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Wildfires in Indigenous Lands

Over the past few decades, wildfires have significantly damaged indigenous lands near the Pacific Northwest. While individual fires eventually die out, wildfires as a whole remain an issue. They continue to spread across the states of Oregon, California, and Washington, part of the nearly 70 active wildfires that beset the western states. The blazes threaten sacred land and contaminate water supplies, as well as prevent Native Americans from practicing ceremonies and hunting.

Each fire holds serious consequences for the indigenous populations affected. The Slater Fire that occurred near Happy Camp, California destroyed around 200 homes, including tribal housing. The fire consumed a total of around 150,000 acres and burned a significant portion of the town of Happy Camp, causing some Karuk citizens to sell their property. At least one person was killed as a result of the blaze. Another wildfire in Oregon, termed the Bootleg Fire, spread into the territory of the Klamath tribes, interrupting their hunting and fishing with massive amounts of smoke. Additionally, the fire resulted in the deaths of several deer and endangered the safety of fish central to the tribes’ culture. This particular fire destroyed over 100 homes, but 2,000 more were evacuated. Over 200 other structures were ruined, along with more than 300 vehicles. In total, the fire expanded across 400,000 acres, an area larger than New York City.

On July 12 in Washington, citizens living on Colville tribal land were forced to evacuate due to a large wildfire. This fire was one of five sparked by lightning strikes, rapidly burning through the grass and other plants. An unknown number of livestock was killed in the largest fire, and an additional amount was severely injured and had to be euthanized. The fire burned seven homes, and this along with the evacuations led the tribe to declare a state of emergency. Rising temperatures in the weather forecast made the fires even worse. Not only did the flames threaten the tribal members’ homes, but they also imperiled places such as parks, farms, streams, and roads.

To counteract these fires and mitigate their effects, thousands of people worked to contain the flames. They mopped up the perimeter of the fires, eliminated hot spots, and burned fuel pockets. Even with all these activities, fully containing the fires remained a difficult feat. However, the preventative strategies indigenous people have been using for millennia may have been the solution all along. In some places today, Native Americans use deliberate fires to prevent the appearance of larger, more destructive fires later on. This tactic of cautious burning can support the regeneration of important plants in the forests. Plus, the small, purposeful fires can help strengthen forests against the dangers of climate change.

While the world works on incorporating indigenous tactics into current fire networks, we as individuals can help out differently. Donating to the charity linked below will aid workers in protecting us, as well as nature, from the force of deadly wildfires.


Charity:


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1 comentário

mahiraalmond
27 de ago. de 2021

This absolutely terrifying!! The Indigenous have been through SO MUCH because of Colonists and now the people that are trying keep their culture alive can’t even do it because of these fires. In my opinion the government should step in and help out the Natives because after everything society has done to them, it the LEAST they can do.

Curtir
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