Traditional Resource Management in the Sierra Nevada of California

Summary

There is general agreement that past Native American populations significantly modified Sierra Nevada landscapes in California leading to a variety of beneficial resource outcomes. Further, many argue that through their lengthy history in the region, Native peoples initiated cascading regional effects on forest composition and structure in the Sierra Nevada. With this in mind, agencies and researchers are turning to the past to develop more effective resource management protocols. Concordantly, archaeologists are recognizing an opportunity to inform these protocols through multidisciplinary research projects that aim to more accurately represent the historical extent and impact of traditional resource management on Sierra Nevada forest structure. Collaborative programs involving Native groups and government agencies are occurring throughout the state, ostensibly providing diverse perspectives, labor, and restoration goals towards more effective resource management. Here, I present my ongoing research in the southern Sierra Nevada that explores if, how, and in what capacity traditional ecological knowledge is being utilized in public land management, with special regards to fire management and water resources. In addition to archaeological implications, critical attention is paid to the political and ecological interplay between federal agencies and local communities.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for American Archaeology 81st Annual Meeting, Orlando, FL (2016)

Keywords

Spatial Coverage