“Fire is the same language around the world.” Salish firekeeper Joe Gilchrist spent 16 days in Australia, sharing knowledge on cultural burning—an Indigenous practice that renews landscapes and reduces wildfire risks. Just as in Canada, these burns in Australia are rooted in respect for the land. Through collaboration, cultural burning supports ecosystem restoration, climate resilience, and stronger communities. Watch the video to follow Joe’s journey.
"Good fire" helps maintain healthy lands and communities. Indigenous-led cultural burns rejuvenate ecosystems, boost biodiversity, and reduce wildfire risks. As Dr. Amy Cardinal Christianson explains, burning in cooler seasons removes dry vegetation while preserving roots for quick regrowth. These controlled burns benefit plants, animals, and communities while strengthening Indigenous knowledge and land stewardship.
What is Indigenous fire stewardship and why is it important? Discover the benefits of Indigenous fire stewardship, and why the unique relationship between people, forest, and fire can’t be overlooked.
Understanding how fire can be a tool for the land is now easier with the Muskrats to Moose Project's digital toolkit! Combining generational knowledge & Indigenous fire practices, it offers a starting point for fire use.
Indigenous Nations are leading in conserving the Boreal Forest in Canada, one of the largest carbon storehouses in the world. Their stewardship safeguards peatlands, soils, and promotes sustainable, healthy lands.
Amid record-breaking fire seasons, Indigenous Guardians offer critical solutions. With deep knowledge of the land, they manage fires, ensuring community safety and environmental stewardship.
