Cultural burning is important for many reasons, from berry production to habitat creation it promotes sustainable ecosystems and communities. Water is one giant part of that equation. What is the connection between fire and water? How can burning more or less often, higher or lower intensities, affect water quality and fish habitat? Don Hankins has studied these questions and has answers for us.

Episode highlight
In this podcast, Don Hankins, President of the California Indian Water Commission, talks about the connection between fire and water.
Resources
California Indian Water Commission: https://ciwcwater.org/
Sponsors
The Canadian Partnership for Wildland Fire Science
Support from:
● California Indian Water Commission
● Firesticks Alliance Indigenous Corporation

Quotes
20.03 - 20.14: “In Indigenous ways of thinking, we’re not just thinking about ourselves; we’re connecting to our ancestors and we are connecting down to generations unborn.”
Takeaways

Don’s journey (01.22)
Don is Plains Miwok and has been involved in fire restoration and research for more than 20 years, informed by his understanding of community needs.

Rekindling fire (06.33)
Don speaks about how they have been bringing local tribes to re-engage with fire and regenerate interest by creating a learning lab.

Reliving fire stories (14.18)
Don highlights the importance of the fire stories he was taught since they teach about tools to start and tend a fire and Indigenous fire laws.
 
Safety first (19.35)
Don has been taught that fire-keeping is an obligation handed down to Indigenous peoples at the time of creation, “to care for and tend to our landscape”.

Fire and water (22.51)
Within Indigenous knowledge systems, there is an inherent relationship between water and fire. An important aspect of Don’s knowledge system is the ability of a burn to bring rain.

Risk mitigation (31.47)
Don points out that the context of the knowledge base, the seasons chosen for burning, the objectives of a burn and fire laws distinguish Indigenous burning from agency burning.

Ecological grief (35.48)
Don describes the ecological grief that countless generations of Indigenous peoples experience.

This land is our land (43.12)
Don believes that agencies have a responsibility to uphold Indigenous peoples’ rights to steward their lands, and shares how tribes are reclaiming their rights to the land.

Care of the land (45.47)
Don shares that caring for the land is a cultural obligation for Indigenous peoples. Following Indigenous laws is important to live sustainably on the land.

Healing powers of burning (47.27)
As a fire/burn boss, Don says his knowledge is not acknowledged by agencies. When he takes any group of people to burn, he shares his knowledge of techniques and tools.

Universal cultural fire (59.15)
Don believes in the power of Indigenous peoples developing their own standards and qualifications for fire practice that champion Indigenous sovereignty.

Carrying the torch (1.03.48)
Don delineates the difference between the way Indigenous peoples and agencies perceive fire. He hopes to pass cultural burning responsibilities to the next generation.

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