Gavin Newsom can’t clear brush, but funds ‘cultural burns’
California Governor Gavin Newsom has allocated millions to support Native American cultural practices, including 'cultural burns' aimed at land management. The program, overseen by Natural Resources Secretary Wade Crowfoot, seeks to address historical injustices faced by Native tribes. However, some funding has raised concerns regarding its effectiveness and potential misuse.
- ▪Governor Gavin Newsom has allocated $24 million to the 'Tribal Wildfire Resilience' program since 2023.
- ▪The program funds cultural burns, food sovereignty initiatives, and other projects aimed at supporting Native American tribes.
- ▪Critics argue that some grants lack legitimate fire-management benefits and may operate as a slush fund for tribes.
Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
Opinion Gavin Newsom can’t clear brush, but funds ‘cultural burns’ By Christopher F. Rufo and Austen Hufford Published May 28, 2026, 10:56 p.m. ET See more of our coverage in your search results. Add The California Post on Google California Gov. Gavin Newsom has allocated millions of dollars to a program that funds Native American “food sovereignty,” owl counting and “cultural burns,” in which tribal groups use traditional fire techniques to clear brush from the landscape and preserve their “close kinship” with plants, animals and “other natural relatives.” Since 2023, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, or CalFire, has awarded $24 million to tribal groups and other nonprofits as part of its “Tribal Wildfire Resilience” program.
…
Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at California Post.
Discussion
0 commentsMore from California Post
