Throughout much of the nineteenth century, Indian fire and the Upper Missouri Country were synonymous. Fire was as much a part of the region’s landscape as bison, big bluestem, and wide-open spaces. Every European and European-American who spent any length of time in the region, especially before the era of agricultural settlement, saw multiple fires during their stay.

The reason for the ubiquitous presence of fire across the Upper Missouri had to do with the many uses the Indians put to it. They employed fire to enhance wildlife habitat and foster the growth of forage plants. They also used it as a weapon of war, a means of communication, an aid to hunting, a resource conservation tool, a method of pest control, and an instrument for the improvement of mobility. Continue Reading »