Expressions of Interest are now open for a project aimed at gaining a broader understanding of gathering and sharing cultural fire practices and knowledge, emphasising benefits beyond environmental and risk mitigation aspects.
First Nations women, cultural fire knowledge, wellbeing and memory will focus on the Indigenous Women’s Training Exchange Far North Queensland (FNQ) Australia event to be held in May 2025. The project seeks to capture the emotional, social, physical and spiritual wellbeing of participants before, during and after burning sessions and pre- and post-event.
There are several anticipated outcomes with national relevance:
- How cultural burning, gathering and knowledge exchange can be a protective factor in building disaster resilience with First Nations partners, First Nations staff and First Nations communities more broadly, especially with engagement of women.
- Evidence on how to reframe relationships with fire from fear-based narratives to working with fire for wellbeing.
- A better understanding of the impacts of sharing and exchanging cultural knowledge between First Nations peoples locally and internationally.
EOI submissions close 5:00pm AEDT, 29 January 2025 to research@naturalhazards.com.au
Find out more about this EOI, including how to submit and any frequently asked questions, on the First Nations women, cultural fire knowledge, wellbeing and memory project page.