After a century of U.S. fire suppression, California tribes are reviving cultural burns, low-intensity fires that nourish the land and reconnect communities to their roots.

Michaela Haas reports for Reasons to Be Cheerful.

In short:

Indigenous-led cultural burns are making a comeback across Northern California, with state support and scientific backing showing their role in restoring ecosystems and reducing wildfire risks.
These “good fires” don’t just clear brush — they revive native plants, support biodiversity, and reconnect tribal members, especially youth, to cultural practices and ancestral lands.
Unlike Western fire suppression tactics, cultural burns are deeply relational, guided by observation, permission, and a belief in fire as a non-human relative and healer.
Key quote:

“Cultural fire is a way of returning to the landscapes we were once punished for stewarding. When we gather for a burn, we reclaim our place.”

— Melinda Adams, San Carlos Apache Tribe member and professor at the University of Kansas

Why this matters:

Indigenous-led cultural burns, once outlawed and suppressed, are finally getting recognition and support. And with them comes a powerful blend of ecological revival and cultural healing — a combination of science, tradition, and ceremony. In a state keen to prevent megafires and undo the damage of colonization, Indigenous firekeepers are quietly leading the way.

Read more from EHN: Hands on the land, heart in community: Returning cultural fires