Footprint
We partner with Traditional Owners, community groups and land holders to restore the health of Country and people through Indigenous Land Management practices. This collaborative work delivers diverse outcomes, from boosting community resilience and agricultural profitability to creating employment and revitalising koala habitats. It demonstrates what can be achieved when communities determine the way forward. Explore some of the work we’ve achieved with our partners.
Awakabal Country | Credit: Saskia Wilson
International Knowledge Exchange
Yunesit'in Community, Canada.
Responding to one of Canada's worst wildfire seasons in history, the Tsilhqot'in Nation of British Columbia reached out to Firesticks for support.
The Tsilhqot'in, whose word for fire translates to "lightening the load off the land," sought to revive their own Cultural Fire practices, which had been constrained by regulations and land rights issues.
Firesticks Co-Founder Victor Steffensen, a proud Tagalaka man, established a connection with the Tsilhqot’in Nation, led by community member Russell Myers Ross.
Victor found similarities between the Australian and Canadian landscapes, reading the Country by identifying species like the Fir, Aspen, and Spruce to understand soil types and fire's role.
Since the partnership was established in 2017, the collaboration has become the longest-running community-led fire stewardship program in British Columbia.
Most recently, the collaboration expanded with an international fire exchange, which saw 16 members of the Yunesit’in fire practitioner community travel to Buluwai Country in Far North Queensland to learn and share knowledge with Firesticks practitioners.
Next year, more of the Firesticks team will join them on their own land to continue this important work.
“When I heard Canada had really bad wildfire like we do in Australia, that destroyed thousands of hectares of beautiful landscapes, animals, homes, and people’s lives, I knew there was a critical importance to come and share knowledge...It will take years for this to get back. To be more accurate, it will take lifetimes.”
Victor Steffensen
Tagalaka Man and Co-Founder of Firesticks
The Word of the Land
Executive Producer: Gathering Voices
SocietyWriter/Producer: William Nikolakis
Director/DOP/Camera: Hamish Hamilton
Camera: Josh Neufeld
Drone Operator: Hamish Hamilton/ Josh Neufeld
Editor: Cameron Ford
