Reinvigorating cultural fire in Victoria’s north-east

By Simon Ruppert

Apr 10, 2023

First Nations: Traditional Owners in Victoria have been conducting cultural burns for millennia. Photo by Submitted

Traditional Owners in Victoria’s north-east are being supported to conduct cultural burning on Country as part of ongoing work towards Aboriginal self-determination.

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Forest Fire Management Victoria (FFMVic) Hume deputy chief fire officer Jarrod Hayse said four Traditional Owner groups would each receive a grant as part of the Cultural Fire Grants.

“The grants will enable Traditional Owners to take the lead in cultural burning on Country and reduce bushfire risk in line with the priorities identified within the Victorian Traditional Owner Cultural Fire Strategy.

“The grants will strengthen existing partnerships with Traditional Owner groups, as we support them to plan, implement, and monitor burning projects.”

Statewide, 10 projects will be funded by the $6.3 million program, assisting Traditional Owners to conduct cultural burns across the Victorian landscape.

The grants support Aboriginal Victorians to care for Country through land management and will enhance cultural and environmental values.

Jaithmathang Traditional Ancestral Bloodline Original Owners First Nations Aboriginal Corporation, Yorta Yorta Nation Aboriginal Corporation, Bangerang Aboriginal Corporation and Taungurung Land and Waters Council will be funded to support cultural burning practices on Country.

Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA) is investing $22.5 million during the next four years to support Traditional Owner-led cultural land and fire management practices.

The program contributes to achieving the vision of the Victorian Traditional Owner Cultural Fire Strategy and supports existing partnerships between Traditional Owners and state agencies.

Cultural fire is used by Traditional Owners to heal Country and fulfil their rights and obligations to care for Country. Before colonisation, cultural burning was used for a wide range of purposes, including protecting Country, providing habitat for wildlife and the harvesting of resources.

Taungurung Land and Waters Council CEO Matt Burns said for millennia the Taungurung people applied wiinj (fire) and associated practices to biik (Country).

“This has been done in line with our cultural obligations, passed to us from our ancestors to ensure that Country is always healthy,” Mr Burns said.

“This grant enables the Taungurung people to lead in the healing and caring for biik in ways that haven’t been possible since the onset of colonisation. It’s important for the livelihoods of all Victorians that the right fire is applied to biik again.”