Yarning Circle on agriculture, water and economies brings together Indigenous and non-Indigenous speakers on how together we can care for our land and water.

Landcare Australia, Media Release, 23 August 2023

The sold-out National Custodians of Country Gathering, currently taking place on Djabugay Country in Cairns, yesterday hosted a special Yarning Circle workshop on Agriculture, Water and Economies.

The workshop’s primary focus was on how traditional fire and water knowledge is supporting better practices for agriculture in regions around Australia. It also served to showcase how Indigenous and non-Indigenous people are working together to implement sustainable land management practices using traditional knowledge.

Exploring better practices in farming, such as the use of biotechniques and replacing the bulldozer and chemicals with fire and other Cultural land management techniques, the workshop is part of The Gathering’s overall aim to highlight how we can create better pathways for future generations to look after the environment.

The workshop was facilitated by Oral McGuire, a Whadjuk/Ballardong Nyungar man from Western Australia who is strongly skilled at cross-cultural mentoring and education. He has decades of experience in land management and the application of Cultural Fire burning.

The Yarning Circle speakers included Elliot and Ash Smith (Jervoise Station, QLD); Richard Hoolihan (Gugu Bahden); Trinity Georgetown and Karen Vidler (NQ Dry Tropics) who showcased a collaborative partnership working with Firesticks Alliance and highlighted innovation in agriculture. Their project is supporting Traditional Owners on their journey to applying Cultural Fire to an operating chemical free grazing property working with the owners, providing benefits to all.

Aunty Kay Blades, Mandandanji Traditional Owner from South West Queensland, presented on Indigenous water modelling and projects around the importance of launching stronger Indigenous programs on water, including how a lagoon in her Country has been used as an example for water modelling nationally.

Sylvia Leighton, the 2022 Australian Government Landcare Farming Award winner, spoke about the importance of ‘Listening, Patience and Vision While Transitioning a Commercial Agricultural Property Through to Traditional Custodial Management’ on her property Wilyun Pools Farm in Western Australia.

Quote attributable to Victor Steffensen, Lead Fire Practitioner at Firesticks:

“The Biri Bulmba Budang National Custodians of Country Gathering, hosted by the Wet Tropics community for the first time, is a chance for communities to come together and strengthen their networks that pave the way for self-determination and revival of cultural responsibility to Country. The Gathering is about showing the value of Indigenous knowledge. We are stronger together.”

Quote attributable to Sylvia Leighton, Wilyun Pools Farm. Landcare Farmer and Australian Government Landcare Farming Award winner:

“I feel very honoured to be speaking at the 2023 National Custodians of Country Gathering. I am excited to be at an event where we have the chance to sit at lots of yarning circles learning about ecological cultural knowledge from Traditional Custodians. I feel like I will be amongst like-minded people all seeking ways to live more gently on the diverse landscapes of Australia. It will be a space of sharing stories, hearing cultural ways, thinking about new technologies and markets that might help us all move toward a more sustainable ecological future.”

Quote attributable to Oral McGuire, Whadjuk/Ballardong Nyungar man and Agriculture Workshop Facilitator:

Biodiversity is the manifestation of spirit – it is the source of our sustenance and wellbeing.  As the holders of First Law, it is our sacred knowledge where our old languages hold the codes that bring solutions for healing Country… Ngalak ngaank nidja Boodja – this land is our mother… Moortangup Boodja barang… she holds the blood of our ancestors… Ngala Boodja koorin kaarl-ngariny – Sacred fire is medicine for our Country… we must burn our Country.”

Quote attributable to Trinity Georgetown, Lama Lama man and Cultural Fire Project Officer NQ Dry Tropics:

“The Cultural Fire Project has really aligned with my morals and values in life. It provides me with great opportunities to learn and support the Elders and Traditional Owners of the Dry Tropics region to rebuild their cultural knowledge and practices.”

About the Event:

The Biri Bulmba Budang National Custodians of Country Gathering is taking place from Monday 21 to Friday 25 August 2023 at Tjapukai (Djabugay) Cultural Park Cairns, Far North Queensland. Hosted by Wet Tropics Bama with Firesticks Alliance, the event is supported by Landcare Australia and the First Nations Landcare Working Group. Over 600 attendees are in attendance, including Traditional Owners and First Nations and non-Indigenous people involved in agriculture and natural resource management, corporate Australia, government agencies, and volunteer groups including landcare. For more information go to: firesticks.org.au