Dr. Kira M. Hoffman is a fire ecologist, fire practitioner, and former wildland firefighter who studies the role of fire in maintaining healthy, resilient ecosystems. A National Geographic Explorer, she works at the intersection of Indigenous knowledge and Western science to understand how cultural and prescribed burning can support biodiversity, reduce wildfire risk, and strengthen relationships between people and place.

In her upcoming talk, Dr. Hoffman will explore how historical fire regimes—shaped for millennia by Indigenous land stewardship—contributed to ecological resilience across fire-adapted landscapes. Drawing on fieldwork in sub-boreal forests of northwest B.C., she will share how tree-ring and charcoal records help reconstruct centuries of fire history, revealing patterns of low-intensity burning that stand in stark contrast to today’s severe wildfires.

Her research highlights how cultural burning restores ecological balance, stimulates the growth of food and medicine plants, and reduces fuel loads. Through partnerships with Indigenous Nations and local collaborators, she supports the revitalization of Indigenous-led fire stewardship as a powerful tool for restoration and reconciliation.

Dr. Hoffman’s work challenges the idea of fire as purely destructive, reframing it as a cultural and ecological ally in building more resilient landscapes and communities.

Following Dr. Hoffman’s talk, the evening will feature a short film screening by Simon Shave, part of his acclaimed wildfire documentary series for the Knowledge Network. After the screening, Dr. Hoffman and Simon Shave will be joined by local forestry experts for a panel discussion exploring fire stewardship, land use, and the future of wildfire in our region. A Q&A with the audience will follow the panel.