Prescribed Burns View

The relationship the Potawatomi have with fire is one of respect and care as its keeper, and this greatly highlighted in their use of prescribed burns. The Potawatomi have a history of prescribed burning to keep trees and woody vegetation down, which allows more fruit bearing and forageable items to grow. For todays use of prescribed burning, it is useful to “…maintain and restore native grasslands. Prescribed burning can recycle nutrients tied up in old plant growth, control many woody plants and herbaceous weeds, improve poor quality forage, increase plant growth, reduce the risk of large wildfires, and improve certain wildlife habitat” (Pokagon Band of Potawatomi). A burn that took place on March 21st and 22nd 2016 at the Dowagiac Campus can be seen. Understanding this relationship with fire may further explain the depiction of flames on the barrette.