In recent years, California has seen the devastating consequences of ignoring the wisdom that Indigenous people have carried for a millennia: Fire is essential for both human and ecosystem health. …
Tribes in California have long acted to minimize fire risks. But Indigenous burning in accordance with tribal traditions could be classified as arson under state law. In recent years, California has seen the devastating consequences of ignoring the wisdom that Indigenous people have carried for a millennia: Fire is essential for both human and ecosystem health.
When settlers first arrived in the Klamath region of what is now Northern California, they found forests with enormous trees, wooden homes and structures, acorn orchards, abundant plants, berries, fish, wildlife and clean water. All of it was made possible by Indigenous peoples’ frequent use of fire on the landscape.
Despite being sovereign nations, tribes must currently seek permission from the state to light a fire. This not only strains our resources and limits our ability to burn when conditions are right — a window that is very small and shrinking — but violates tribal sovereignty. Sovereign tribal nations should not have to ask a state for permission to exercise our culture.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Oldest fire lookout tower in Southern California mountains is destroyed by massive Line FireFor nearly a century, volunteers have manned the lookout tower on Keller Peak in the San Bernardino Mountains watching out for any sign of smoke.
Read more »
California Line Fire: NASA Snaps 'Fire Clouds' as People Told Stay IndoorsThe Line Fire, which is throwing out heat and smoke to generate these strange clouds, is only 14 percent contained.
Read more »
California wildfires: Bridge Fire explodes in size, man arrested in connection with Line FireThe so-called Airport Fire broke out in a field for remote-controlled airplanes in the Trabuco Canyon area and quickly grew to thousands of acres. Over 1,000 firefighters responded to the blaze, the latest in several wildfires affecting southern California.
Read more »
California firefighters swarmed by hundreds of bees while fighting wildfireThe fire department included photos of the bees on fire trucks at the fire scene.
Read more »
Mexico's traditional and Indigenous community police come under fire from drug cartelsMexico’s traditional and Indigenous community police forces are coming under increasingly deadly fire from drug cartels.
Read more »
Mexico's traditional and Indigenous community police come under fire from drug cartelsMexico’s traditional and Indigenous community police forces are coming under increasingly deadly fire from drug cartels. The chief prosecutor in the western state of Michoacan confirmed Monday that assailants shot to death seven members of the community police force in the town of Coahuayana (koh-why-YAH-nah) over the weekend.
Read more »