Attendees at a cultural fire workshop on Gugu Badhun Country participated in a series of burns .
Cultural fire project strengthens links between Traditional Owners and graziers
Participating in the Cultural Fire Management for Grazing Landscapes project enabled Traditional Owners to recover lost knowledge of their ancestors ’ cultural fire management practices .
It also helped them foster close relationships with graziers as they worked together using fire to manage unproductive , weed-choked paddocks on Gugu Badhun and Bindal Country .
Firesticks Alliance co-founder Victor Steffensen , a Tagalaka man and highly-experienced fire practitioner , oversaw the planning and execution of the burns , which involved significant input from graziers , Traditional Owners , NQ Dry Tropics and project funder the World Wide Fund for Nature-Australia .
The project was an initiative of the NQ Dry Tropics Traditional Owner Management Group , whose members had long advocated for the return of ancient
cultural fire practices to the Burdekin region , and for this knowledge to translate into employment opportunities on Country .
“ Cultural fire management is deeply rooted in understanding the land and its indicators , emphasising harmony among the elements of nature and people .
“ It involves tailoring fire practices to the specific needs of different areas , learnt through actively reading and listening to the land .”
VICTOR STEFFENSEN , FIRESTICKS ALLIANCE CO-FOUNDER
A series of workshops was held at Jervoise Station , on Gugu Badhun Country , operated by the Jonsson family , and Belmahar Station on Bindal Country , operated by the LeFeuvre family . These capacity building events provided opportunities for Traditional Owners and graziers from across the region to learn the complexities of cultural fire , take part in a burn , and observe how effectively previously degraded landscapes bounced back after treatments .
38 NQ DRY TROPICS | YEAR IN REVIEW 2023-24