NRM South’s ‘Igniting Communities’ project is collaborating with Firesticks Alliance practitioners from lutruwita to build culturally informed drought preparedness and social resilience through workshops that allow for the sharing and learning of cultural practices and skills.
Now midway through the project, significant progress has been made in advancing the goals of this initiative. One of the most important outcomes has been the strong and steady growth and strengthening of networks between NRM South and Firesticks Alliance and between Firesticks Alliance and local community groups, landholders, and other NRM organisations.
In June 2024, Shannon Mansell from Firesticks Alliance gave a presentation on cool-burning practices during a workshop focusing on fire management in wine-growing regions hosted by the Coal-River Products Association, together with Tasmanian Farm Innovation Hub and NRM South. The workshop delivered practical knowledge and advice on managing bushfire risks to 20 attendees and what to consider when undertaking planned burns in a wine-growing region.
Shannon’s presentation provided an important perspective on cultural burning and its role in caring for Country and people. This sparked a great deal of interest among local producers. Shannon also shared his personal story and perspective on how cultural burning has empowered communities to safeguard and enhance the environment.
Future planned activities for the remainder of this year include additional knowledge-sharing sessions to promote cultural knowledge exchange, increase community drought resilience, and significant on-ground cultural burning demonstration events. This will include knowledge exchange and learning workshops on country. The first workshop is scheduled for late winter 2024 and will include multiple learning activities—landscape reading, thinning out, and burning—and will be run by Firesticks Alliance with support from the Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre for the palawa community.
If you’d like to find out more about the work that Firesticks Alliance does across Australia, you can visit their website, and also take a look at their new series of video resources.
This project is supported by the Australian Government through funding from the Future Drought Fund’s Helping Regional Communities Prepare for Drought – Community Impact Program and is delivered in partnership with the Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal.