

Indigenous peoples' detailed traditional knowledge about fire, although superficially referenced in various writings, has not for the most part been analyzed in detail or simulated by resource managers, wildlife biologists, and ecologists…. Instead, scientists have developed the principles and theories of fire ecology, fire behavior and effects models, and concepts of conservation, wildlife management and ecosystem management largely independent of native examples. (Lewis and Anderson 2002, p. 4)

North American tribes have traditional knowledge about fire effects on ecosystems, habitats, and resources. For millennia, tribes have used fire to promote valued resources. Sharing our collective understanding of fire, derived from traditional and western knowledge systems, can benefit landscapes and people. We organized two workshops to investigate how traditional and western knowledge can be used to enhance wildland fire and fuels management and research. We engaged tribal members, managers, and researchers to formulate solutions regarding the main topics identified as important to tribal and other land managers: cross-jurisdictional work, fuels reduction strategies, and wildland fire management and research involving traditional knowledge. A key conclusion from the workshops is that successful management of wildland fire and fuels requires collaborative partnerships that share traditional and western fire knowledge through culturally sensitive consultation, coordination, and communication for building trust. We present a framework for developing these partnerships based on workshop discussions.

Management and Policy Implications Many tribes across North America used fire as a tool to perpetuate habitats and resources that sustained their cultures, economies, traditions, and livelihoods. Tribal uses and knowledge of wildland fire have decreased as a result of fire suppression policy and management decisions that have limited the use of fire to manage landscapes. The federal government has a trust responsibility to American Indian tribes. This trust responsibility extends to federal agency and tribal governance for management of natural and cultural resources. Many tribes seek to use traditional burning in a modern context to achieve multiple resource objectives including reducing hazardous fuels and reintroducing fire into fire-adapted ecosystems to protect life, property, and valued resources. Scientists and managers can learn about fire ecology and effects from tribal Traditional Knowledge. We provide a framework for improving fire management and research based on traditional and Western Knowledge systems. This includes strategies for hazardous fuel reduction and the reintroduction of fire in the context of tribal community values, cultural revitalization, and collaborative landscape restoration efforts. The objectives of this framework are to strengthen communication, developing trust and partnerships among managers, scientists, and tribal members.

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