Researchers from Oregon State University have partnered with the Karuk Tribe to study their traditional fire stewardship practices in the Klamath Mountains using 21st-century technology. The findings of this research, published in Ecological Applications, reveal that cultural burning was widespread across the landscape before the arrival of European colonizers. An estimated 6,972 cultural ignitions occurred annually, with an average of 6.5 ignitions per year for each Indigenous fire steward.
The research focused on 1,000 square miles of Karuk Aboriginal Territory in the western Klamath Mountains of northern California, a fire-prone ecosystem that has recently experienced severe wildfires. Collaborating with the Karuk Tribe Department of Natural Resources, OSU scientists developed historical estimates for cultural ignition locations, frequency, and timing using statistical parameters developed with input from Tribal members and knowledge holders through interviews, historical and contemporary maps, ethnographies, recent ecological studies, and generational knowledge.
Skye Greenler, who led the partnership when she was a graduate research fellow in the OSU College of Forestry, emphasized the significance of this research in showcasing the extent of Indigenous cultural stewardship across the landscape. This study provides valuable insights into how traditional fire management practices can inform modern-day conservation efforts and help mitigate wildfire impacts on ecosystems and communities.
