/Grand Fire Challenge
How It Started
The idea for FireBridge emerged during wildfire response efforts. Native organizations we worked with expressed frustration over fragmented data. Critical wildfire information was scattered across multiple platforms, buried in dense technical repositories, or simply outdated. Simultaneously, we noticed the absence of tools that could integrate Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) into wildfire decision-making processes. This absence sidelined vital cultural and ecological perspectives given the difficulty of access. This gap was stark and meaningful; without access to timely, integrated, and culturally relevant data, Native communities were left at a disadvantage.
FireBridge is our attempt to integrate advanced geospatial tools with cultural sovereignty, offering Native organizations the same wildfire management capabilities used by agencies, but on their own terms.
What the FireBridge Portal Aims to Do
If we secure funding, FireBridge will become a tool for synthesizing wildfire data from sources like satellite imagery, air quality indices, and government reports into an intuitive, centralized interface. What sets it apart is its ability to overlay this data with culturally significant layers like traditional territory maps or TEK markers. For example, during a wildfire, a tribe could see where suppression activities might overlap with cultural sites and provide feedback to incident management teams in real time.
But this is not just about the technology. It’s about relationships. Every step of FireBridge’s design has been shaped by listening sessions and co-development with Native organizations. What we hope to achieve through this grant is the ability to take these conversations to the next level by testing the platform in real-world scenarios and adapting it based on feedback.
What We Hope to Achieve
The grant would give us the resources to bring FireBridge out of its conceptual phase and into the hands of those who need it most. Over the next nine months, we’d focus on field-testing the platform in places like Curry County, Oregon, where wildfire risk is high, and cultural resources are critical. This testing phase would allow us to refine the platform, ensuring it is user-friendly, functional, and aligned with the unique governance needs of Native communities.
Ultimately, we hope FireBridge will do more than help Native organizations respond to wildfires. We envision it as a tool for fostering conversations, building trust, and amplifying Indigenous voices in wildfire management. It’s a small step towards a larger goal of integrating cultural priorities with ecological stewardship in a way that benefits everyone.
The Path Forward
This process of designing, listening, and adapting has already taught us an immense ammount. Applying for this grant is just one step in a journey to create tools that respect sovereignty, integrate knowledge systems, and hopefully make a tangible difference for Native communities navigating wildfire challenges.
Whether or not we receive funding, the lessons we’ve learned and the relationships we’ve built will continue to guide our work. For us, FireBridge is more than a project: it’s a story about collaboration, resilience, and the possibilities that emerge when we bring diverse perspectives together.
Watch Dakotah’s presentation on FireBridge