After a century of U.S. fire suppression, California tribes are reviving cultural burns, low-intensity fires that nourish the land and reconnect communities to their roots.
Michaela Haas reports for Reasons to Be Cheerful.
In short:
- Indigenous-led cultural burns are making a comeback across Northern California, with state support and scientific backing showing their role in restoring ecosystems and reducing wildfire risks.
- These “good fires” don’t just clear brush — they revive native plants, support biodiversity, and reconnect tribal members, especially youth, to cultural practices and ancestral lands.
- Unlike Western fire suppression tactics, cultural burns are deeply relational, guided by observation, permission, and a belief in fire as a non-human relative and healer.
Key quote:
“Cultural fire is a way of returning to the landscapes we were once punished for stewarding. When we gather for a burn, we reclaim our place.”
— Melinda Adams, San Carlos Apache Tribe member and professor at the University of Kansas
Why this matters:
Indigenous-led cultural burns, once outlawed and suppressed, are finally getting recognition and support. And with them comes a powerful blend of ecological revival and cultural healing — a combination of science, tradition, and ceremony. In a state keen to prevent megafires and undo the damage of colonization, Indigenous firekeepers are quietly leading the way.
Read more from EHN: Hands on the land, heart in community: Returning cultural fires
