Listening to Indigenous Voices: A Warm Invitation to Reflect on Land, Culture, and Our Shared Responsibility

Fowler Museum’s ‘Fire Kinship’ Exhibition Opens Amid Wildfire Crisis

The Fowler Museum at UCLA launched its “Fire Kinship” exhibition on January 22, 2025, just 15 days after the devastating LA Palisades and Eaton wildfires. The timing, described as an "unfortunate coincidence," amplified the emotional context surrounding the exhibit’s themes.

Silvia Forni, the Shirley and Ralph Shapiro director of the Fowler Museum, emphasized that the exhibition had been in development for over three years. "The coincidence was devastating," Forni remarked. "When considering the pain and destruction our community faced, we initially contemplated revising the exhibition text. Ultimately, we chose not to change a word. The core message is about respecting the environment and understanding our relationship with it."

The exhibition, which closed on April 12, 2026, was curated by Daisy Ocampo Diaz and Lina Tejeda, both Indigenous women, alongside a diverse advisory team. Their focus centered on the land management practices of Southern California Indigenous communities and the profound shifts brought about by European colonization.

"For our advisors and curators, it was essential to illustrate the kinship between humans and the environment, including fire," Forni explained. "They sought to convey an approach that respects the relationship between people, land, and natural elements rather than one of domination."

The exhibition prompted crucial discussions about fire management and its effects on the land. Forni noted that "demonizing fire may have contributed to the conditions that led to the destructive wildfires in Los Angeles." She added, “Fire has always been part of California. It aids in plant regeneration, and with careful management, it can be a positive force.”

Currently, the Fowler Museum presents "Mountain Spirits: Rice and Indigeneity in the Northern Luzon Highlands, Philippines," an exhibit Forni believes shares thematic ties with “Fire Kinship.” This alignment reflects the museum’s mission to explore global arts and cultures, particularly those of Africa, Asia, the Pacific, and Indigenous Americas.

Founded in 1963 during UCLA’s curricular expansion, the Fowler now houses over 120,000 objects and hosts a variety of programs and exhibitions. Forni described the museum as a dynamic environment that encourages engagement with both historical artifacts and contemporary practices.

Stephen Acabado, a professor of anthropology at UCLA, played a significant role in the creation of the current exhibition. It focuses on the Ifugao rice terraces, an engineering marvel developed in response to Spanish colonization in the 16th century. Forni elaborated, "The terraces resulted from the Ifugao people moving up the mountains to safeguard their identities while remaining connected to broader trade networks."

Curator Marlon Martin emphasized the importance of the rice terraces in expressing Ifugao identity and cultural values. He stated, "If you know who you are and where you come from, you are a better adult."

Forni, who joined the Fowler in January 2023, previously served as a senior curator at the Royal Ontario Museum in Canada. She articulated the evolving role of museums in the 21st century: "We ask ourselves daily what it means to care for these collections that hold deep significance for Indigenous communities. The Fowler provides a platform for questioning and redefining how we engage with art and artifacts."

As a trained anthropologist, Forni expressed her passion for understanding the interplay between art and lived experience. "Objects carry memories; they signify connections and relationships," she shared. At the Fowler, such inquiries shape an active material repository that fosters collaboration with Indigenous communities, allowing for dynamic engagement with cultural heritage.

In this context, Forni sees the Fowler Museum not merely as a place for static exhibitions but as a vibrant space for cultural dialogue and exploration.