Jamie Rey, & Dr. Rachel Olsthoorn
Gray wolves and humans have interacted for thousands of years. The gray wolf’s interactions with humans of the Southwestern United States; like the Hopi, Navajo, and Apache have brought meaning to their culture. Helping to shape one another in many ways. Humans interpreted the gray wolf in their culture that have deep meanings through symbolism, ceremony, and even domestication. This research examines the interpretations, symbolism, and structuralism of past and present inspiration gray wolves have on cultures of the Southwestern United States. Examining geographic regions that inspire myths, legends, duality, and balance through cultural lenses. The research gives a further understanding of the link between gray wolves and cultural beliefs, and the balance gray wolves bring to their ecosystems of the Southwestern United States. The research examines the past and present analysis that provides cultural insights and connections between human and gray wolf cultural exchange. The research was to use semi-structured interviews and surveys, neither were viable in the research nor did they yield results sought. Re-focused efforts were used in obtaining data and viable information. Using tribal websites, literature reviews, and published works to gain a broader understanding on Southwestern gray wolf beliefs and the humans that believe in them. The research highlights cultural insights to further understand the link between gray wolves and cultural beliefs, and the balance gray wolves bring to their ecosystems of the Southwestern United States.