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A significant portion of forest land in the United States-particularly in the arid and fire-prone West-lies within or adjacent to Indian reservations. Even more lies within native aboriginal territories considered by tribes to be areas of special concern. With increased size, intensity, and complexity, fires are more likely to burn in areas important to tribes. In addition, many tribes have fire crews who work on large wildfires. Therefore, it is crucial that Federal and State agencies develop good working relationships with tribes to manage wildfires more effectively, efficiently, and most importantly, appropriately.
Everything that occurs within fire management, and especially during an incident, involves communication, the act of sharing information. Many tribes maintain well-trained, capable fire management organizations, with years of experience and vast knowledge of conditions on the ground. Each tribe can be a valuable source of information and a natural ally for communicating wildland fire messages. Good communication and good working relationships go hand-in-hand to promote successful fire management.
The key to working effectively with tribes is the ability to build trust and to respect differences. Unfortunately, all too often, fire managers make critical mistakes when dealing with tribal govern- ments, tribal people, and tribal fire teams. It is easy to assume that the same ways of seeing things and communicating - the same cultural norms of interaction - exist among Indians and non-Indians. Tribal views about fire, for example, can be quite different from modern western views. For the Salish and Pend d'Oreille Tribes of western Montana, fire is a gift from the Creator brought to the people by animals. Fire is a blessing that is the heart of spiritual practice and at the very center of traditional ways of life. When used respectfully in a manner consistent with traditional knowledge, fire enriches the world of these tribes, which have a long tradition of spring and fall burning and adapting to, rather than fighting, lightning-caused fires.
It's easy to assume that all tribes are the same; however, an approach that is effective for working with one tribe will not necessarily work with another. In addition, fire managers sometimes become so attentive to cultural differences that they forget they are also dealing with individuals, each of whom is unique, and each of...