Reclaiming Fire and Sovereignty: The Skeetchestn's Journey

In a context marked by the intensification of wildfires and growing criticism of systematic suppression policies, several Indigenous communities in what is now known as British Columbia are reaffirming their territorial sovereignty by reintroducing fire stewardship practices. This article focuses on...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Clara Aubonnet, Mike Anderson
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Association Française d'Etudes Américaines 2025-07-01
Series:Transatlantica
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Online Access:https://journals.openedition.org/transatlantica/25466
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Summary:In a context marked by the intensification of wildfires and growing criticism of systematic suppression policies, several Indigenous communities in what is now known as British Columbia are reaffirming their territorial sovereignty by reintroducing fire stewardship practices. This article focuses on the Skeetchestn community and explores the reappropriation of this fire-related knowledge as part of renewed forms of self-determination. Based on collaborative fieldwork and co-authorship with some community members, the article also analyzes the political, ecological, and epistemic dimensions of this resurgence, particularly in response to the Elephant Hill (2017), Tremont, and Sparks Lake (2021) wildfires.
ISSN:1765-2766