Transforming Fire Management through Indigenous Fire Stewardship workshop

Wildland Fire Conference, I attended my first presentation, Transforming Fire Management through Indigenous Fire Stewardship. The session opened with introductions, followed by an insightful presentation from the RedFire Lab, a virtual interdisciplinary lab focused on First Nations stewardship. They emphasize that research and information derived from their projects belong to the Nations themselves—not the Crown. One notable publication, Centering Indigenous Voice: The Role of Fire in the Boreal Forest of North America, highlighted the importance of cultural burning in maintaining ecosystem health. They also produce the Good Fire podcast, a platform for sharing knowledge on the role of fire in stewardship. The lab’s funding approach lets First Nations communities lead their own projects, helping ensure that the research remains in Indigenous hands.

During the session, we broke into small groups. I joined the Cultural Burning group, where we explored the many benefits of cultural burns. Cultural burning brings healthy animals, supports medicinal plants, cleans water sources, and maintains healthy landscapes for communities. We discussed the need for fuel management, as thick forests reduce water availability, increase erosion, and create imbalances, such as the encroachment of large sagebrush in BC. We also examined how cultural burns benefit the root systems of plants, which in turn supports salmon habitats and strengthens ecosystems.

However, cultural burning is often misunderstood by settlers, creating barriers to its widespread adoption. One participant shared a successful approach, explaining cultural burning to her farmer family by comparing it to burning a field for crop management. We also discussed the challenges of securing approvals for burn plans, as well as the importance of creating community bylaws to ensure continuity in fire management practices, even when leadership changes. Some Nations have established seasonal fire camps to educate community members on cultural burning, and the Skeetchestn Nation is organizing a canoe trip down the Fraser River to further teach about its significance.

Our conversation touched on the restorative impact of cultural burns on traditional medicines and wildlife. For example, research on burn patches has demonstrated improved animal health, as animals in burned areas often have higher body weights than those in unburned areas. We examined the relationship between cultural burning and salmon habitats, highlighting how dams and water diversions for farms, controlled largely by power companies, negatively impact salmon populations and impede cultural burning efforts. Additionally, the budgeting constraints were discussed, noting that funding for cultural burns is often only a one-time grant, despite the need for recurring burns depending on ecological goals.

Cultural burns are also important for pest control, as healthy forests have natural defenses against pests like ticks. The practice benefits various species, including bighorn sheep and ducks, and preserves traditional hunting stories and methods that connect communities to their heritage. Ultimately, this workshop emphasized the critical role of Indigenous fire stewardship in fostering healthy ecosystems, supporting traditional practices, and creating a sustainable, resilient future for our lands.

 An important takeaway from the Transforming Fire Management through Indigenous Fire Stewardship workshop was the reminder that cultural burning, beyond its ecological benefits, serves as a deeply rooted cultural practice. It holds significant social, spiritual, and educational value for First Nations communities, linking them to the land and their heritage while fostering community identity and resilience. The workshop emphasized that cultural burning isn’t merely a tool for managing landscapes; it is a way to heal the land, reconnect with traditional knowledge, and ensure continuity for future generations.

The group also highlighted that cultural burning can alleviate certain climate impacts. By reducing thick underbrush and excessive fuel loads, cultural burns can prevent catastrophic wildfires, which are becoming increasingly common with climate change. Moreover, controlled burns release less carbon than severe wildfires, contributing to lower emissions and helping mitigate climate change effects. Integrating cultural burns into broader fire management practices could be an essential step toward creating more resilient landscapes that can adapt to future environmental changes.

We also discussed how cultural burning practices allow for reciprocal land stewardship. The burn benefits not only the land but also the people who rely on it for food, medicines, and cultural activities. When these natural cycles are interrupted by restrictive policies, the land suffers, and its productivity and biodiversity diminish. Allowing Indigenous-led fire stewardship, and learning from these practices, could greatly enhance fire management policies in Canada and beyond.

Another critical point of the discussion was the need for genuine partnerships between First Nations communities and government agencies. Too often, First Nations are sidelined in decision-making, or bureaucratic roadblocks prevent their participation in traditional practices. Expanding partnerships, where both Indigenous and Western fire management methods are valued and employed, could lead to more inclusive, effective fire stewardship. This collaboration is crucial not only for achieving healthier forests but also for fostering mutual respect and understanding.

Overall, the workshop underscored the transformative potential of Indigenous fire stewardship. As more people come to appreciate the ecological, cultural, and climate benefits of cultural burning, the path forward becomes clearer: creating policies and partnerships that truly centre Indigenous voices and practices in sustainable fire management.