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Biri Bulmba Budang – Bringing back Country with Traditional Knowledge

21-25 August 2023

on Djabugay Country, at Tjapukai (Djabugay) Cultural Park, Cairns, Far North Queensland.

Hosted by

Wet Tropics Bama with Firesticks Alliance
Proudly supported by Landcare Australia and the First Nations Landcare Working Group

Sponsorship

We are seeking sponsorship from companies and organisations focused on working with and supporting Traditional Owners and First Nations people. The National Custodians of Country Gathering has a range of sponsorship packages available, or a package can be customised to suit your organisation’s needs.

Download the sponsorship prospectus here or by clicking the image below.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

History of the event

The National Custodians of Country Gathering has evolved from the National Indigenous Fire Workshop that began with respected Elders in Cape York since 2004.
These on-Country Workshops have been held annually since 2008 and have been developed over the years to strengthen culture and share the importance of recognising and reviving Cultural Fire regimes to care for Country. This work is greatly respected and has gone on to inspire communities all over Australia and brought people together to learn about Indigenous Cultural Fire and land management practices.

What started as a small Indigenous Fire Workshop in Cape York 12 years ago, has grown into a national network now supported by Firesticks Alliance, an Indigenous-led body who works with Indigenous communities around Australia to strengthen knowledge and practice of Culture on Country.

This gathering of Traditional custodians from across Australia engaged in Cultural fire and land management practices aims to share knowledge and experience with each other, plus partners and stakeholders involved in fire management and looking after Country.

About the Biri Bulmba Budang National Custodians of Country gathering 2023

The gathering will demonstrate practical innovation to contemporary land and sea management, biodiversity, threatened species management and agriculture with practical sessions on Country, cultural workshops and conference symposia during the event.
 
Participants will gain an insight into the interconnected components of Cultural land and sea management practices and the responsibility of looking after Country. Participants will be immersed in Indigenous culture and practice. Masterclasses will be delivered in Cultural Fire, Indigenous Ethno-botany, weaving, tool making, dance, cooking, music, reading country and monitoring.
 
Local Wet Tropics Traditional custodians and Firesticks Alliance have been working together and each of these hosting groups have initiatives which will be showcased during the gathering.
 
Delegates will be offered a number of different field trips, hosted by Traditional custodians. Delegates will be transported across cultural landscapes from the rainforest to the reef-north, east, south and west across this incredibly unique and special place in north Queensland.

Registration

Tickets are now available for purchase online via credit/debit card or bank transfer/invoice payment at https://eventmanagement.eventsair.com/f2972-national-custodians-of-country-gathering-2023/2023nccgregsite/Site/Register

If you purchased tickets to the postponed 2022 Munu-munu National Indigenous Fire Workshop, you have been contacted about transferring these tickets to the 2023 gathering.

Event Program 

Click here to view the event program. 

The Gathering will feature masterclass sessions, a gala dinner, live performances and field trips on the following topic areas:

  • Traditional Burning Workshops
  • Blue Carbon Workshop
  • Botanical Cultural Walk
  • Indigenous Knowledge and Agriculture
  • Indigenous Social Enterprise
  • Traditional Dance, Tool Making, Weaving Workshops
  • National Aboriginal Water Case Studies
  • Monitoring Techniques and Indicators of Country
  • Cultural Fire Credit and Carbon Workshop
  • Indigenous Endangered Animal Program
  • Indigenous Education Workshop
  • Traditional Cooking Workshop
  • Children’s Workshops

The Cultural Field Trips Program includes:

  • Indigenous Reef Trip
  • Indigenous Fire Workshop
  • Indigenous Eco-Tourism Field Trip
  • Mossman Gorge Cultural Walk
  • Rock Art and Fire Walk

More information will be provided to registered participants.