Last updated: November 15, 2021
Article
Yosemite National Park Fire Managers Partner with Indian Tribes for Prescribed Fire Project
![Members of Yosemite Fire look on as the Southern Sierra Miwuk engage in a ceremony and traditional methods to ignite the prescribed fire. NPS Photo by Brent Johnson. Members of Yosemite Fire look on as the Southern Sierra Miwuk engage in a ceremony and traditional methods to ignite the prescribed fire. NPS Photo by Brent Johnson.](/articles/000/images/Yosemite_Photo1.jpg?maxwidth=650&autorotate=false)
NPS Photo by Brent Johnson.
This fire was timed to try to control the non-native and invasive Himalayan blackberry and to encourage growth of traditionally-used plants.
Yosemite firefighters received the opportunity to work with the Native American tribes who have thousands of years of burning experience.
![Indian Tribes in the central Sierra Nevada have used fire as a tool for thousands of years. NPS Photo by Brent Johnson. Indian Tribes in the central Sierra Nevada have used fire as a tool for thousands of years. NPS Photo by Brent Johnson.](/articles/000/images/Yosemite_Photo2.jpg?maxwidth=650&autorotate=false)
NPS Photo by Brent Johnson.
A traditional ceremony preceded the prescribed fire project and the Miwuk employed traditional ignition methods for the burn.