Aboriginal women are fighting wildfire with cultural wisdom

For over 60 000 years, Aboriginal people sustainably lived on Australia’s land. They protected the environment by using resources sparingly, and harnessed an intimate understanding of the ecosystems. Then, Australia was colonised. Between 1910 and the 1970s, indigenous people’s role preserving nature was stripped away, together with generations of knowledge. The environmental repercussions have been grave. But today, the Wardekken Daluk Rangers are saving the natural biodiversity. This all-women team still holds the secrets to restoring their Country, and they’re combining their wisdom with science.

When traditional practices and involvement from Aboriginal communities declined, it exacerbated the after-effects of natural disasters. Over three billion animals were killed or harmed during the wildfires that ravaged Australia from 2019 to 2020. The Wardekken Daluk Rangers are reconnecting with the Earth to heal the damage that’s been done by intense fires and years of colonialism. Established in 2016, the group consists of over 70 Aboriginal women at the forefront of conservation. One of their techniques is to purposefully set areas alight during the early dry season to regenerate native flora, grassland, and new feed, while suppressing it during the late dry season when parts of Australia are most prone to wildfires. Knowing when to burn their surroundings and how much fire is needed forms part of their ancestral skills.

Protecting Australia has provided the Daluk Rangers with jobs, stability, and a sense of wellbeing that extends to their families and greater community. To preserve the environment, the conservationists are passing down their expertise to younger generations through the Nawarddeken Academy, a community-run school preserving cultural practices. These women are mentoring children to fight against wildfires, flooding, and the extinction of native plant and animal species. By trusting the expertise of the Daluk Rangers, Australia can revive its land through a renewed legacy of respect. 

Footage and photos by Warddeken Land Management, Karrkad Kanjdji Trust, Nawarddeken Academy, and Daluk Rangers were used in the creation of this film.