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Title
Co-producing a fire and seasons calendar to support renewed Indigenous cultural fire management
Author(s)
Publication Date
2021-11
Early Online Version
Open Access
Yes
Abstract
<p>Indigenous knowledge emphasises the importance of cultural connections between humans and the biophysical world. In the face of threats to the maintenance and transfer of Indigenous knowledge, novel approaches such as seasonal calendars are emerging as tools to share knowledge and guide management of natural and cultural resources. The renewal of Indigenous cultural fire management in southeast Australia provided an opportunity to explore whether the co-production of a fire and seasons calendar, using Western and Indigenous knowledges, can support cultural fire management. We present a case study of cross-cultural collaboration between scientists and the Banbai Aboriginal rangers at Wattleridge Indigenous Protected Area, New South Wales. We reviewed literature from various disciplines (archaeological, ethnohistorical, Indigenous and ecological) and undertook participatory action research and interviews to collate relevant information. This was synthesised in <i>Winba = Fire, the Banbai Fire and Seasons Calendar</i>, which is used by the Banbai rangers to guide cultural burning, share cross-cultural knowledge and increase awareness of Indigenous cultural fire management. The process of co-producing knowledge, revitalising culture, caring for Country, working together and supporting self-determination is relevant for many Indigenous communities around the world.</p>
Publication Type
Journal Article
Source of Publication
Austral Ecology, 46(7), p. 1011-1029
Publisher
John Wiley & Sons, Inc
Socio-Economic Objective (SEO) 2020
2021-04-19
Place of Publication
Australia
ISSN
1442-9993
1442-9985
Fields of Research (FoR) 2020
Socio-Economic Objective (SEO) 2020
Peer Reviewed
Yes
HERDC Category Description
Peer Reviewed
Yes
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