Culturally informed-burn at Tumut Common
The Aboriginal Community at Tumut recently partnered with the NSW Government to conduct a culturally informed burn at the Tumut Bush Common.
Crown Lands engaged the Brungle-Tumut Local Aboriginal Land Council (LALC) to undertake on about four hectares of the Bush Reserve facing Tumut.
The Rural Fire Service (RFS) played a significant role in the planning and support of the Aboriginal community to conduct the burn on the land, which will soon be transferred to the LALC’s ownership following a recent successful land claim.
While the objective of the burn was to reduce fuel loads ahead of summer, it also highlighted the role that a culturally informed burn can play in land management, as it presented an opportunity for Brungle-Tumut LALC to use their trained burn crew to practice traditional burn techniques to care and connect to Country.
The Brungle-Tumut LALC has been active in leading conservation projects in the local area for some time, including protection of critically endangered Northern and Southern Corroboree Frogs and Tumut Grevillea shrubs. These are ongoing projects where fire has also been used to achieve environmental outcomes.
The Crown Lands Traditional Burn program encourages both culturally-informed burning and cultural burning – noting that there is a distinct difference. A cultural burn is led by the Aboriginal community and involves cultural objectives, while a culturally informed burn is evolving current mainstream practice to be more respectful and inclusive of Aboriginal knowledge and health of Country.
Minister for Lands and Property Steve Kamper said culturally informed burns are a developing area for Crown Lands, and one he was keen to see become more ingrained in our state’s fire management framework.
“It is clear we have much to learn from our First Nations people, so it is especially important that local LALCs can practice culture on their land and connect with Country,” Mr Kamper said.
Brungle Tumut Local Aboriginal Land Council Natural Resource Management Officer Megan Considine said the burn was also a generational learning opportunity.
“Culturally informed burns are an important opportunity to teach our young people about the importance of healing our Country and keeping it healthy for generations to come,” Ms Considine said.
“It’s really pleasing that agencies such as the Rural Fire Service and Crown Lands are partnering with us to help rejuvenate our land. The burn that took place at Tumut Common is an example of cultural knowledge and western science working together.”
