Before wildfire season begins again, Indigenous firekeepers gather in Interior B.C. to share knowledge – The Narwhal
April 6, 2026
In March, attendees of a Salish Fire Keepers Society gathering learned about decolonizing fire management, working with blazes to protect the land and more
Summary
- A recent gathering of the Salish Fire Keepers Society brought together over 100 experts and community members to discuss the role of fire on Indigenous territories in Interior B.C.
- Over a century of fire suppression practices have left Interior B.C. vulnerable to catastrophic wildfires, like the one that destroyed Lytton in 2021.
- Indigenous firekeepers advocate for the use of cultural and prescribed fire to manage risks and restore balance to ecosystems.
In 2022, one year after wildfire tore through the Village of Lytton, a blaze broke out at the nearby Stein Valley Nlaka’pamux Heritage Provincial Park.
The site, co-managed by Lytton First Nation and the B.C. government, contains pictographs, petroglyphs and culturally modified trees, along with more important cultural sites.
Read More: https://thenarwhal.ca/salish-fire-keeper-society-spring-meeting/
