For millennia, First Nations have continuously cared for lands and seas. Colonisation and the associated exclusion of First Nations management in the landscape drastically changed vegetation structures, significantly contributing to devastating fire events. On Minjerribah and Mulgumpin, the Quandamooka people are restoring cultural fire practices and integrating their knowledge into land management to reduce the occurrence of large wildfires.This presentation outlines how fire management strategies coordinated by the Quandamooka First Nation are protecting urban areas, culture, infrastructure, and natural assets across Country. This work has been recognised as a leading example of effective fire management by the Queensland Inspector General of Emergency Management as part of the Queensland Bushfires Review, implementing many actions identified through the Royal Commission into National Natural Disaster Arrangements.Presenter: Joel Bolzenius, Dr Diana Virkki, Maddie George.Powerpoint slides: Recognising and Empowering First Nations Leadership in Fire Management.#NationalLandcareConference#LandcareConf22#FirstNationsKnowledge#FirstNationsKnowledge
I was at this presentation at the conference and thought it was a very nice integration of indigenous knowledge into managing fire risk in today’s bureaucratic environment. We need to see much more of this so that we can get more cool burns completed and avoid the more destructive hazard reduction burns which are common practice in so many places.
How can we get more indigenous groups learning these fire management practices. I know that Firesticks Alliance is doing a great job but are there more initiatives out there? There is a lot of country out there that needs burning at the moment.