This event is held at the Donner Memorial State Park, 12593 Donner Pass Rd. in Truckee, CA

Doors open at 5 pm, the presentation to follow at 5:30 pm.  Parking is free after 5 pm.

What is Cultural Burning? What's the relationship between Fire-Water-Land-Cultural Resources? What are the differences between Agency Prescribed Fire and Indigenous Cultural Burning? Cultural Fire creates community, self-healing, a sense of belonging, and a re-connectiveness to the land.

The Honorable Ron W. Goode has been the Tribal Chairman of the North Fork Mono Tribe since 1983. In May of 2025, California State University, Fresno, honored him with an Honorary Doctorate. In 2017-2018, Ron was the Coordinating Lead Author for the Tribal Indigenous Communities Climate Change Assessment as a new report of the California 4th Climate Change Assessment. Mr. Goode and his tribal and ecological team have conducted Cultural Burns with Sequoia Park, Bass Lake Ranger District - Sierra National Forest, Cold Springs Rancheria, Private and Tribal Lands in Mariposa with the Mariposa Miwok Tribe. Ron then takes their practical work and presents it at Universities, Colleges, Seminars, Webinars, via Zoom, and other Internet venues. Ron’s Journal writings and Webinar presentations have garnered worldwide attention.

In partnership together, the California State Parks, the Nevada County Library, and the Sierra State Parks Foundation bring the monthly Sierra Speaker Series to connect folks to the rich cultural and natural history of the area. Join us at Donner Memorial State Park Visitor Center to learn and engage!