ABSTRACT
The climate crisis has exacerbated many ecological and cultural problems including wildfire and drought vulnerability, biodiversity declines, and social justice and equity. While there are many concepts of social and ecological resilience, the exemplar practices of Indigenous stewardship are recognized in having sustained Indigenous peoples and their countries for millennia and past climate change events. California has been at the crossroads of many of these issues, and the historic and current contributions of Indigenous peoples to addressing these provide an excellent study of ecocultural stewardship and leadership by Indigenous peoples to achieve climate resilience.
ABSTRACT
Indigenous cultural fire practitioners proactively revitalise their stewardship/custodianship of their traditional territories to generate diverse social, cultural, economic, self-determination, and ecological benefits. Government, researchers, and natural resource managers can overcome ongoing colonial legacies by enabling Indigenous leadership, providing ongoing investment and removing imposed barriers that restrict cultural fire practices.