PS 25-88 - Climate Change Adaptability Strengthens with Process-based Restoration and Long-term Indigenous Land Management

Abstract: Indigenous knowledge holders need long-term access to the land, for stewardship practices to instill ecological adaptability, resilience, and versatility in the face of climate change. In Chester, Northern California, Maidu people and allies came together first in 2003 to discuss the protection of their sacred sites and lakes from recreational use. We will share lessons in coalition building and traditional management in Plumas County over two decades of unique and vibrant collaboration as the Maidu Summit Consortium. The consortium’s board consists of seven tribes and tribal organizations, which include: the Maidu Cultural Development Group, Greenville Rancheria, Tsi- Akim Maidu, Big Meadows Historic Preservation Association, Roundhouse Council, Susanville Indian Rancheria, and the United Maidu Nation. There’s also the Feather River Land Trust as a co-conservation holder and partnerships with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife Service, the Sierra Meadow Partnership, Swift Water Design, and the Water Institute’s Occidental Arts and Ecology Center. Returning Maidu-led management and stewardship to the land began with a Congress grantee ten-year pilot stewardship project (2004 to 2014), which included forest thinning, cultural burning, stream restoration, management and recruitment of culturally important species (including willows, oaks, elk, wolves, beaver, and bear grass), as well as invasive species removal. Here, we’ll share lessons in stakeholder collaboration from hours of interviews with Indigenous knowledge holders and other stakeholders, as well as trends in water quality and stream discharge. The survivance of the consortium and land back movement has been undeniable, as they are imperative for long-term Maidu land management and stewardship practices. This consortium is using process-based restoration techniques and establishing long-term land management practices that will instill resilience back to the land. This initiative was hugely successful, the consortium was incorporated as a 501c3 in 2009. The deed for Tasmam Koyom (a ~2,400-acre meadow) was transferred to Indigenous ownership September 20 of 2019. Five more parcels around Lake Almanor were transferred (totaling ~3,000-acre in parcels); the trails parcel (2019), forest parcel (2020), two wetland parcels’ (2021), and the cemetery parcel (2022). Current challenges are the Dixie fire recovery efforts that had enormous cultural and ecological impacts to the landscape; the aftermath of the Dixie fire is presenting the MSC with opportunities for Indigenous stewardship of ecological succession processes. The story of the Maidu Summit Consortium is a valuable case study and learning opportunity to return long-term Indigenous land management, stewardship, and ownership back to the land.