Prescribed fire is an important management technique for maintaining and enhancing habitat. Fire was an important natural part of the development and maintenance of grasslands, forests, and wetlands throughout history and continued uninterrupted until very recently.

For thousands of years, tall grass prairies and open brushlands were kept free of trees by fires that cleared the landscape with regular frequency (every two to 50 years). These fires were caused by lightning or set intentionally by Indigenous communities. These communities used fire for many reasons, including land clearing, farming, promoting plants for cultural and medicinal purposes, and hunting.

Fire suppression was enacted by Europeans as they colonized North America and continues to be the norm today. This has caused many negative impacts to natural communities that relied on fire. Researchers and experience have begun to recognize what the indigenous peoples of this continent already knew, prescribed burning is an important part of the relationship between plants, animals, and humans, and is an important management tool. For these reasons, Kowabdanawa odë kė uses fire to help manage tribal lands.