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Inside the Navajo Nation’s Real-Life X-Files: Interview with Jon Dover - Paranormal Navajo Ranger
What this covers
This video features an interview with Navajo Paranormal Ranger John Dover, conducted in Flagstaff, Arizona, where he explores the intersection of indigenous spirituality, law enforcement, and paranormal phenomena. Dover recounts his personal journey from accidental entry into law enforcement to becoming a specialist in paranormal investigations, driven by initial reports of Bigfoot and a deep connection to Navajo cosmology. He details personal UFO encounters and discusses how Navajo traditions interpret "sky people" and dimensional portals, contrasting these views with Western misconceptions. The conversation covers specific protocols for interacting with Bigfoot, such as averting gaze and prohibitions on using force, as well as the challenges of policing remote areas on the Navajo Nation. Dover also addresses local mysteries, including looting in the Grand Canyon and missing persons cases potentially linked to dimensional travel, while debunking the "skinwalker" myth by identifying it as a form of human shapeshifting and witchcraft rather than supernatural entities. The interview concludes with his perspective on cyclical human history, evidence of ancient advanced civilizations, and his ongoing work with the International UFO Bureau.
The outline
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Introduction and Background of John Dover
The hosts introduce themselves in Flagstaff, Arizona, and announce an interview with Navajo Paranormal Ranger John Dover, whom they discovered through the *Unsolved Mysteries* series. Dover shares his origin story, explaining that he accidentally entered law enforcement and was hired after a humorous answer to an interview question about protecting his family. He describes his role as a Navajo Ranger, which involves resource protection and wildland firefighting, before detailing how a complaint from an elder regarding a Bigfoot sighting led to his assignment to investigate paranormal cases.
- The interview takes place in Flagstaff, Arizona, near the Navajo Nation.
- The hosts met Dover via the Netflix revival of *Unsolved Mysteries*.
- Dover was hired as a Navajo Ranger after answering a life-threat question with a specific shooting scenario involving a .300 Savage rifle.
- Navajo Rangers handle resource law enforcement (minerals, fish, wildlife) and are recertified as wildland firefighters annually.
- In 2000, Dover was a lieutenant in charge of the western reservation, covering 27,000 square miles.
- Two rookie rangers were laughed at by an elder for joking during a Bigfoot investigation, leading the Chief Ranger to mandate professional handling of such cases.
- Dover and his partner were assigned the "major cases," including paranormal reports, for 11 years.
- The team attended the International UFO Congress in Fort McDowell, meeting figures like Dr. Stanton Friedman and Dr. Lynn Tait.
- They became speakers at the 2013 Congress, receiving a standing ovation from an audience of nearly 2,000.
- By the end of their tenure, they handled 70 to 80 paranormal cases per year, keeping records confidential to protect the privacy of Navajo community members.
- Dover emphasizes an "evidence-based" approach rather than a "belief-based" one, treating paranormal investigations like criminal investigations.
Personal UFO Encounters and Navajo Cosmology
The speaker shares a detailed personal account of recurring childhood dreams involving a bronze-colored UFO in Los Angeles, which their sister later confirmed she shared. They describe subsequent adult experiences with missing time, various craft sightings, and the decision to use a dashcam to document encounters. The conversation shifts to the cultural perspective on these phenomena, specifically how Navajo traditions view "sky people" and knowledge imparters.
- The speaker had recurring dreams as a child of seeing a bronze-colored disc in Echo Park/Los Angeles, later confirmed as a shared experience by their sister.
- They have experienced five instances of "missing time" (approximately 30 minutes) while driving at night.
- The speaker has seen various UFO shapes, including discs, triangles, and orbs, and one craft followed them for 30 miles.
- After installing a dashcam, the speaker stopped having sightings, suggesting a psychological or observational component.
- The speaker is a retired police sergeant (City of Winsow) and EMT with PTSD stemming from law enforcement trauma rather than the UFO experiences.
- In Navajo culture, sky beings are referred to as "yeis" or "yeay," representing ancient gods who impart knowledge.
- The Yache dance is a winter ceremony featuring masked dancers representing these sky people.
Navajo Creation, Dimensional Portals, and Bigfoot Tracking
The speaker interprets Navajo dance figures and creation myths as literal descriptions of dimensional travel through portals, contrasting these with European attempts to erase indigenous spiritual knowledge. The discussion shifts to Bigfoot, where the speaker and their partner discuss their extensive tracking experience, noting that Bigfoot tracks often vanish on trackable ground, suggesting interdimensional movement. Finally, the speaker shares an anecdote about a DNA test on Bigfoot hair returning "unknown carnivore" and argues that the binary concept of good and evil is a human projection, citing Navajo beliefs in the necessary balance of positive and negative energies.
- The "clown" figure in Navajo dance represents five-fingered humans (modern people) who do not listen to instruction, while other figures represent teaching gods.
- Navajo creation stories describe moving between worlds through holes in the sky, which the speaker interprets as dimensional gates or portals.
- The speaker proposes that Bigfoot, UFOs, and disappearances can be explained by entities moving through these dimensional portals.
- The speaker claims that Spanish colonization in the 1600s decimated indigenous leadership and priests, destroying the knowledge required to open these gates at will.
- The speaker and their partner are trained trackers who have followed trails for up to 30 miles and have observed Bigfoot tracks disappear abruptly on solid ground.
- A DNA sample of Bigfoot hair tested in 2000 returned "unknown carnivore," as it did not match any known species in the worldwide animal database.
- The speaker rejects the human concept of absolute good and evil, preferring the Navajo view of harmony, where positive and negative energies coexist like yin and yang.
Navajo Bigfoot Protocols and Remote Area Safety
This segment discusses the Navajo cultural protocols for interacting with Bigfoot, specifically the instruction to avert one's gaze to avoid telepathic control or conflict. The speaker, a law enforcement lieutenant, explains the establishment of an unofficial policy prohibiting officers from shooting at Bigfoot due to the risk of harming a human in a costume or prank scenario. The conversation then shifts to the challenges of law enforcement on the Navajo Nation, highlighting issues with missing persons, remote geography, and high rates of accidental deaths due to alcohol and exposure.
- Navajo children are taught to look away if they see Bigfoot, as eye contact is believed to allow the entity to take control of the mind.
- A historical account from the 1600s describes Navajos roping a Bigfoot near Gallup; the entity spoke Navajo and requested to be released at "Mesavery" in Colorado.
- The speaker hypothesizes that the "telepathic" communication in the story may have been a result of intense eye contact.
- Law enforcement implemented an unofficial "no shoot" policy for Bigfoot sightings to avoid the possibility of killing a person in a suit, unless the entity is actively attacking someone.
- Information about paranormal cases is shared unofficially with other agencies, but this department is unique in having it as a primary investigative task.
- The Navajo Nation faces significant challenges with missing persons due to extreme remoteness, with houses potentially five miles apart.
- Missing persons cases include kidnappings, murders, and accidental deaths from hypothermia caused by alcohol consumption in cold or wet conditions.
- The population of the Navajo Nation is estimated at over 480,000, covering an area comparable to West Virginia.
Grand Canyon Mysteries, Dimensional Portals, and Paranormal Protocols
The speaker discusses their archaeological law enforcement background, including a 10-year investigation into looting on the Grand Canyon reservation and a raft trip where the location of the "Egyptian caves" was identified. The conversation shifts to the theory that some missing persons may be stepping through dimensional portals, citing a case in Mesa Verde and a disturbing experience at Massacre Cave in Canyon del Muerto involving sounds of gunfire and screams. Finally, the speaker details their professional protocols for paranormal investigations, emphasizing the importance of intent in prayer and smudging, and begins recounting a case involving a woman claiming to be cursed by skinwalkers.
- The speaker was ordered on a 15-day Park Service raft trip where they identified the "Egyptian caves" as being 300 feet down from the top on a sheer cliff.
- The speaker spent 10 years investigating a family looting archaeological artifacts (pots, basketry, split willow figurines) on the Grand Canyon reservation to fund drug use.
- The speaker wonders if missing persons, such as a hiker in Mesa Verde who vanished despite audible cries for help, are passing through portals or dimensional riffs.
- A reference is made to David Politis and the Missing 411 organization regarding unexplained disappearances.
- The speaker describes an experience at Massacre Cave in Canyon del Muerto, hearing staccato gunfire and screams from the canyon, referencing the historical Navajo massacre by Spanish forces.
- Professional paranormal investigators do not react with fear during investigations because fear energy can be used by entities to manifest more strongly.
- Effective smudging and prayer require specific intent; without it, the actions are merely going through the motions.
- Investigators follow rules of respect derived from medicine men, such as not spitting or kicking the ground at archaeological sites.
- The speaker begins a case study about a woman on a border town who believed skinwalkers were cursing her, evidenced by footprints and feather bundles.
Navajo Skinwalkers: Myths, Realities, and Investigation Risks
The speaker recounts a specific case where "skinwalker" activity was identified as local drunks using an abandoned house, highlighting the relief of the homeowner once the truth was revealed. They explain the current state of the Navajo Rangers, noting that budget cuts have reduced the department and ended paranormal investigations. The discussion then shifts to a detailed breakdown of skinwalker types, distinguishing them from TV myths by describing them as humans who practice shape-shifting, poison use, and "frenzy witchcraft."
- A reported skinwalker case was resolved as local drunks using an abandoned house as a crash pad, much to the homeowner's relief.
- The Navajo Rangers department has shrunk from 15 to 8 officers due to budget cuts and is no longer handling paranormal cases.
- Skinwalkers are described as human beings, not entities controlled from caves, with several distinct categories of practitioners.
- One category involves individuals recruited or forced to join, requiring the sacrifice of a beloved family member to gain power.
- Another category involves young people who learn shape-shifting and ceremonies but lack deeper knowledge, often possessing animal skins.
- "Frenzy witchcraft" practitioners use poisons, herbs, and curses, while traditional medicine men are taught these dark arts solely to counteract them.
- The speaker warns against discussing skinwalkers with Navajo people, as it is considered a taboo that invites unwanted attention or doom.
- The speaker asserts that skinwalkers can easily kill people and recounts a frightening incident on a TV show where wind intensified and a scream was heard while investigating.
Skinwalker Lore, Shapeshifting Mechanics, and UFO Speculation
The speaker recounts a film crew experience at Skinwalker But where sudden wind cessation signaled the end of filming, attributing the weather to negative entities. They clarify that while "skinwalker" is specific to Navajo culture, shapeshifters exist globally across various tribes and regions. The discussion details the physiological and psychological changes during shapeshifting, such as red-spectrum vision and animalistic thinking, before transitioning to UFO "ground occupant sightings" and the government's alleged classification of 54 extraterrestrial species.
- The wind at Skinwalker But died down immediately when the producer called it quits, which the crew interpreted as the skinwalkers or negative entities leaving.
- "Skinwalker" is a term specifically for Navajo witches, but shapeshifters are found in all 574 US and 633 Canadian tribes, as well as in Africa, New Zealand, and Australia.
- During transformation, the shapeshifter's vision shifts to a red spectrum, their body speed increases, and their consciousness changes to think like an animal rather than a human.
- Military personnel have been observed attending conferences to take notes on these topics, though the speaker notes that animal-minded entities would not follow orders.
- Shapeshifters can use personal items like hair, nails, or sweat to mimic a person's appearance, potentially using this to commit crimes or blow poison at victims.
- The speaker categorizes UFO occupants as "ground occupant sightings," including reptilians and grays, and references a federal manual claiming 54 different extraterrestrial species exist.
- The speaker speculates that Hopi kachas may represent gods from different dimensions that Hopi priests have visited.
World Perspective, Ancient Civilizations, and Outro
The guest shares his perspective on the current state of the world, rejecting the concept of end times in favor of a cyclical view of human destruction and rebuilding. He cites archaeological evidence such as the Koso artifact and fused glass in Middle Eastern ruins to suggest past advanced civilizations. The interview concludes with the host thanking the guest and the guest promoting upcoming projects, including an Alaska Bigfoot cruise and the resumption of the International UFO Bureau podcast. ]]
- The guest rejects the "end times" narrative, arguing that humanity has destroyed and rebuilt itself multiple times throughout history.
- Evidence for past advanced civilizations includes the Koso artifact (spark plug in coal), the Antikythera mechanism, and fused green glass found in Middle Eastern archaeological layers resembling atomic blast effects.
- The guest references Indian stories regarding atomic weapons and flying machines as further evidence of lost technology.
- A physics-based "pendulum" theory is applied to history, suggesting that current chaotic times will naturally swing back toward balance.
- The guest advises against panic, encouraging people to focus on improving their immediate surroundings.
- The interview ends with thanks to the guest for his service as a ranger and paranormal investigator.
- The guest announces an upcoming Alaska Bigfoot cruise and the return of the International UFO Bureau podcast featuring Stan, Michelle Miners, and Art Hardy.
How it ties together
- Introduction and Background
- Hosts introduce themselves and the guest, Navajo Paranormal Ranger John Dover
- Dover's origin story: accidental entry into law enforcement and hiring anecdote
- Role description: Resource protection, wildland firefighting, and transition to paranormal investigations
- Trigger for paranormal work: Elder's complaint regarding a Bigfoot sighting
- Personal Encounters and Cultural Context
- Childhood dreams of a bronze-colored UFO in Los Angeles, confirmed by sister
- Adult experiences: Missing time, craft sightings, and use of dashcams for documentation
- Navajo cosmology: Cultural perspective on "sky people" and knowledge imparters
- Cosmology, Bigfoot, and Philosophical Views
- Interpretation of Navajo dance figures and creation myths as descriptions of dimensional travel
- Contrast with European erasure of indigenous spiritual knowledge
- Bigfoot tracking: Observations of tracks vanishing suggesting interdimensional movement
- DNA test anecdote: "Unknown carnivore" result on Bigfoot hair
- Philosophical view: Rejection of binary good/evil in favor of Navajo balance of energies
- Protocols and Law Enforcement Challenges
- Cultural protocols for Bigfoot: Averting gaze to avoid telepathic control
- Unofficial policy: Prohibition on shooting Bigfoot due to risk of harming humans in costumes
- Law enforcement on the Navajo Nation: Issues with missing persons, remote geography, and accidental deaths
- Regional Mysteries and Investigation Methods
- Archaeological law enforcement background: 10-year investigation into Grand Canyon looting
- Identification of "Egyptian caves" location during a raft trip
- Theories on missing persons: Potential stepping through dimensional portals (Mesa Verde case)
- Disturbing experience at Massacre Cave in Canyon del Muerto
- Professional protocols: Importance of intent in prayer and smudging
- Introduction of a case involving a woman claiming to be cursed by skinwalkers
- Skinwalkers: Reality vs. Myth
- Case resolution: "Skinwalker" activity identified as local drunks using an abandoned house
- Current status of Navajo Rangers: Budget cuts ending paranormal investigations
- Definition of skinwalkers: Humans practicing shape-shifting, poison use, and "frenzy witchcraft"
- Distinction between Navajo specific lore and global shapeshifter myths
- Shapeshifting Mechanics and UFO Speculation
- Film crew experience at Skinwalker But: Weather changes attributed to negative entities
- Physiological changes in shapeshifting: Red-spectrum vision and animalistic thinking
- Global existence of shapeshifters across various tribes
- UFO speculation: "Ground occupant sightings" and government classification of 54 extraterrestrial species
- Worldview and Conclusion
- Perspective on the world: Cyclical view of destruction and rebuilding rather than end times
- Evidence of past advanced civilizations: Koso artifact and fused glass in Middle Eastern ruins
- Outro: Thanks to guest and promotion of upcoming projects (Alaska Bigfoot cruise, International UFO Bureau podcast)
- Navajo Ranger duties
- Law enforcement
- Paranormal investigations
- Bigfoot
- UFOs
- Unsolved Mysteries
- Evidence-based methodology
- Navajo culture
- UFO encounters
- Abduction experiences
- Missing time
- Recurring dreams
- Dashcam evidence
- Law enforcement background
- PTSD
- Sky people
- Yache dance
- Navajo creation story
- dimensional gates
- portals
- Bigfoot tracking
- indigenous spirituality
- DNA analysis
- Spanish colonization
- duality
- harmony
- Bigfoot lore
- Law enforcement policy
- Telepathy
- Missing persons
- Remote geography
- Alcohol-related deaths
- Telepathic communication
- Archaeological law enforcement
- Grand Canyon looting
- Missing 411
- Dimensional portals
- Massacre Cave
- Skinwalkers
- Paranormal investigation protocols
- Smudging and prayer intent
- Folklore
- Witchcraft
- Shape-shifting
- Superstition
- Navajo folklore
- Ground occupant sightings
- Hopi kachas
- Military interest
- Weather anomalies
- End times vs. cyclical history
- Ancient advanced civilizations
- Archaeological anomalies
- Antikythera mechanism
- Koso artifact
- Fused glass
- Physics and history
- Alaska Bigfoot cruise
- International UFO Bureau podcast
- Flagstaff
- Arizona
- Navajo Nation
- John Dover
- Jonathan Redbird Dover
- Stanley Milford Jr.
- Unsolved Mysteries
- Window Rock
- NAVO Police Academy
- .300 Savage
- Dr. Stanton Friedman
- Dr. Lynn Tait
- Jim Man
- Stacy Wright
- MUON
- Fort McDowell
- International UFO Congress
- Los Angeles
- Temple Street
- Glendale Avenue
- Echo Park
- City of Winsow Police Department
- Navajo
- Yeis
- Yeay
- Yache dancers
- Pope
- Satan
- Star People
- Bigfoot
- Spanish
- Catholic Church
- KA until the PBLO
- Toronto
- Quinnalt tribe
- David Pilates
- Stanley
- Star Wars
- God
- Gallup
- Mesavery
- Colorado
- Deer
- US Government
- West Virginia
- Utah
- Four Corners
- Grand Canyon
- Colorado River
- Cameron
- David Politis
- Missing 411
- Mesa Verde
- Canyon del Muerto
- Massacre Cave
- Skinwalkers
- Navajo Rangers
- New Mexico State Police
- County Sheriff's Department
- Navo Police
- Gallup City Police
- Stan
- Art
- Beyond Skinwalker
- Skinwalker But
- Canada
- United States
- Africa
- New Zealand
- Australia
- Europe
- Tuba City
- Hopi
- Reptilians
- Grays
- Mantis insects
- Coyotes
- Ravens
- Owls
- Kangaroos
- Federal Emergency Management Agency
- Southern Baptist
- Bible college
- Megiddo
- Armageddon
- Koso artifact
- Antikythera mechanism
- Greek islands
- Trinity atomic testing site
- New Mexico
- Middle East
- India
- Alaska Bigfoot cruise
- International UFO Bureau
- John
- Michelle Miners
- Art Hardy