ERRC Bruin Legacy Tour: "UCLA Fowler Museum"
Join us for a guided tour of a special exhibit at the Fowler at UCLA, Fire Kinship: Southern California Native Ecology and Art!
Fire Kinship reintroduces fire as a generative element, one that connects us to our past and offers a collective path toward a sustainable future. On view from January 22, 2025 to April 12, 2026, the exhibition presents a living history that centers the expertise of Tongva, Cahuilla, Luiseño, and Kumeyaay communities.
Prior to the colonization of Southern California in the 18th century, Native communities throughout the region used controlled fire practices to ensure the vitality of their local ecosystems. Fire-based land management practices ranged from small burns to spur healthy plant growth, to larger ones that strategically eradicated invasive species and reduced fuel loads (preventing catastrophic fires).
Fire Kinship counters the attitudes of fear and illegality around fire, arguing for a return to Native practices, in which fire is regarded as a vital aspect of land stewardship, community wellbeing, and tribal sovereignty. These conversations have been shaped by key community leaders throughout Southern California: Lazaro Arvizu Jr. (Tongva), Marlene’ Dusek (Payómkawichum, Kúupangawish, Kumeyaay, and Czech), William Madrigal (Cahuilla/ Payómkawichum), Wesley Ruise Jr. (La Jolla Band of Luiseño Indians), Stanley Rodriguez (Iipay Nation of Santa Ysabel), William Pink (Pala Band of Luiseño Mission Indians), Lorene Sisquoc (Mountain Cahuilla/ Fort Sill Apache), and Myra Masiel-Zamora (Pechanga Band of Indians). The baskets, ollas, rabbit sticks, bark skirts, and canoes presented in this exhibition were made possible through the relationship between people, place, and fire.
This one hour guided tour is offered at NO COST.
Space is limited
308 Charles E. Young Dr North, Westwood, Los Angeles, CA 90024. (Click Here for Google Map)
Rideshare visitors can be dropped off and picked up at 305 Royce Drive (off Sunset Blvd). This turnaround area for drivers is directly behind the Fowler.
Follow the sidewalk that wraps around the building to reach to the front entrance. Parking is available in UCLA Parking Structure 4 or Parking Structure 5
Visitors will be asked to store any large bags or food items. UCLA or the ERRC is not responsible for any personal belongings stored during your visit. Pens, gum, food, and drink are not permitted in the museum. Visitors may wish to bring a light jacket or sweater due to the cool temperatures of the galleries.
I understand there may be photos & videos taken while participating or being close proximity to this event. By attending this event, I hereby grant permission to the Emeriti/Retirees Relations Center and/or Retirees Association at UCLA to use photographs and/or video of me in publications, news releases, online, and in other communications related to the mission of the UCLA Emeriti/Retirees Relations Center (ERRC). For questions about this release, contact Ayesha Dixon, adixon@errc.ucla.edu.
