First Nations culture and healing
First Nations Victorians are disproportionately affected by bushfires due to population, structural and financial inequalities, intergenerational trauma, and the impacts bushfire and fire suppression can have on Country and cultural heritage.
In a first for Australia, following the 2019-2020 bushfires, the Victorian Government recognised Aboriginal Culture and Healing as a pillar of recovery. This means a community-led approach working with Traditional Owners to prioritise culture, support healing, promote cultural safety and transfer power and resources to communities.
In an exemplar of this approach The Gunaikurnai Land and Waters Aboriginal Corporation (GLaWAC)'s project centres on reading and healing Gunaikurnai land.
GLaWAC recognises that Gunaikurnai people cannot be healthy when Country is sick and have focused their project on community involvement with bushfire recovery and being back on Country.
There are four components to the project, all happening at various stages.
- Land monitoring works have commenced
- An employment program has started, getting people back on Country
- Revegetation work has begun
- Cultural research and surveys by GLaWAC's cultural heritage team have also commenced
The importance of self determination
Roger Fenwick, CEO of GLaWAC (2017-2021) says Aboriginal self-determination in the bushfire recovery space is about community making a difference.
"To me, it's important to have community connected to the decision-making process and to be able to achieve an outcome", says Roger. "That also comes with responsibility."
GLaWAC's young Bushfire Recovery Crew is excited to be connecting with culture and learning about the land. The project is helping them connect to their cultural roots and Country to learn more about managing biodiversity for cultural values. And importantly, it's helping healing begin.
Roger says that they have been able to find Potoroos again. "We didn't think we'd find them. That's a good sign because it means the country is healing."
Old and new knowledge
Working with ecologists, the team is using their own ability to read Country while learning new monitoring techniques and developing a growing awareness of different landscapes.
The stories and memories from different parts of burnt landscape have created a natural history knowledge and literacy that is now being recorded using cultural and scientific techniques. This will enable GLaWAC to maintain Gunaikurnai environmental and cultural values by deciding how and when to manage Country.
The project is creating employment opportunities for young people as well as allowing them to get out on Country and work in the bush.
"I'm very proud of the efforts and skills of our staff and the advice our community leaders have made in recovering from both COVID-19 and the bushfires. I am proud of GLaWAC achieving positive outcomes for future generations," says Roger.
This article was written for Stories of Bushfire Recovery and supplied by Emergency Recovery Victoria.
