Learn how fire can help and heal landscapes and communities at the National Indigenous Fire Workshop Cultural Fire Day at Bundanon on July 15th.
This is a rare opportunity to experience Indigenous culture first-hand and learn about the “good fire” – cultural burning practices that can restore environmental balance, help threatened species and reduce hazards.
There’ll be practical demonstrations of how fire can be used to care for country, cultural walks and boat tour, along with Indigenous art and dance and food prepared by Aboriginal chefs in traditional earth ovens.
The Workshop will be attended by Indigenous fire practitioners from all over Australia. The event began in Cape York Peninsula in 2008, and this is the first time it will be held outside that region.
Indigenous people have successfully used fire as an environmental management tool for tens of thousands of years.
The practice was eroded when European settlement began, but the knowledge survived, and cultural burning has been making a come-back since the early 1990s, with growing support from scientists and fire management agencies.
One of the people driving that revival, Victor Steffensen, will be at the Workshop.
“We encourage people to enjoy the day and really be part of it,” Mr Steffensen said.
“It’s all about relationship-building and understanding that we don’t have to be afraid of good fire.”
He said the Cultural Day is a rare chance to meet Indigenous people from all over Australia and share their culture and environmental knowledge.
Register now for the Cultural Day at https://capeyorkfire.com.au – don’t delay as there’s strong demand for places.
Registration is essential for the National Indigenous Fire Workshop Cultural Day on July 15, 9am to 6pm at Bundanon, at Illaroo, NSW. Children under 16 free when accompanied by an adult. Discounts for residents of 2540 and 2541 postcodes, and for pensioners, ID will be required to validate concessions.
For more media information contact Richard Dinnen 0400423030 or media@capeyorkfire.com.au
The 2018 National Indigenous Fire Workshop is a partnership between Mudjingaalbaraga Firesticks Team, Mulong Pty Ltd, Cape York Natural Resource Management, The Importance of Campfires, Firesticks Alliance Indigenous Corporation, University of Technology Sydney, James Cook University and Bundanon Trust.
The Workshop is sponsored by the NSW Office of Environment & Heritage Saving our Species, South East Local Land Services, Federation of Victorian Traditional Owner Corporations, Rural Fire Service Association and NSW Rural Fire Service.
