The Firesticks Alliance acknowledges the bushfire crisis 2019-2020 and the amazing work that communities, volunteers and fire authorities are doing.

 

Jess Wegener King Mayi from Western NSW, a Ngiyampaa Wangaaypuwan woman, Firesticks Director and co-chair speaks of the benefits of Indigenous led cultural fire on Country, the adherence to lore in the transfer of this knowledge to the next generation as cultural obligation and maintenance of intellectual property.

Yorta Yorta man Ralph Hume talks cultural fire and healing country at 2019 NIFW Dhungala (Murray River), Victoria, Yorta Yorta Woka (Yorta Yorta Country).

During the 2019 National Indigenous Fire Workshop at Dhungala Nova Peris is inspired by experiencing the relationship between fire and water and healthy Country.

We would like to again thank the Yorta Yorta for hosting the 2019 NIFW in Dhungala. We look forward to the NIFW 2020 with new location soon to be announced.  

Dhungala 2019 brought together more than 400 people from over 30 Indigenous nations to take part in the 12th National Indigenous Fire Workshop. Dhungala 2019 was hosted by the Yorta Yorta Aboriginal Nation Corporation in partnership with the Firesticks Alliance Indigenous Corporation.

Dhungala 2019, marked the 12th National gathering to celebrate and practice cultural fire. This year, the Firesticks Alliance Indigenous Corporation worked alongside The Yorta Yorta Nation Aboriginal Corporation to plan and deliver the three day event. The Yorta Yorta people welcomed more than 400 people to their country at the opening ceremony on Tuesday 4th June.

Every element of Dhungala 2019’s program was a celebration of culture; Eight masterclasses gave participants a true experience of right country right fire on Yorta Yorta country. Participants got to hear local stories, share knowledge and practice cultural ways of being and doing as they moved through workshop on Woka (country) and Wala (water), waking up leafy country, burning country, monitoring, reading country, and traditional tool making, dancing and weaving.  Participants shared an abundance of local food, prepared in ground ovens. At night, local musicians, rappers and dancers entertained from the stage.

 

Chair of the Firesticks Alliance, Oliver Costello said “Dhungala 2019 was another step forward on the path to revitalising cultural fire across the landscape. Dhungala 2019 enabled people from country to tell their stories, practice their culture, and demonstrate the importance of custodianship. Dhungala 2019 really demonstrated what we see as those custodial rights for the people to care for country…and anyone that participated in the workshops will have seen the power of that story.”

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