Climate-driven species displacement: How colonial-era introductions and warming reshaped ecosystems beyond control

Indigenous knowledge systems in the Southwest, such as those of the Pueblo and Navajo peoples, treat land as a living entity with reciprocal relationships between species, humans, and the environment. The introduction of non-native species like the gemsbok disrupts these relationships, as native species—such as the pronghorn antelope or mule deer—have evolved alongside predators, water cycles, and seasonal patterns that the gemsbok does not recognize. For example, the Navajo concept of *Hózhǫ́* (harmony) emphasizes balance within ecosystems, which is directly threatened by invasive species that alter grazing patterns, compete for water, and introduce new diseases. The absence of Indigenous voices in this narrative erases their long-standing ecological stewardship practices, which could offer alternative solutions to managing invasive species without resorting to further human intervention.