Wildfire is often portrayed in the media as being ‘destructive’ and ‘catastrophic’. In this podcast we explore the concept of fire as a tool for ecological health and cultural empowerment by Indigenous people around the globe. Good Fire is a term used to describe fire that is lit intentionally to achieve specific ecological and cultural goals. Good fire is about balance.

Quotes

04.06 - 4.21: “Any time you talk to an elder about good fire, it’s about cleaning up the landscape, about using fire as a tool and also as something that sustains their culture so that they can live in that area.”

13.06 - 13.22: “Our role is … given down from the creator, to look after the earth, to steward the earth… So if you can’t do that, it basically takes away who you are as a person… Why are you here, then, if you can’t look after your territory or your land?”

Takeaways

What is good fire? (01.04)

Amy, a fire research scientist, is Métis from Northern Alberta, currently living in Treaty 6 territory. She differentiates good fire, the fire the forest needs, from wildfires, which are dangerous and threaten people’s health, safety and property. Many Indigenous nations use fire as a tool, serving a cultural, subsistence and safety purpose.

How good fire helps (03.05)

Amy explains that good fire earns its name because it is used “to get rid of the dead trees, dry grass, things that can contribute to a bad fire”. She states that bringing back good fire can reduce the risk of wildfire.

The history of fire exclusion (5.37)

When settlers first came to Indigenous lands, they were terrified by the fires that damaged timber and watersheds. However, Indigenous people have been conducting regular repeated intervals of low-intensity burning to maintain and steward the land.

“You are never going to defeat wildfires” (09.53)

Amy believes that aiming to get rid of wildfire is unnatural. She finds that Indigenous people burn for many more reasons than reducing fuel risk - they do it to restore the health of forests and communities.

The fight for fire (11.33)

Indigenous communities are aware of the positive effects of controlled burning and are committed to safeguarding the land through good fire. Amy shares examples from different Indigenous cultures where burning is considered a familial responsibility.

A sharing circle on fire (15.05)

Amy wanted to create the Good Fire podcast to learn from Indigenous peoples around the world who work in Indigenous fire management. She speaks about the different aspects of fire management from Indigenous and western perspectives.

Keep the fire burning bright (19.32)

Amy hopes this podcast inspires listeners to seek out Indigenous firekeepers and Elders in the community to learn about the environment around them. She looks at this podcast as a way to share what fire means to Indigenous peoples and to bring good fire back.

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