Ologies with Alie Ward

Indigenous Fire Ecology (GOOD FIRE) with Amy Christianson

Aug 17, 2021

Join Indigenous fire scientist Amy Christianson, a co-host of the podcast "Good Fire," as she deep dives into the fascinating world of cultural burns and Indigenous fire management. She shares her journey from geology to fire science amid wildfires in Canada. The discussion highlights the clash between colonial fire suppression and Indigenous practices, the concept of 'good fire,' and the vital role of community involvement in fire ecology. Christianson also reflects on the lasting impacts of residential schools on First Nations and the importance of traditional knowledge for ecosystem health.

01:01:35

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Episode guests

Amy Christianson

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Episode notes

Intro

4min

Personal Reflections on Fire Ecology and Climate Change

3min

Indigenous Fire Knowledge and Management

24min

The Role of Fire in Indigenous Ecology and Community Resilience

2min

Empowering Indigenous Communities and Essential Services

5min

Understanding 'Good Fire': Indigenous Wisdom and Challenges

26min

Exploring Fire Ecology and Personal Quirks

3min

Cultural burns. Prescribed blazes. A healthy forest. What exactly is “good fire?” Let’s ask Indigenous fire scientist Dr. Amy Christianson, who is a co-host of the podcast ...Good Fire. This wonderfully generous and informed scholar took a quick break from her Canadian wilderness vacation to fill me in on Indigenous history, collaborations between Western science & First Nations elders, Aboriginal thoughts on cultural burns, flim-flam, evacuations, snowmelt, hunting strategies, land stewardship, happy trees, climate strategies, and the social science behind wildfire education. Also learning from Native wildfire fighters. Huge thanks to her and Matt Kristoff -- who also hosts the Your Forest Podcast -- for allowing us to use excerpts from their interview to launch Good Fire. Subscribe to both podcasts to get more ecological knowledge in your ears.

Follow Dr. Amy Christianson on Twitter

Listen to the “Good Fire” podcast

Also great: Your Forest podcast

A donation was made to Indigenous Residential School Survivors

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Sound editing by Jarrett Sleeper of MindJam Media & Steven Ray Morris

Transcripts by Emily White of The Wordary

Website by Kelly R. Dwyer

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