What is Fire Reconciliation?

In the spirit of reconciliation, fire creates change.

There is a collective responsibility to position Indigenous-led fire practices as of equal value to settler and state-led fire management.

-Solomon Carrière and Renée Carrière

(Muskrats to Moose Project Team Members; allies of change)

Solomon Carrière’s Reflections on Fire Reconciliation

It was noted, by all who were interviewed during the Muskrats to Moose Project, that a different lens is used to describe values at risk during a wildland fire, a term used now by the Government of Saskatchewan.

In the territory identified as the Saskatchewan River Delta, resource users include in their values at risk: land values, wildlife values, livelihood values, cultural values, spiritual values, emotional values and mental values.

Fire was and is understood by local people.

They understand when to use fire, how to use fire, where to use fire, the impacts of weather on fire, time of day to set fire. It was/is part of their cultural practices.

Indigenous Peoples and Indigenous scholars had and continue to have protocols, practices and research that supports the use of fire as a land management and cultural tool.

Differently, values at risk during a wildland fire, the term used by the Government of Saskatchewan, places value on different things like logging areas or larger infrastructure.

The Western understanding is that there needs to be a plan, on paper, that follows specific Western protocols and policies.

The braiding of fire practices between Indigenous and Western scientists should be to apply the local values at risk, ethics, skills and knowledge of Indigenous Peoples within specific lands, into a written form, for the extensive and continuous practice of fire on the land for revitalization.[1]

When safely used, Indigenous-led fire practices and prescribed burning are effective in fuel reduction, providing significant benefits to fire-dependent communities, ecosystems and wildlife.