FUSEE’s Monthly Newsletter

May 2024

Join Us in Shaping the Future of Our Forests: FUSEE's Advocacy Campaign to Shape the Northwest Forest Plan Amendment

We are excited to announce FUSEE's ongoing advocacy campaign to shape the USFS Northwest Forest Plan (NWFP) amendment. Since September 2023, our dedicated team, led by Ryan Reed, our Program Director for the FireGeneration Collaborative, has been actively engaged in this amendment process.

Here's a snapshot of our progress so far:

• Campaign Initiation: Our journey began in September 2023 when Ryan Reed joined the Federal Advisory Committee (FAC) dedicated to amending the NWFP. He is the youngest member to ever serve on a FAC.

• Active Participation: Since joining the FAC, FUSEE has diligently participated in all meetings, ensuring our voice is heard in shaping key issues and policy recommendations. We have delivered written and oral comments at all meetings, ensuring our perspectives are considered at every stage of the process.

• Building Relationships: Through our participation, we have established valuable relationships with key USFS personnel and FAC members, enhancing our influence and impact.

• Scoping Comments: In January, we submitted scoping comments to help shape the content of the draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS), promoting our priorities for the document.

• Media Outreach: Our efforts have garnered media attention, with coverage in prominent outlets such as the Oregonian, Willamette Weekly, OPB, and the Seattle Times. 

• Community Mobilization: At the Eugene meeting in January 2024, we organized a dozen students and community members to provide testimony at the FAC meeting, amplifying our message and showcasing community support while generating 75 more scoping comment letters that day.

Background Information:

The Northwest Forest Plan was created 30 years ago to address the crisis of clearcutting old-growth forests, which led to the endangerment of iconic species like the Northern Spotted Owl. While groundbreaking at the time, the plan failed to anticipate the challenges of climate change and the surge in wildfire activity. Moreover, it overlooked the vital role of Indigenous Tribes whose ancestral homelands encompass the national forests of the Pacific Northwest. This year, the USFS has proposed an amendment to the plan focusing on climate resilience, wildfire management, and Tribal inclusion.

Current Initiatives:

In between committee meetings, Ryan is working tirelessly on a weekly basis with the FAC, crafting policy recommendations for the USFS to include in the DEIS. Our focus remains steadfast on advocating for policies that prioritize sustainable forest management and community resilience.

Virtual Webinar: On May 21st our friends from the Pacific Northwest Forest Climate Alliance hosted a virtual webinar delving deeper into our campaign and how you can get involved. 

Upcoming Events:

• In-Person Events (July): In July, we will be organizing in-person events in Eugene where your support will be invaluable. We’ll send you the invite soon! We will need your help to submit public comments for the DEIS, ensuring that your perspectives are heard and considered.

As we stand at the forefront of shaping the future of our forests, let's unite in our determination to leave a lasting impact on generations to come. Join us, and together, let's ignite a wildfire of change for the betterment of our forests and communities. Thank you for your unwavering support.

Meet Olivia Kasama: Indigenous Fire Practitioner

In the heart of every flame lies a story, a legacy that stretches across generations. Today, we delve into the world of cultural burning with Olivia Xochiquetzal Kasama, a fierce advocate for Indigenous practices and the preservation of ancestral knowledge and professional fire practitioner. Join us as we walk through the embers of her journey, discovering the transformative power of fire in both land management and cultural revival.

Hailing from the Bay Area, Olivia is a Hopi Tribal Member, a descendent of the Comanche and Cora Tribes, and de-tribalized Chicano people. Her journey into the realm of fire stewardship began under the tutelage of her auntie, a seasoned CalFire veteran with 37 years of service. Nestled amidst the Santa Cruz mountains, Olivia found herself immersed in a world where fire was not just a tool but a sacred connection with the land.

Cultural Burning: A Sacred Tradition

For Olivia, cultural burning is more than just a practice; it's a bridge to her heritage and a testament to the resilience of Indigenous communities. Olivia is a registered member of the Hopi Tribe, but also draws inspiration from California Natives like the Hoopa, Wintu, and Ohlone Rumsen Tribes (often not as widely recognized for their ancestral fire work). She learned the art of fire stewardship from those who have walked these lands since time immemorial.

Passing the Torch:

As a mother, Olivia's dedication to passing down ancestral wisdom to the next generation shines bright. Her children, immersed in Joe Scott’s (A registered member of the Confederated Tribes of Siletz and a traditional culture bearer)  Traditional Ecological Inquiry Program, are not just inheritors of a legacy; they are torchbearers for change. Through hands-on experiences with fire and traditional crafts like flint knapping, Olivia's children are shaping a future where cultural preservation and environmental stewardship go hand in hand. Olivia is raising her children in communal culture, surrounded by many people in their lives that support them and guide them on their journey with fire. With both on track to work in fire professionally, one in fire management and one in fire science, we’ll watch out for this powerful duo taking over the fire world in the future.

Empowering Mothers, Empowering Communities:

As Mother's Day just passed, Olivia reflects on the role of maternal figures in preserving traditions and caring for the environment. From adopted aunties to grandmothers, the women in Olivia's life have been beacons of strength and wisdom. “Women are traditionally the firekeepers; women are always deferred to in cultural burning,” said Olivia.

In a world where motherhood and environmental activism often intersect, Olivia reminds us that rematriation—the return of land to Indigenous stewardship—is a collective responsibility, transcending familial bonds. Olivia also reminds us that Indigenous or not, we can and should involve our children in fire:

From teaching them about cleaning ladder fuels to guiding them how to put out campfires safely, from sharing about the land your family lives on to supporting them in protecting their community from fire, there are many ways to make fire a family affair. Olivia encourages you to bring your children to see cultural burns or hike to recently burned areas, as she says “cultural fire is a perfect opportunity for cultural exchange.”

A Call to Empowerment:

In Olivia's words, being a practitioner of fire knows no boundaries of gender or background. It's a calling that resonates with Spirit, igniting a passion for stewardship that transcends generations. As we honor the flames that dance within us, let us remember that cultural burning is not just a practice; it's a promise—to honor the land, preserve tradition, and ignite the spirit of resilience within us all.

Olivia Kasama offers inspiration: "Don’t let anyone make you think being a practitioner of fire means you have to look or be any certain way. It is for everyone."

Thank you for your support!

We are so grateful to Cornucopia for hosting us for a fundraiser in April and for all those who came out to support! We love getting to connect with and hear about all the great work happening throughout our community❤️🔥

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