Monday 3 – Friday 7 July 2017
This promotional content can be viewed at capeyorkfire.com.au/2017-workshop or click on the image below.
This years workshop is being hosted by the Balnggarrawarra Gaarraay Melsonby traditional owners who are looking forward to welcoming you on-country to share their culture, management practices and this beautiful part of the world. Melsonby is right on the Normanby River 40 minutes northwest of Cooktown. The country there is amongst one of the largest collections of rock art in the world, and the Melsonby rangers take care of this country including fire management.
For many years the Balnggarrawarra Gaarraay Melsonby mob worked hard to gain recognition from the Queensland government of their traditional ownership of this amazing country which eventuated in 2006. Over this time they have been building partnerships to support them to implement their cultural obligation for the management of country and are looking forward to operating a Rock Art Tour in the near future for the Balnggarrawarra people. In 2012 Senior Ranger and knowledge holder “Bulla” McIvor was awarded a Queensland Rural Industry and training award and in 2015 the rangers were awarded with a Queensland Water and Landcare award for their efforts in preserving the biodiversity values of the Gaarraay nature refuge.
At the 2017 Indigenous Fire Workshop you will be joined by communities from all over the country learning first-hand with traditional owners and you will get to experience a number of great practical workshops, films, feasts, and festivities that have been tailored specially for this year. More and more people from communities, rangers, management agencies, rural farms and individuals have been coming back for this great experience, so be quick to register to avoid missing out.
Once you register our team will be in touch with more information on the location, travel, and program we will be delivering. For more information please do not hesitate to contact us on the details provided. You can also get more information from Mulong at www.mulong.com.au
About the workshops
The National Indigenous Fire Workshop has evolved from the Awu-Laya Elders fire management project in Cape York that began in 2004. Their work has gone on to inspire communities all over the country and led to bringing people together to learn about aboriginal fire management.
At the National Indigenous Fire Workshop you will walk with the fire, learning first-hand with traditional owners reading country, the animals, the trees, the seasons, and the cultural responsibility of looking after country. There are demonstrations of research, plant and cultural knowledge workshops that all lead to practicing culture by making country healthy through fire.
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 getting traditional fire regimes back on country.
Each year the workshop is hosted by a different community with different landscapes to share this amazing community led initiative Australia wide. The workshop is a community lead initiative supported by Cape York NRM to bring Indigenous fire practices to the forefront of looking after our communities and environment.