Research
CULTURAL FIRE
My overall research focuses on the revitalization of cultural burns (small area prescribed fires conducted using Traditional Ecological Knowledge), in collaboration with Tribal Nations in Northern California and now in the Midwest. I examine plant and soil physical-chemical responses to cultural fire including culturally significant plant response, soil nutrients, and water capacity. This work is rooted in the place-specific, land stewardship lessons of Indigenous cultural fire practitioner-partners. Broader implications of this research include deploying cultural fire as a climate adaptation strategy while mitigating the frequency and intensity of catastrophic wildfire in the West.
FIRE, PLANTS, AND SOIL
Many ecosystems depended and still depend on fire for plant and soil restoration and to regenerate life. I am interested in working with Tribal partners in community based participatory research and Indigenous ecologies in examining pre and post burn in-situ field trials. Specifically, I am interested in the effects of cultural fire on top soil properties and initial plant growth. This work involves building connections to the lands and waters in which we will steward with fire.
INDIGENOUS RESEARCH METHODS
As an Indigenous scholar trained in western science, it is my responsibility to hold cultural values and ethics while working on our lands. To adhere to these responsibilities, I am most interested in deploying Indigenous Environmental Science methodologies including practicing reciprocity, reverence, and returning to all land and waters that me and my students engage with. This is our training to be Good Ancestors and Good Relatives while doing science.
Current students
MK Kerron
Celina Hall
Celina Hall
MK is an enrolled member of the Wichita and Affiliated Tribes in Anadarko, Oklahoma. She is a descendant of the Mvskoke Creek Nation and the Makah tribe.
As an Indigenous M.S. scholar, MK's area of interest is restoring the natural and cultural connections that tie into land management. Specifically, MK will study at the intersection of
MK is an enrolled member of the Wichita and Affiliated Tribes in Anadarko, Oklahoma. She is a descendant of the Mvskoke Creek Nation and the Makah tribe.
As an Indigenous M.S. scholar, MK's area of interest is restoring the natural and cultural connections that tie into land management. Specifically, MK will study at the intersection of cultural fire, Native prairie restoration, and GIS analytics.
Celina Hall
Celina Hall
Celina Hall
Celina is a proud member of the Ho-Chunk Nation of Wisconsin, and is an undergraduate student majoring in environmental studies with a minor in Indigenous studies.
As a Spring 2024 Undergraduate ARI research fellow, Celina will work with Dr. Adams to create a portfolio reflecting research on Indigenous-led cultural fire through the lens o
Celina is a proud member of the Ho-Chunk Nation of Wisconsin, and is an undergraduate student majoring in environmental studies with a minor in Indigenous studies.
As a Spring 2024 Undergraduate ARI research fellow, Celina will work with Dr. Adams to create a portfolio reflecting research on Indigenous-led cultural fire through the lens of ecology, Indigenous studies, and Indigenous cultural/material arts.