Karuk Tribe’s Historical Fire Stewardship Study Showcases Extensive Indigenous Cultural Burning Practices in California’s Klamath Mountains

Researchers are now using modern technology to understand the long-standing tradition of fire stewardship among the Karuk Tribe in California. The tribe has a history of conducting burns in the Klamath Mountains, and a team of researchers from Oregon State University has partnered with them to study how they used fire for ecosystem health.

The findings of the research reveal that cultural burning was widespread across the landscape before European colonizers arrived. On average, there were 6.5 cultural ignitions per year for each Indigenous fire steward, with an estimated total of 6,972 ignitions occurring annually on 1,000 square miles of Karuk Aboriginal Territory in western Klamath Mountains. This study focused on this area as it is a fire-prone ecosystem that has recently experienced severe wildfires.

Collaborating with the Karuk Tribe Department of Natural Resources, scientists at Oregon State University developed historical estimates for cultural ignition locations, frequency, and timing. These estimates were based on input from Tribal members and knowledge holders through interviews, historical and contemporary maps, ethnographies, recent ecological studies, and generational knowledge. Skye Greenler led the partnership when she was a graduate research fellow in the OSU College of Forestry and highlighted the significance of this research in showcasing the extent of Indigenous cultural stewardship across the landscape.