On February 11th, California Indian Basketweavers Association (CIBA) hosted "The Rekindling of Culture and Fire in Southern California", a CIBA initiative to advance the reintroduction of cultural fire to promote healthy and safe traditional gathering areas. The Climate Science Alliance team was honored to participate in a wonderful day of learning and sharing on Payómkawichum land in Oceanside, California.
On February 11, 2023 California Indian Basketweavers Association (CIBA) hosted "The Rekindling of Culture and Fire in Southern California", a CIBA initiative to advance the reintroduction of cultural fire to promote healthy and safe traditional gathering areas. It was a wonderful day of learning and sharing. The event took place on Payómkawichum land in Oceanside, California.
The Climate Science Alliance team was invited to present about Cultural Burning Demonstration and Awareness Workshop that was held in January of this year. Climate Science Alliance team members Will Madrigal Jr. and Shannon Magee shared information on our Tribal Working Group and the Stewardship Pathway Program, including our Indigenous Fire Stewardship Pathway. In addition, Joelene Tamm, Natural Resource Program Director at La Jolla Band of Luiseño Indians, presented the plan for using cultural burning to address the Goldspotted Oak Borer issue on the La Jolla Reservation.
It was a great turnout, with lots of information about the practices and policies around Indigenous land stewardship and cultural burning. Representatives from the California State Justice Department, the Bureau of Land Management, the US Forest Service, California State Parks, and San Diego Parks and Recreation participated in panel discussions. Agency panelists explained prescribed burning and traditional gathering policies. The Tribal Pesticide Program was also discussed in regards to the use of pesticides on Tribal lands. A highlight of the event was the presence of the CIBA Basketweavers and basketweaving demonstrations that underlined the importance of Tribal land stewardship practices, especially cultural burning.
Thank you to California Indian Basketweavers Association, especially Alice Lincoln-Cook (Karuk), CIBA Chairperson, and Diania Caudell (Luiseño), CIBA Treasurer, for creating this unique and informative event and for inviting the Climate Science Alliance team to participate!