https://reasonstobecheerful.world/bringing-good-fire-back-to-the-land/
"Maidu fire practitioner Danny Manning twirls a traditional fire stick made
from an elderberry plant between his hands, rubbing it against a fire board
until the first ember forms. He kindles it with a cottonwood bundle and gently
blows on it until it turns into a flame. “That’s how you start a fire,” tribal
matriarch Diana Almendariz exclaims with a satisfied grin. “No lighter, no
nothing.”
The Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation has recently revived its tradition of cultural
burns. Every fall, the tribe holds Leok Po days, which means “good fire,” on
Yocha Dehe tribal lands in the Cache Creek Nature Preserve in Northern
California. “Good fire” is also emblazoned on the bright green shirt Almendariz
wears.
Melinda Adams, San Carlos Apache Tribe member and geography and atmospheric
science professor at the University of Kansas, has come to help. She ties tule
stalks into forearm-length bundles, preparing them as fire-carrying torches:
“It’s significant,” she says, “because it’s one of the plants tribes use
historically.” She calls these practices “indigenuity — Indigenous genius.”
Soon the brush catches fire, a low-intensity burn spreading across the horizon
on two acres of the nature preserve.
Adams experiences the ceremony as deeply restorative — not just for the land
but for herself, her community and her connection with her ancestors.
“We’re not just healing the land ecologically and doing good stewardship work
that’s eventually going to regenerate the plant communities,” she says.
“We’re also healing ourselves as people, relearning our ways.”"
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
