Tribes call on spirits to give Hawaiian, Samoan firefighters strength to fight Carr Fire

Jessica Skropanic | Redding Record Searchlight

Show Caption Hide Caption American Samoan firefighters sing to Carr Fire-ravaged Shasta County Firefighters from American Samoa sang for their hosts when Redding Rancheria welcomed them with prayer and celebration Tuesday night, Aug. 14, 2018.

Twenty-one firefighters from American Samoa and Hawaii were welcomed with prayer, food, drumming, dancing and singing by North State Native Americans in an historic gathering on Tuesday night in Redding.

“When we first heard they were coming” to help fight the Carr Fire, “we wanted to reach out to them,” said Jack Potter Jr., Redding Rancheria tribal chairman. “It’s traditional protocol when you have guests in your land.”

Seventeen firefighters from American Samoa and four from Hawaii joined 168 North State residents at Redding Rancheria’s cultural arbor in spiritual songs and dance.

“It’s the first time the Winnemem dancers came out of Winnemem territory,” Potter said. “The Pit River Feather Dancers did a dance for the animals, and prayer dances for the water. Then the Winnemem dancers did a fire and water dance; they did the war dance to give strength to the firefighters for this war — the war against fire.”

Firefighters came straight from the fire lines when they got off duty at 7 p.m. Samoan firefighters stood and sang to the crowd.

“They sang a very special song they hardly sing outside of their area,” said Potter, who mentioned the meaning was very personal. Redding resident Dove Jude sang 'America the Beautiful' in her native language, Mono/Paiute.”

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The Rancheria also threw a dinner for the firefighters, catered in part by Lim’s Café in Redding.

“Lim’s was the only restaurant that let our people in — back in the days when signs (on restaurants) said, ‘No dogs or Indians allowed,’” Potter said. “We never forgot that.”

Those gathered prayed to water, wind and fire spirits to restore balance in the North State.

“We called upon them to assist the firefighters, to work alongside them, to lead their hands,” Potter said. “Caleen Sisk prayed over each of the firefighters and blew smoke in their hands,” a ritual called the river stone fire blessing. Now the firefighters “have the smoke from that sacred fire with them.”

More: Carr Fire report: Stoke died while trapped in fire tornado

Land out of balance

Of California’s massive forest fires including the Carr Fire, Potter said they’re a result of the land being out of balance for decades.

“We used to manicure the forest,” Potter said of Native American conservation practices. “We used to burn after we gathered our acorns.”

Because it happened every year, there wasn’t so much underbrush. When European-American sheep farmers settled, they used the same conservation practices.

Potter said that changed with the birth of Smokey Bear. The U.S. Forest Service’s campaign viewed all fire as terrible.

“Traditionally, fire is sacred to us,” Potter said. “We had people who were fire tenders. We never had this devastation.”

Native Americans understand how those whose homes burned feel, Potter said. “That’s a forced removal. We understand the pain.”

Those in attendance Tuesday prayed to restore balance.

It was working, Potter said. “It started to sprinkle. I said, ‘The spirits are listening, they’re hearing it. That water spirit is coming.’”

But the gathering had to end. The firefighters needed sleep before they returned to the Carr Fire lines Wednesday.

While Carr caused terrible devastation, Potter said he’s thankful for the blessings that came out of it.

“We’ve never danced together before: The Winnemem, the Pitt and the Samoans.”

The Winnemem will host a community prayer gathering at 7 p.m. Thursdayat the Sundial Bridge in Redding. The public is welcome to attend.

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