Fire has been a crucial force in Indigenous communities throughout Australia for thousands of years—for many, it is a sacred element representing a connection to their ancestors, land, and traditional way of life.
Indigenous peoples have used fire as a land management tool for centuries, and Indigenous knowledges continue to inform practice today. Controlled burns can be used to clear brush and undergrowth, promote the growth of new plants, and prevent larger, more destructive wildfires. This helps to maintain the health and diversity of ecosystems, which is crucial for the survival of many species of plants and animals.
Fire ecologist and ranger Mr Dean Yibarbuk is joining us in the Shine Dome. He is from Kabulwarnamyo, a small remote community 530 km east of Darwin, in west Arnhem Land. Mr Yibarbuk is traveling over 4,000 km to be at the Shine Dome, and we invite you to take this unique opportunity to hear directly from him. Together with other rangers and land managers, Mr Yibarbuk is applying Traditional Knowledges and wisdom to combat climate change.
Mr Yibarbuk and his colleagues work with scientists from Charles Darwin University to better understand savanna burning from all perspectives. This short video featuring Mr Yibarbuk outlines the work being done in the Northern Territory.
One scientist he works with is Dr Jeremy Russell-Smith, who will also be speaking at Tuesday’s event. Dr Russell-Smith is joining remotely from South Africa, where he is collaborating with local Traditional Owners and other scientists—taking Australia’s Indigenous savanna burning knowledge to the world!
Mr Dean Yibarbuk is joining us from Kabulwarnamyo in west Arnhem Land (530 kilometres east of Darwin). He is a Traditional Owner of Djinkarr, a fire ecologist, researcher and mentor. Dean is Co-Chair of Indigenous Carbon Industry Network (ICIN), Director of Arnhem Land Fire Abatement Ltd (ALFA) and Warddeken Land Management Ltd, as well as Co-Chair of the Karrad Kanjdji Trust. He speaks many Indigenous languages, his first being Gurrgoni. He has a wealth of experience in complex and multifaceted community-based projects.
“Fire is the answer, and fire is the tool. This is our landscape; this is where we live, this is what we want to protect. This is where we belong—here.” – Dean Yibarbuk, ALFA Director
Based at Charles Darwin University, Dr Jeremy Russell-Smith is Research Director of the Darwin Centre for Bushfire Research. He has over 35 years of experience researching savanna fire ecology, carbon markets, ecosystem services, and associated livelihood opportunities for land managers and Indigenous communities in northern Australia and neighbouring countries.
Date: Tuesday 13 June
Time: 5.30pm – 7.00pm AEST at the venue (refreshments included); 6.00pm – 7.00pm online
Venue: The Shine Dome and online
This event is part of the 2023 public speaker series. More information and event recordings are available on the series event page.
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