Sunriver summit focuses on Indigenous knowledge of forest health, responsible use of fire
Inside the Homestead Conference Hall at Sunriver Resort on Wednesday, six Native Americans chanted and drummed at decibel levels so high, the windows shook.
The powerful performance by the Mountain Top Singers of the Paiute-Shoshone Tribe kicked off two days of panel discussions, networking events and cultural celebration for tribal and nontribal guests at a learning summit.
Leaders and youth representatives from 17 tribes in the Pacific Northwest were involved in the event. Participants focused on ways to improve the ecological health of Pacific Northwest forests, mainly with the responsible use of fire.
Reading the Landscape for Fire
In the aftermath of the extensive fires that burned across California and the West in the 2020 fire season, there is a lot to reflect upon. People grappling with the trauma of disaster. Communities trying to recover and plan for future fires. Ecosystems responding to fire within the landscape. More carbon dioxide released through combustion and thus further contributing to our already troubling atmospheric conditions. Fires that reinforce the likelihood of more fire by decreasing forest cover, damaging the soil’s health and moisture retention, and contributing dead and dying vegetation to the landscape. These are just some of the cycles that are perpetuating fire until we make change.