The Santa Monica Mountains Fire Safe Council recognizes that we occupy the land originally and still inhabited and stewarded by the Ventureño Chumash, Fernandeño Tataviam, Chumash, and Kizh, otherwise referred to as the Tongva and Gabrieleno, Peoples. On June 10, 1851, Cession 286 between the US and non federally recognized groups in California was enacted allowing the state of California to forcefully remove indigenous peoples from their land. We acknowledge the settler colonization in the state of California resulted in genocide, forced removal, disease, familial separation, slavery, and multigenerational trauma. 

As an organization we honor the wealth of knowledge that comes from traditional ecological practices, specifically in relationship with fire, which has been cultivated for many centuries and continues to adapt to the new challenges our environment faces. We are dedicated to cultivating respectful and reciprocal relationships with the indigenous peoples of this land by actively seeking opportunities to connect with and amplify indigenous voices through our work.