Traditional methods of land care used by First Nations communities including sophisticated sustainable agricultural systems have been on display at the National Custodians of Country Gathering on Djabugay Country in Cairns.
The National Custodians of Country Gathering, which runs from August 21-25, held a Yarning Circle workshop on agriculture, water and economies on Wednesday, to explore how traditional fire and water knowledge is supporting better practices for agriculture in regions around Australia.
Using centuries-old Aboriginal land management practices the workshop aimed to highlight how non-indigenous and First Nations people can create better pathways for future generations to look after the environment.
Whadjuk/Ballardong Nyungar man Oral McGuire, who facilitated the workshop said biodiversity was the source of First Nations sustenance and wellbeing.
"As the holders of First Law, it is our sacred knowledge where our old languages hold the codes that bring solutions for healing Country," he said.
"Ngalak ngaank nidja Boodja - this land is our mother… Moortangup Boodja barang… she holds the blood of our ancestors… Ngala Boodja koorin kaarl-ngariny - Sacred fire is medicine for our Country… we must burn our Country."
The Yarning Circle speakers also included Trinity Georgetown and Karen Vidler (NQ Dry Tropics) who teamed up with Firesticks Alliance - an Indigenous-led network that supports communities with their knowledge of cultural burning - to speak about innovation in agriculture.
"The Cultural Fire Project has really aligned with my morals and values in life," Mr Georgetown said.
"It provides me with great opportunities to learn and support the Elders and Traditional Owners of the Dry Tropics region to rebuild their cultural knowledge and practices."
The 2022 Australian Government Landcare Farming Award winner, Sylvia Leighton, spoke about the importance of 'Listening, Patience and Vision While Transitioning a Commercial Agricultural Property Through to Traditional Custodial Management' on her property Wilyun Pools Farm in Western Australia.
"I am excited to be at an event where we have the chance to sit at lots of yarning circles learning about ecological cultural knowledge from Traditional Custodians," she said.
"I feel like I will be amongst like-minded people all seeking ways to live more gently on the diverse landscapes of Australia.
"It will be a space of sharing stories, hearing cultural ways, thinking about new technologies and markets that might help us all move toward a more sustainable ecological future."
Mandandanji Traditional Owner Aunty Kay Blades presented on Indigenous water modelling and projects including how a lagoon in her Country has been used as an example for water modelling nationally.
More than 600 people, including Traditional Owners and First Nations and non-Indigenous people involved in agriculture and natural resource management, are expected to attend the National Custodians of Country Gathering.
