Submitted by Columbia Basin Trust
Communities near Columbia Lake are taking action to reduce wildfire risk and build long-term resilience.
On the east side of the lake, the Ktunaxa Nation Council and ?akisq’nuk First Nation are restoring grasslands and cultural values through wildfire mitigation rooted in traditional stewardship. This is an example of the diverse strategies that Columbia Basin communities are using to reduce wildfire risk, preserve ecosystems and protect what matters most.
At Columbia Lake, a five-year ecological restoration project is underway on the Lot 48 Conservation Area as part of the Ktunaxa Nation’s kinq’uq’anki Stewardship Project. Managed by the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC), the 127-hectare area, along with the rest of the east side of Columbia Lake, holds deep cultural and spiritual significance for the Ktunaxa Nation.
“The east side of Columbia Lake has always been important to us, so it’s a good place to collaborate on meaningful projects like this,” says Kathryn Teneese, Ktunaxa Nation Council chair. “This work brings traditional Ktunaxa burning practices back to the land.”
Supported by the Trust and in partnership with the NCC and Seven Feathers Contracting, a local business owned and staffed by ?akisq’nuk First Nation members, work has started on thinning trees in preparation for a carefully planned, low-intensity and prescribed fire in 2026. This burn will help reintroduce fire’s natural role in maintaining ecological balance and cultural function after over a century of suppression.
Grounded in the Ktunaxa principle of ?a·kxamis q’api qapsin — the interconnection of all living things — the project supports biodiversity, regenerates traditional plants and helps protect culturally and archaeologically significant sites from the impacts of severe wildfire.
“This project demonstrates the Ktunaxa Nation’s commitment to protecting our ancestral and cultural landscapes,” says Teneese. “But it also serves as a template for future restoration work, including potential efforts within adjacent lands.”
Climate-informed planning is central to the approach. Fire modelling and resilience mapping are guiding treatments designed to conserve a key wildfire corridor and protect old growth forest in other areas. Monitoring plots will track the effectiveness of treatments over the next four years, supporting continuous learning and adaptive management.
From grassroots volunteerism to culturally led ecological restoration, communities across the Basin are preparing for the growing threat of wildfire in ways that reflect their unique strengths and histories.
