In April 2026, Jaci Gilbert from the FNESS Cultural & Prescribed Fire team joined the Gitanyow Land Guardians and Firekeepers for their spring cultural burns and Fire Stewardship Art Workshop. The burns were carried out to reduce forest encroachment, manage aggressive native plants and invasive species, and encourage the growth and production of traditional plants that provide food and medicine to the community.
The visit also formed part of an ongoing series of land-based dialogues organized by the Bulkley Valley Research Centre, the Mitigating Wildfire Initiative, and FNESS. As part of the gathering, artist Liz Toohey-Wiese led two Fire Stewardship Art Workshop sessions with community members, local participants, and event organizers.
During the workshop, participants collected ash from the cultural burns, transformed it into paint, and created artwork using ash paint and watercolours. Through this hands-on process, the workshop offered another way to reflect on fire, land stewardship, and the knowledge carried through these practices.
Together, the cultural burns and art workshop highlighted the role of Indigenous fire stewardship in caring for the land, strengthening community connections, and supporting intergenerational learning. Looking ahead, the Bulkley Valley Research Centre, the Mitigating Wildfire Initiative, and FNESS will continue supporting land-based dialogue events with First Nations, creating opportunities that respond to community needs while complementing ongoing cultural and stewardship activities.
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