Category: Sustainability

Project: Communicating Fire: Building Relationships and Creating Change

Contact:Jacqueline GotheVisual Communication DesignUniversity of Technology SydneyJacqueline.Gothe@uts.edu.auwww.ccdp.uts.edu.au/www.tkrp.com.au

The participants and the development of networks in this project is given promi-nence through the documentation of the names of attendees at the fire workshops on country between 2004 and 2011. This poster becomes an historical record of the mentorship by Elders from Cape York with Aboriginal communities in NSW through the Traditional Knowledge Revival Path-ways and the Fire Sticks Project.

What was the effect? This poster affirms the depth of understan-ding and determination within Aboriginal communities to maintain custodianship of the land. All participating communities have received the poster, and there is discussion to create versions for indivi-dual communities to demonstrate the development of the revival of Indigenous Knowledge in specific situations.

Attendees at the Bushfire in the Landscape conference were particularly interested in the descriptions of indicators such as dew and the canopy.

This is the first step of the process. The visualisation of ecological indicators from an Aboriginal perspective in the Fire Sticks Project supports a practice of ‚reading country‘. Getting to know the country is an integral part of sharing knowledge across communities- Indigenous and non-Indige-nous. The poster demonstrates a potential contribution of information design within an expanded field (this may include video, image, text, social situations and media), in Indigenous-led projects, to ensure the revitalisation of traditional burning practices and the recognition of Indigenous Ecological Knowledge in contemporary landscape management.

Working in this Indigenous-led context necessitated a rethinking of the relation-ships between participants, knowledge and representation.

The A0 poster Communicating Fire: Building Relationships and Creating Change is one component of a participato-ry process that includes video, photography and sound recording for the documentation of Indigenous Ecological Knowledge with communities on country; in workshops, meetings, presentations; mentoring and skills exchange. The challenge is to create a context for the maintenance and recogni-tion of First Nation’s perspective in western science and landscape management that is inclusive and respectful of the relations between nature and Aboriginal cultures.

What was the response/solution?The design of an A0 poster for the Bushfire in the Landscape Conference organized by the Nature Conservation Council of NSW in June 2011 was an opportunity to present information from the Kuku-Thaypan Fire Management Project to a mainstream audi-ence as a conference poster. The process of integrating a diagrammatic representation of the Indigenous knowledge system, with an information design approach, that used photographs and descriptions of the rela-tional connections between people, country and spirit, provided a rich starting point.

The diagram drawn by Victor Steffensen in April 2011 has a central triangle with three requirements for appropriate action – knowing what it is; knowing what it does; knowing how do it. Around this central element are the understandings of Kuku Thaypan Elders which were documented through the KukuThaypan Fire Management Research Project.

What was the challenge?The Fire Sticks Project aims to respectfully bring attention, recognition and under-standing of Traditional Indigenous fire management practices to a wider audience.

Aboriginal Australia’s pre-colonial land-scape and culture has been shaped by fire to great success. The absence of Aboriginal fire management in contemporary land management contributes to an increase in the intensity and frequency of bush fires. In addition a strategy of hazard reduction and risk mitigation harm natural heritage and threaten the increasingly endangered flora and fauna species.

The implementation of integrated Ab-original fire management practices may help address these impacts by reducing the prevalence and severity of bush fires. The benefit of Traditional Indigenous fire practices is a potential reduction in carbon emissions, the enhancement of biodiver-sity in ecosystems, greater protection of cultural heritage sites and the revitalisation of Indigenous Ecological Knowledge as a cultural practice.

The Aboriginal knowledge system represents an interconnected understand-ing of the relationship between people, country and spirit. The connection between animals, plants, trees and human action are understood in relation to each other. This sensitivity to the interrelatedness requires the development, not only of changed approaches to visual language elucidations but also the way that design is formed.

KuKu Thaypan Fire ManageMenT research projecT (KTFMrp) & iMporTance oF caMpFires – phD projecT 2004 - 2011

people Dr. George Musgrave (Sadly deceased)Dr. Tommy George Snr.Victor SteffensenPeta-Marie StandleyChristine MusgraveCarole MusgraveElenor MusgraveDale MusgraveLewis MusgraveThomas George Jnr.Lexie George (Sadly deceased)Eileen GeorgeCoralyn GeorgeMichelle WilsonRobert RossBronwyn RossAlwyn LyallCharlie LeecheuFrancis LeecheuRobert LeecheuElizabeth LakefieldNikita LakefieldJakita LakefieldLes HarriganAshley LyallWilliam LyallBlade OmeenyoGreg OmeenyoPeter AccoomeLeroy PlattDenise ClaudiePeter Fischer (Sadly deceased)Polly Fischer (Sadly deceased)Gail FischerDanny FischerRuby WinkleMarilyn WallacePeter WallaceErrol WallaceBrian BarryNickolas Woodley

Cecil WoodleyPeter HenryTegan KosterBen JonesBruce RigsbyNoeleen ColeJoel NgallamettaSharon NgallamettaDaniel Bracegirdle Stanley Kalkeeyorta

Language groupsKuku ThaypanOlkoloLama LamaKuku YalanjiWestern YalanjiKuku NgunkulWik-Mungkan

organisationsJames Cook UniversityCSIRO Ecosystem SciencesThe Cairns InstituteAustralian Tropical Forest Research InstituteNorthern Australian Environment AllianceNorthern Australia Grantmakers NetworkMullum TrustBush HeritageCaring for Country EnvirofundCaring for Country Open GrantsCaring for Country Biodiversity Open CallWorking on CountryPerpetualDepartment of Environment and Resource Management Queensland Parks and Wildlife ServiceCape York Peninsula Development Association Fire ProjectMonash UniversityUniversity of California DavisNOAA – National Oceanic and Atmospheric AdministrationCharles Darwin UniversitySavannah Cooperative Research CentrePeter McConchieOZ Tours Wik Media Pty Ltd

BiZanT WorKshop May 2010

peopleDr. Tommy GeorgeMargaret Bassini and familyAlwyn LyallDen BarberDavid KingSharyn HallsChris Tobin Lex Dadd Tony Williams Terry HillJason BrownTom BrownHilton NadenAshley MoranRobert EvittDion CreekJenny CreekJoyce HendersonClive HendersonRoderick DoughboyJack LowdownJimmy(JR)RichardsGerraldine MammooseCraig WheelerBrendan WheelerMatt GillisPenelope IveyCindy TogoJohn SurhaLarry LeedieEvelyn IveyDynzie SmallwoodBruce ReeseAlbert ReeseChris MuriataHaydn TogoRiki ArcherIsher SegboerBen JonesLuke BurnettScott BurnettOliver CostelloBen JobsonSandhya Sharma

SamAlex RyanClement GiraultPaulStephen McCannUrsula StrohTony BurtLiane KlugerVictor SteffensenPeta StandleyDjerami CallopeDanny FischerJoel NullamettaDon DeBuschGail FischerRod Bennett

organisationsLama Lama Land TrustKuku ThaypanTraditional Knowledge Revival PathwaysMulongKTFMRPThe Importance of CampfiresJames Cook UniversityYuin NationUniversity of Wollongong Yirandali NationLockhart River RangersYuku-Baja-Muliku Landowner & Reserves LtdMapoon RangersKaanju Kulan Enterprises Thaypan RangersKuku Yalanji EwaminWild River RangersGirringun Aboriginal Corporation RangersNGISG – Northern Gulf Indigenous Savanna GroupCape York Sustainable FuturesSunshine Coast UniversityNSW Department of Environment Climate Change & Water (DECCW) • National Parks and Wildlife Service Aboriginal

Co Management Unit • National Parks and Wildlife Service• Culture and Heritage DivisionClimate Change OfficeUniversity of Technology Sydney

• Design• UTS Media LabOZ ToursGudjuk ConsultantWorking on Country Program

chuuLangun WorKshop juLy 2010

peopleDavid Claudie Dundee (Robert) NelsonJames AdamsFarren PortGordon PeterErica Liddy (Sadly deceased) Robert Nelson. Trevor Shane GibsonIvan GibsonOswald Gibson Cyril McGreenVeronica O’Sullivan.Alison LiddyKevin LiddyKaren LiddyHazel PeterRobert TrugarJonathan UptonPeter LiddyDavinia LakefieldElaine LiddySeppi BassaniRichard KingDr. Tommy GeorgeTony O’KeefeCharlie HankinDavid AmberEmma IgnjicDon DeBuschLeslie SchultzAmanda HogbinRonald HarriganNevelle Hutton Rosie HarriganPreston CopeIris WhiteShaun StephensLana Polglase

Terry HillRob EvittLeasie FelderholfOliver Costello Layla TanJali Rose Tan CostelloBen JonesIsher SegboerTrish ButlerMick BlackmanAlison LiddyAlex RyanEric VanerduysStephen McCannDon HankinVictor SteffensenPeta-Marie StandleyDjerami CallopeGail FischerTerry SteffensenKathy GibsonSimon KennedyPeter Drahos Luigi PalombiAndrew Picone

organisationsKannju Ngaachi Chuulangun Aboriginal CorporationChuulangun RangersLama Lama RangersMulong TKRPKuku Thaypan Fire Management Research ProjectWorking on Country ProgramAustralian Conservation FoundationTSRA Torres Strait Island Regional CouncilYuin NationBush Heritage Australia/North Australian Indigenous Land and Sea Management AllianceNyacha Kumopinta Aboriginal CorporationJames Cook UniversityUniversity of WollongongCalifornia State University ChicoNSW Department of Environment Climate Change & Water (DECCW)

• National Parks and Wildlife Service Aboriginal Co Management Unit

• National Parks and Wildlife ServiceYirandali NationRed Cross / NgadjuKuku YalanjiGuugu YimithirrNSW Rural Fire ServiceThe Australian National UniversityParks VictoriaGudjuk ConsultingFirescape ScienceCSIRO Biodiversity ProjectCape York Sustainable FuturesThe E Robert Hayles & Alison L Hayles Charitable Trust, managed by PerpetualIBM Secondee

FiresTicKs inauguraL nsW MeeTing aT uTs 7 FeBruary 2010

peopleMark SimonDennis BarberChris TobinLenore FraserRussell HillGillian DunkerleyTerry HillPreston CopeDaniel ChalkerChristine EriksenLynn BakerGreg WattsDavid HarringtonEric ClaussenRobert EvittPhil ButtSharyn HallsOwen John SmithIris WhiteDeanna DavisonLana AndrewsWaminda ParkerRob McKinnonWayne SimmsAndrew Boleyn

Ron RileyJacinta TobinSharon RileyMichael ClancyTim WilkinsVictor SteffensenOliver CostelloPeta StandleyJacqueline GotheDaniel BracegirdleMiguel ValenzuelaJustin Harvey Brendan Lloyd organisationsNSW Department of Environment Climate Change & Water (DECCW) • National Parks and Wildlife Service

Aboriginal Co Management Unit• Country Culture and Heritage Division• Environment Protection and RegulationUniversity of Technology Sydney• Jumbunna • Design• UTS Media LabMulong TKRPKuku Thaypan Fire Management Research ProjectMacquarie UniversityYuin DharugGundungurraDharrawalWirradjuriYirandaliBundjalungEPA NSW Rural Fire ServiceUniversity of WollongongHotspots Fire ProjectLachlan CMALand and Property Management AuthorityThe E Robert Hayles & Alison L Hayles Charitable Trust, managed by Perpetual

Information and photographs ©2011 KTFMRP The Importance of Campfi res

FIRE

Initiating Traditional Fire Practices through the Traditional Knowledge Revival Pathways (TKRP) methodology.

Stage 1 Negotiations and Planning with all stakeholders.

Stage 2 Getting to know Country – Recording the process and knowledge to establish first step for monitoring.

Stage 3 First burn –recording, monitoring, observing.

Coming to know and understand fire requires guidance by Elders and fire

knowledge holders through various stages of cultural learning on country. Learning

the knowledge through a written or even a visual medium without that learning process

on country means that components of the embedded nature of that knowledge in place

and people can be misunderstood.

Kwern (Awu-Laya – Kuku Thaypan Language name) Heteropogon contortus Black spear grass

A tropical perennial tussock grass that is an important indicator species for a healthy understory in many ecosystems where it is present.

“ Today fire is seen as a destructive force which most Australians fear. This fear disconnects society from the land and its people. Fire is a powerful natural element. Fire illuminates life and provides culture with ceremony, medicine, food, warmth and above all a lore that the land taught the people.

We must respect this as an inherited responsibility to be passed on in our changing world. The challenge today is to keep this respect alive, not only in terms of looking after the land but to heal the differences between people and their relationship to country.”

PEOPLE - LORE - COUNTRY

Placing the tools of western science in Indigenous

hands to bring together Traditional Environmental

Knowledge and contemporary environmental management

practices.

Traditional owners learn GPS skills to assist in

managing country during a western science fire

monitoring workshop on Cape York.

MONITORPLANTS

The canopy is sacred in Kuku Thaypan lore. Culturally it is against

management law to burn the canopy. A healthy canopy provides essential

food, habitat resources and climate regulation that ultimately all biota

rely on. TEK helps to ensure fire management is applied in the

right place, at the right time for the right reasons to support resilient

functioning ecosystems and maintain biodiversity.

BIODIVERSITY

Nyemyra (Awu-Laya – Kuku Thaypan Language name)

Female Agile Wallaby Macropus agilis.

Traditional Ecological Knowledge: Important food resource.

This species is considered in fire management law by ensuring that the animal is not trapped by fire, that areas remain unburnt and that it has access to new shoots post burns in order to assist the animal with successful breeding.

ANIMALS

Digitally recording and supporting the transfer of Traditional

Knowledge from the Elders to their young people based on the

traditional methods as determined by the Elders ensures the survival

of this Traditional Knowledge before it is lost forever.

PEOPLE

Dew is an important Traditional Ecological Knowledge indicator for early dry season burning. The moisture supplied by heavy winter dew provides conditions necessary for regeneration of species post fire and ensures that cool fires burn out over night.

LAW

KuKu Thaypan Fire ManageMenT research projecT (KTFMrp) anD The iMporTance oF caMpFires

COMMUNICATING FIREBUILDING RELATIONSHIPS & CREATING CHANGE

Firesticks

Recognition Roles Responsibility Respect ReciprocityThe Fire Sticks Pilot Project holds a vision to support the use of Aboriginal knowledge in natural resource management by focusing on Traditional Aboriginal Fire Management Practices.

This Indigenous-led project is working with Traditional Knowledge Revival Pathways (TKRP), KTFMRP - The Importance of Campfires, University of Technology Sydney, Jumbunna and NSW NPWS Aboriginal Co-Management Unit through an Indigenous-led mentorship methodology that is respectful to the communities involved.

The E Robert Hayles & Alison L Hayles Charitable Trust, managed by Perpetual

Traditional Land

Man

agem

ent - Awu Laya -

Knowing what it

does

Knowing what it is

Knowing how to

do it

Lore

peopLe

counTry

MoniTor

peopLe

Bio- DiVersiTy

pLanTs

LaW

aniMaLs

Designed by Jacqueline Gothe with Lyndal Harris, Peta Standley and Victor Steffensen © 2011