Cultural burns ignite Wirangu and Nauo community

Wirangu and Nauo Aboriginal Corporation (WNAC) and Firesticks Alliance conducted a week-long series of burns at a former farming station at Talia on the Eyre Peninsula.The project site is the locale of Talia Station, a 2,000 hectare property on the western side of the Eyre Peninsula, a site left decimated by sheep grazing since Wirangu and Nauo peoples were displaced in the 1850s.Early in the project Land Life and project partner Cassinia Environmental engaged WNAC to identify best practices for getting Traditional Owners back on Country and assisting in the rejuvenation of the areas adversely affected by this grazing and land degradation. On the week of the burns, Matthew Johncock commenced his new role as a Wirangu and Nauo ranger, providing the perfect opportunity to hit the ground running and utilise the revitalised practice of cultural burning.AW spoke to Mr Johncock and Nauo director Jodi Miller about the cultural burns and the resulting benefits for their Country and community .