Leok Po Demonstration & Workshop 2022

Leok Po (pronounced lay-oak poe) in the Wintun language means Good Fire. This demonstration and workshop will showcase California Native American use of fire to enhance cultural resources and help restore the environment.

(Scroll down to see local news coverage of the event.)

Prescribed burn at Cache Creek Nature Preserve April, 2022

Recent wildfires in California and the passage of SB 332 (Dodd) have sparked interest in traditional ecological knowledge (TEK), specifically about the use of low-intensity fire. There is a need to educate fire professionals and the public about the difference between cultural burns and beneficial burns (formally called prescribed burns). Both kinds of fire can be good for the ecosystem, and in some ways the results are similar, but the intention and purpose of each differs.

Beneficial fires are used by fire professionals and cultural experts for several reasons, including fuel load reduction, biodiversity, subsistence, and ceremonial activities. Most California native plants are adapted to fire and in some instances, require fire to start seed generation.

Beneficial fire also helps ecosystem processes by adding nutrients and minerals into the landscape. Beneficial fires are typically lower burning than wildfires, which is what helps the environment.

The cultural burns will take place at the Cache Creek Nature Preserve, a restored gravel mine. Parts of the Preserve will be burned during this event. There are five fire sites, and each will have its own fire crew responsible for that unit’s burn.

One of the burn sites is the Tending and Gathering Garden (TGG), a demonstration garden established in 2003 with funding from the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation.

History and Origin of the TGG

Cover page of Creating Common Ground history

In 2000, UC Davis graduate student, Shannon Brawley conceptualized the idea of a garden of culturally important local plant species within the academic community. Having read of the extensive environmental management utilized by Native Americans in California, she learned that Native land managers used a number of different techniques. These management practices mimic natural disturbances, such as lightning-induced fires, floods and animal activity.

Download the entire report (PDF)

Attending

Several local fire agencies are invited to participate and learn TEK techniques.

CAL FIRE
County of Yolo
Yocha Dehe Fire Department
Willow Oak Fire Department
Yolo Volunteer Fire Department
Tribal EcoRestoration Alliance
Yolo County Prescribed Burn Association
Shingle Springs Tribal Fire Department
United Auburn Tribal Fire Department
Department of Native American Studies, UC Davis

Participants are expected to bring the personal protective gear required by their respective organization.

Members of the general public will be allowed to the workshop and the fire day(s). We will be designating sites for observers during the fire(s).

Attendance is limited for safety reasons and the nature preserve will be closed to the public. As the event date approaches, we’ll know more about the number of observers we can invite.

If you’d like to get on the waiting list, let us know by emailing Sheila at [email protected].

Members of the press will receive media packets containing such items as the history of TGG and the Cache Creek Nature Preserve and full bios of the workshop leaders.

Observers to the cultural burns are encouraged to wear clothing made of natural fibers and closed-toed shoes with burn resident soles (like leather). Keep in mind that plastics and rubber can melt!

Cultural Experts and Educators

Danny Manning holding his hand-made baby baskets

Diana Almendariz, (Wintun, Nisenan, Hupa), cultural practitioner and PhD candidate at UC Davis

Danny Manning, (Mountain Maidu) cultural expert, professional firefighter

Melinda Adams, (San Carlos Apache), UC Davis Native American Studies graduate student studying the effects of cultural burns on ecological health

Harnawaz Boparai, Project Specialist here at the preserve will be providing a tour of the impacts of the last cultural burn in April, 2022.

Nancy Ullrey, executive director of the Cache Creek Conservancy is leading the outreach for the event.

Agenda

The event will take place over two–or possibly three–days, weather permitting. The Conservancy and its partners anticipate that if conditions permit, all the units can be burned in one day. If, for some reason that is not possible, Saturday, November 12 is reserved as a second burn day.

The event schedule, which is still subject to change

Thursday, November 10, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- 8 a.m. Registration and gathering
- 8:30 a.m. Tour of past, recent burn and discussion of its environmental impacts
- 10:30 a.m. Demonstration of “walking fire” by Diana Almendariz
- 11:30 a.m. Discussion and demonstration by other cultural experts on culturally significant plant resources revived by cultural burns. Cultural burners will review assigned areas to prepare for the next day to burn.
- 12 p.m. Lunch (provided for fire fighters and staff only)
- 1 – 2 p.m. Discussion, debrief, and dismissal
Friday, November 11, Burn Day, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- 8 a.m. Check in and gathering
- 8:30 a.m. Unit assignments and review of burn plan
- ~~10 a.m.~~ 12 p.m. First fires lit (conditions permitting)
- Governor Gavin Newsom has been invited to give brief opening statement before fires are lit, but his office has not yet confirmed his attendance
- 1 p.m. Lunch will be available (for fire fighters and staff only), but we are not stopping for lunch.
- 3 p.m. Fire site clean-up, debrief, and dismissal
Saturday, November 12 Burn Day if necessary starting at 8 am