The Fire Within Us: Documenting Indigenous Relationships with Fire in Southern California/San Diego County Active

Since time immemorial, Indigenous peoples across California have maintained a relationship with fire to protect and care for the land. Utilizing burning practices passed down across generations fire was intentionally implemented to steward the landscape, cultivate food, fiber, and medicine, and reduce fuel loads that can set the stage for extreme fire events. Suppressive western fire management practices, the removal of indigenous stewards, and the exacerbating threat of climate change is culminating in more extreme, frequent, and destructive fire events. Though climate change poses new and unique challenges in the form of extreme fire, heat, drought, and storms that put people and communities at risk, Indigenous communities are taking the lead to prepare for these challenges, reduce impacts, and bring good fire back to the land. 

“The Fire Within Us” is an Indigenous-led research documentary that captures the cultural, emotional, and scientific relationships of Southern California Tribes with the gift of fire. Emphasizing a reclamation of traditional ways to inform current fire management practices, this effort will bring Indigenous voices to the forefront and acknowledge their leadership in climate adaptation and resilience. This is a story that will serve as an example of the transformative efforts in advancing climate adaptation planning and actions occurring in the Southwest by highlighting the continued resilience and vibrancy of Indigenous communities and practices. This project will support Indigenous-led storytelling, art, and business through video production. The research team will create a record of oral accounts and Indigenous experiences with fire on the land in a culturally sensitive and appropriate manner. The documentary will be disseminated to Indigenous communities, non-tribal entities, and the public in the form of film festivals, community gatherings, summits, digital outlets, and more to facilitate conversation and knowledge sharing of climate change, fire impacts, climate adaptation and science, and Tribal resilience.