Many tribes need more land to ensure their cultural practices of fishing, gathering, and hunting. Illegal activities on tribal lands are impediments to tribes restoring gathering and gathering-based practices such as basketmaking by making it unsafe for youth and women to go into the forest to gather. Cross topic analysis Additional analyses were conducted with the interview data related to fire and partnerships and are presented below. Fire AND Various NTFP Categories Information regarding the significance of nontimber forest products (NTFPs) was obtained through interviews, focus groups, and field visits with 35 tribes, which were documented through notes taken by members of the IFMAT IV team. This document summarizes results of analyses of tribes’ statements about the significance of fire and relationships between fire and fishing, gathering, hunting, often in the context of forest planning and/or landscape management as documented in these notes. The analysis used the qualitative data
analysis software, Atlasti to code all notes on NTFP information. This text was subsequently queried for text addressing the code “Fire” in combination with other key codes or topics in order to understand the significance of fire in relation to NTFPs and their significance for tribes. Fire and Gathering (16 comments) “Good acorn gathering depends on the right kind of fire at the right time.” As noted for acorns, the influence of fire on gathering in general depends on the timing and intensity of fire. Many tribes are using or wish to use fire to manage for larger, healthier populations of culturally and economically important plants. In the case of species used for basketmaking, fire is used to produce material with the properties needed to weave beautiful, durable baskets. During interviews, tribes mentioned several culturally important NTFP from above- and below- ground parts of woody and non- woody species that benefit from well-timed and well managed fire. These include tanoak acorns, beargrass, camas bulbs, hickory, and huckleberries. Traditional
ecological knowledge was cited as an important source of information on when and how to use cultural burning to produce the desired results. In some cases, methods may also have important impacts on the suitability for use of species managed with fire. For example, beargrass basket makers typically put the material in their mouths, making chemical residue from drip cans a potential health hazard. In contrast, high intensity wildfires can have very negative effects on culturally important plants and trees. Tribes in the Northwest, Pacific, and Western regions indicate that wildfires have eliminated or otherwise adversely impacted culturally important plants and gathering sites. Efforts to fight fires may also be problematic. One tribe in the Pacific region indicates that they have also struggled to prevent the creation of firebreaks through culturally important gathering sites. Morel mushrooms, which fruit prolifically in the year or two following high intensity fires, are the exception. Many tribes note both a subsistence and financial windfall resulting from post-fire morel booms, although these have also led to some conflict with non-tribal gatherers coming onto reservation lands. Fire and Fishing, Hunting (7 comments) Fire may also be beneficial or damaging for fishing and hunting, depending on timing and intensity. Well managed fire can create diverse habitats needed by wildlife. For example, elk benefit from open grasslands promoted by regular, low intensity fire. Winter deer range can also be enhanced by controlled burns. Again, in contrast, catastrophic
Evergreen huckleberries on Coquille Indian Tribe lands in Oregon. PHOTO CREDIT: ADRIAN LEIGHTON
42 Assessment of Indian Forests and Forest Management in the United States
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