Since the early 20th century, the United States has adopted policies to extinguish any and all wildland fires.
This effectively outlawed Indigenous people’s use of fire, which helped them to manage landscapes and maintain the health of wildlife habitats for millennia.
In recent years, though, an increase in both the frequency and devastation of wildfires in the United States has led to some federal authorities seeking to utilize the same Indigenous practices, which, for decades, were prohibited.
The practice of cultural burning is generations-old, and when done effectively leads to a reduction in the chances of catastrophic wildfires, as well as revitalizing the soil beneath.
Now, Indigenous communities are working on reconnecting with, and revitalizing, their crucial cultural knowledge about "good fire"—one that was largely lost to U.S. colonialism and industrialization. It's a process that has been equal parts frustrating and cathartic, as they look to cultivate both land and culture by keeping their traditions, languages, and techniques alive for future generations.
