Walking on two legs: a pathway of Indigenous restoration and reconciliation in fire‐adapted landscapes

Abstract

Worldwide, Indigenous peoples are leading the revitalization of their/our cultures through the restoration of ecosystems in which they are embedded, including in response to increasing “megafires.” Concurrently, growing Indigenous‐led movements are calling for governments to implement Indigenous rights, titles and treaties, and many settler‐colonial governments are committing to reconciliation with Indigenous peoples and to implementing the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Yet, despite growing recognition that just and effective conservation is only possible through partnerships with, or led by, Indigenous peoples, decolonizing approaches to restoration have received insufficient attention. However, reconciliation will be incomplete without Indigenous‐led restoration of Indigenous lands, knowledges, and cultures. In this article, we introduce the concept of “walking on two legs” to guide restoration scientists and practitioners in advancing the interconnected processes of Indigenous‐led restoration and reconciliation in Indigenous territories. As an action‐oriented framework articulated by Secwépemc Elder Ronald E. Ignace, “walking on two legs” seeks to bring Indigenous knowledges into balance with western scientific knowledge in service of upholding an Indigenous stewardship ethic that is embedded in Indigenous ways of relating to land and embodies principles of respect, reciprocity, and responsibility. Grounding this discussion in the context of fire‐adapted ecosystems of western Canada and unceded and traditional Secwépemc territory, Secwepemcúl̓ecw, we argue that walking on two legs, along with principles of reconciliation, offers a pathway to uphold respectful relationships with Indigenous peoples, knowledges, and territories through Indigenous‐led restoration.

The Role of Nature-Based Solutions in Supporting Social-Ecological Resilience for Climate Change Adaptation

“…Yet what remains neglected in these dichotomies is that ecosystems, through their interactions with the people who are part of and not external to them, have many mechanisms that enable ecosystems to build resilience and thus reduce vulnerability to such hazards (8,26). The long history of indigenous land stewardship is a key testament of such potential (e.g., [35][36][37]. For example, indigenous forest practices cultivate and maintain diverse species of plants, exceeding diversity levels in forests without their influence (38).…”

Why are some plant species missing from restorations? A diagnostic tool for temperate grassland ecosystems

“…Finally, building and sustaining respectful and reciprocal relationships among researchers and restoration practitioners will be critical to this work, supporting evidence-based practice (Suding, 2011). Additionally, while this tool was developed through the lens of western science, we acknowledge the importance of Indigenous knowledge and the leadership of Indigenous communities in stewarding natural areas (Dickson-Hoyle et al, 2022). While time and resource constraints might limit the feasibility of certain diagnostic tests and treatments highlighted here, we hope these relationships and the use of this tool will lead to improved restoration outcomes, one species at a time.…”

Wildfire disturbance reveals evidence of ecosystem resilience and precariousness in a forest–grassland mosaic

“…The similar change in multivariate species composition of the unburned restored grassland indicates directional change over time (perhaps due to climate change or increase in similarity to mature grasslands) rather than an effect of wildfire on species composition. Historical ecosystem resilience to fire can likely be attributed in part to Indigenous burning practices being important in maintaining resilience and diversity of dry forests and grasslands (Dickson‐Hoyle et al, 2021). Considering the slow recovery of Pleurozium after fire disturbance (Johnston & Elliot, 1996; Nguyen‐Xuan et al, 2000), the pre‐wildfire mossy understory of the current forests is probably a historical anomaly, as these conditions could not occur under a high‐frequency fire regime.…”