Local Knowledge

Fighting Wildfire with Cultural Fire

by | Nov 18, 2021

Melinda Adams talks about wildfire and cultural fire, an indigenous stewardship practice where you can actually “see the healing and regrowth that happens afterward.” Adams is a Ph.D candidate at UC Davis and belongs to the San Carlos Apache Tribe. She currently researches indigenous ecological land stewardship practices in California. One historic practice, cultural fire, is re-emerging under collaborative efforts between Native American Tribes and state and federal agencies. KneeDeep’s intern, Hoi Shan Cheung, interviewed Adams about her work.