Living with fire: exploring Indigenous perspectives and practices in the southwestern USA, a systematic review

Abstract

Background: Indigenous fire stewardship has historically shaped fire-adapted ecosystems across the southwestern USA. Colonial land-use practices and fire suppression disrupted these traditions, severing long-standing human-fire-land relationships. Aims: This review explores how academic research has addressed Indigenous fire practices over time, with a focus on trends in disciplinary engagement, author identity and recognition of Indigenous Knowledge (IK) systems. Methods: A systematic literature review was conducted using standards developed by the Collaboration for Environmental Evidence. From 1241 initial records, 113 peer-reviewed studies were selected based on relevance to Indigenous fire practices in the southwestern USA. Key results: Studies increasingly incorporate IK and Indigenous-authored scholarship. Interdisciplinary approaches have grown since the 1990s, yet ecological studies remain dominant. Barriers include colonial policy legacies, limited co-management and marginalization of Indigenous worldviews. Conclusions: Indigenous fire stewardship is a dynamic, site-specific practice embedded in cultural, ecological and governance systems. Recognition of these practices remains limited, even amid increasing scholarly attention. Implications: Expanding Indigenous-led collaborations and reforming land governance could strengthen the resilience of landscapes and communities to fire while supporting cultural revitalization. Embedding Indigenous stewardship in land management offers a tangible path toward inclusive, adaptive fire policy.