John Muir was an early proponent of a view we still hold today—that much of

California was pristine, untouched wilderness before the arrival of Europeans. But,

what Muir was really seeing when he admired the grand vistas of Yosemite and the

gold and purple flowers carpeting the Central Valley were the fertile gardens of the

Sierra Miwok and Valley Yokuts Indians. On Friday, January 22 at 7:30 PM, Dr. Don

Hankins of CSU, Chico, will share how Native Americans use of fire in California

shaped our landscapes and also how these traditional practices offer some practical

applications to our modern situation of fire and landscape management.

The wild lands of California had been modified and made productive by centuries of

harvesting, tilling, sowing, pruning, and even burning by Native American groups.

The complex picture that emerges from this and other historical source material

dispels the hunter-gatherer stereotype long perpetuated in anthropological and

historical literature. Dr. Hankins expertise lies in the areas of conservation

biogeography and pyrogeography.

Dr. Hankins is of Miwko (Plains Miwok) descent, and is a traditional cultural

practitioner. Combining his academic and cultural interests he is particularly

interested in the application of indigenous land management practices as a keystone

process to aid in conservation and management of resources where appropriate.

Having conducted fire research among indigenous California and Aboriginal Australian

communities, Dr. Hankins primary research focuses on the applicability and effects

of prescribed fire (particularly those set by indigenous communities) as a

conservation and management tool. He has been involved in various aspects of land

management and conservation for a variety of organizations and agencies including

federal and tribal governments.

Attendees will learn how California's native people were active agents of

environmental change and stewardship through the use of fire. This traditional

ecological knowledge is essential if we are to successfully meet the challenge of

living sustainably.

Unity of Auburn Church, in Downtown Auburn. donates the use of its auditorium for

the lecture series located at 1212 High Street. The 4th Friday Lecture Series is

supported by Bank of the West, PG & E, Gold Country Media & Auburn Journal, Placer

Sentinel, Marion Friedman, and 49er Printing and Copying Service.

Tickets can be purchased securely online at www.4thFridayLecture.org or pay cash or

check at the door. Full time students admission is $5, Placer Nature Center members

is $8, and the general public is $10. Donations to support the cost of this series

are also appreciated. All proceeds benefit environmental education programming for

area school children.