean and his family. Since he was three, Dean’s been fishing and always says a prayer when he takes a life.

However, climate change is affecting the availability of these traditional foods and harming his nourishing practices. During summer months, Dean enjoys swimming in Mono Lake and Saddlebag Lake, but that has also become difficult as low water levels and higher concentrations of minerals in Mono Lake make it dangerous, and toxic algae contaminate Saddlebag Lake. Dean also loves to play football, but intense heat and wildfire smoke continue to cancel games.

Because Dean is in nature all the time, walking barefoot in the summer, tasting the snow, and harvesting food from the land and waters, he notices the changes in his surrounding environment. For Dean, it’s important to protect nature and help Mother Earth heal for all people.