Description
The revival of traditional Indigenous fire practice began in the 1990s, on Cape York Peninsula in far north Queensland. The early European settlers had discouraged it, and despite efforts to stamp it out, the practice never completely went away.
On Cape York, the country was still pretty much as it was two centuries ago, unlike the increasingly urbanised areas of eastern and southern Australia. But Doctor George and Doctor Musgrave could see the country was sick, and needed the medicine of fire. They found a young man full of curiosity about his culture, and a researcher who would become their ally and their student. Their collaboration sparked a nationwide revival of Indigenous fire practice, and helped create national events and organisations promoting awareness and understanding of this ancient cultural practice.
We hear from Victor Steffensen, Dean Freeman, Lewis Musgrave, Oliver Costello and Peta Standley.
For tens of thousands of years, Australia’s Indigenous people managed environments with fire, using fire sticks to light carefully timed burns in the right places. That traditional practice now gives its name to the organisation helping to revive it – The Firesticks Alliance.
Firesticks Alliance...
Published 12/19/19
Indigenous fire practice is based on the deep cultural understanding that the right fire at the right time maintains or restores environmental balance. It’s very old knowledge, increasingly supported by contemporary science. As the revival of cultural burning spreads, scientists and land managers...
Published 12/19/19
Two Kuku Thaypan elders are at the heart of the story of the national revival of Indigenous fire practice. Dr George and Dr Musgrave had long been determined to take care of their country as their culture required, using the right fire at the right time, as their ancestors had done for tens of...
Published 12/19/19