Indigenous communities of the past coexisted intimately with the land, possessing profound ecological knowledge and employing tools such as fire to maintain community balance. For the Anishinaabeg, Ishkode, or “fire” in Anishinaabemowin, is a sacred spirit essential in ceremonies and stewardship of plant and animal relatives. In this presentation, Parr, an Anishinaabe woman, land steward, fire practitioner, and graduate student, will highlight Anishinaabeg heritage, indigenous fire ecology, modern indigenous-led efforts, and using traditional ecological knowledge to ask contemporary fire science questions.
Tuesday, January 30th, 2024
10:00 am - 11:00 am
Presenters
Mary Parr
Pierce Cedar Creek Institute
Pierce Cedar Creek Institute
Mary Parr is an Indigenous woman with a passion for Ojibwe culture, fire ecology, and land stewardship. Parr is a tribal member of the Sault Ste Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians and a West Michigan local. Parr attended Grand Valley State University, Allendale, MI for her undergraduate degree in Natural Resource Management and is currently completing her Masters of Science in Biology, researching plant community response to fire seasonality and order of application in prairies and savannas of the Great Lakes Basin. A seasoned fire practitioner, Parr has participated in prescribed fires across the Great Plains and Midwest while working for the Nature Conservancy Nebraska and Minnesota Chapters. Parr is the Stewardship Manager for Pierce Cedar Creek Institute in Hastings, MI, where she manages 850 acres, coordinates conservation efforts, leads the prescribed fire program, and mentors undergraduate students in land stewardship.