Old photos can give us a nostalgic, black-and-white glimpse into the world of the past. But sometimes what they don’t show is as revealing as what they do. In this issue, we highlight a little-known episode of Indigenous history, when the U.S. government decided to reduce the Navajo sheep population, ostensibly for the land’s sake. Photographer Milton Snow documented that period, and yet not a single dead animal appears in his work. Across the West, data centers devour energy and guzzle precious water, while budget cutbacks threaten Indigenous radio. What was it like to be one of the first female hotshots? Development encroaches on California’s West Coyote Hills. Can nest boxes help save the American kestrel? Western rivers are decidedly queer and often disabled, too. Julie Green’s paintings of prisoners’ last meals force viewers to acknowledge the humanity of the condemned. When calling 911 isn’t enough, community paramedic programs help vulnerable people.

River Selby in the summer of 2002, fighting the Monument Fire in eastern Oregon. Sources: Images courtesy of River Selby; Map: USGS
River Selby in the summer of 2002, fighting the Monument Fire in eastern Oregon. Sources: Images courtesy of River Selby; Map: USGS Credit: Photo illustration by J.D. Reeves/High Country News

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