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Fire Is Our Relation

Secondary

Description

Fire Is Our Relation explores the Karuk Tribe's efforts to revive traditional, controlled burns (prescribed fire) on their ancestral lands in Northern California.  The film highlights how these practices, which were disrupted by colonization, are essential for restoring landscape resilience and reducing the risk of catastrophic wildfires, while these practices help renew cultural resources and food sources. The Karuk people have a long history of utilizing fire as a land management tool, understanding its vital role in maintaining healthy ecosystems. By reintroducing prescribed fire, the Karuk Tribe aims to reverse the negative impacts of fire suppression and create a more balanced and resilient landscape. Prescribed burns help inhibit the spread of invasive species and encourage the growth of plants that provide renewable food sources and medicinal and cultural resources.

The film demonstrates that traditional burning practices are deeply intertwined with Karuk culture, spirituality, and their connection to the land. The film features numerous voices of the Karuk Tribe, including those of ceremonial leader Leaf Hillman, forester and educator Kathy McCovey, Frank Lake Ph.D. from the U.S. Forest Service, cultural resources technician Vikki Preston, and traditional fishermen and firefighters.They aim to bring "good fire" back to their ancestral lands, illustrating how their traditional management practices contribute to creating resilient and safe landscapes.

The film is one of five companion films that accompany the lesson plan on Indigenous Perspectives for Restoring Our World, which explores the relationship between Indigenous peoples and their ancestral lands.

General Assessment

Recommendation of how and where to use it

The film aims to educate students about the Karuk Tribe's efforts to revive traditional, controlled burns (prescribed fire) on their ancestral lands in Northern California. It serves as an introduction to the concept of traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) and highlights its significance in understanding the relationship between Indigenous peoples and the land.

 

To enhance the learning:

 

  • students can research and share examples of other Indigenous communities that practice sustainable land management. Provide students with a note-taking sheet to record their observations, insights, and significant quotes from the film.
  • students can research the specific Indigenous tribe and location featured in their assigned film using resources like Native Land Digital
  • facilitate discussions about the Indigenous knowledge shared in the films and how it relates to fire stewardship, climate change, and land management.
  • explore how these practices can be integrated into modern approaches to fire management and ecological restoration. 
  • discuss the potential benefits and challenges of implementing controlled fires locally. 
  • educators can use this opportunity to foster a deeper understanding of Indigenous perspectives on land stewardship, promote critical thinking about environmental issues, and inspire students to become more engaged and responsible global citizens.

As a class, explore the complete "Inhabitants" film and related resources from the Global Oneness Project. Connect the themes of the films to current environmental issues and climate change.

Relevant Curriculum Units

The following tool will allow you to explore the relevant curriculum matches for this resource. To start, select a province listed below.

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  • British Columbia
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    • Grade 9
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      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Science 9: The biosphere, geosphere, hydrosphere, and atmosphere are interconnected, as matter cycles and energy flows through them.
    • Grade 11
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • Environmental Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Environmental Science 11: Human practices affect the sustainability of ecosystems
        • Environmental Science 11:Humans can play a role in stewardship and restoration of ecosystems
      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Science for Citizenship 11: Scientific understanding enables humans to respond and adapt to changes locally and globally
      • Social Studies
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Explorations in Social Studies 11(Human Geography, Contemporary Indigenous Studies, Social Justice) : Indigenous peoples are reclaiming mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual well-being despite the continuing effects of colonialism
  • Manitoba
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    • Grade 9
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      • Indigenous Languages and Cultures
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Cultural and Linguistic Diversity: Other Cultures: Connections and Influences
        • Cultural and Linguistic Diversity: Specific Aboriginal Culture
    • Grade 10
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      • Indigenous Languages and Cultures
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        • Cultural and Linguistic Diversity: Other Cultures: Connections and Influences
        • Cultural and Linguistic Diversity: Specific Aboriginal Culture
    • Grade 11
    • Grade 12
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      • Indigenous Languages and Cultures
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Cultural and Linguistic Diversity: Other Cultures: Connections and Influences
        • Cultural and Linguistic Diversity: Specific Aboriginal Culture
      • Social Studies
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Citizenship and Sustainability: Area of Inquiry: Environment
        • Citizenship and Sustainability:Area of Inquiry: Indigenous Peoples
        • Global Issues
        • Global Issues
  • New Brunswick
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    • Grade 12
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      • Environmental Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Introduction to Environmental Science 120: Investigating Environmental Issues
  • Northwest Territories
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    • Grade 9
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Science 9: The biosphere, geosphere, hydrosphere, and atmosphere are interconnected, as matter cycles and energy flows through them.
    • Grade 11
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • Environmental Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Environmental Science 11: Human practices affect the sustainability of ecosystems
        • Environmental Science 11:Humans can play a role in stewardship and restoration of ecosystems
      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Science for Citizenship 11: Scientific understanding enables humans to respond and adapt to changes locally and globally
      • Social Studies
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Explorations in Social Studies 11: Indigenous peoples are reclaiming mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual well-being despite the continuing effects of colonialism
  • Ontario
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    • Grade 9
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      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • :Biology: Sustainable Ecosystems
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      • Environmental Science
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        • Environmental Science (Workplace Prep.) Natural Resource Science and Management
    • Grade 12
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      • Indigenous Studies
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        • Contemporary Indigenous Issues and Perspectives in a Global Context, (Univ./College prep.): Indigenous Peoples and Perspectives
  • Prince Edward Island
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    • Grade 12
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      • Environmental Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Environmental Science 621A: Natural Resources
  • Yukon Territory
    • Step 2Select a grade level
    • Grade 9
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Science 9: The biosphere, geosphere, hydrosphere, and atmosphere are interconnected, as matter cycles and energy flows through them.
    • Grade 11
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • Environmental Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Environmental Science 11: Human practices affect the sustainability of ecosystems
        • Environmental Science 11:Humans can play a role in stewardship and restoration of ecosystems
      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Science for Citizenship 11: Scientific understanding enables humans to respond and adapt to changes locally and globally
      • Social Studies
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Explorations in Social Studies 11: Indigenous peoples are reclaiming mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual well-being despite the continuing effects of colonialism
    • Grade 12
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • Environmental Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Environmental Science 12: Sustainable land use is essential to meet the needs of a growing population

Themes Addressed

Air, Atmosphere & Climate (1)

  • Climate Change

Ecosystems (2)

  • Appreciating the Natural World
  • Habitat Loss

Indigenous Knowledge (2)

  • Etuaptmumk/Two-Eyed Seeing
  • TEK -- Traditional Ecological Knowledge

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