Episode 2

Right Country Right Fire

The revival of traditional Indigenous fire practice began in the 1990s, on Cape York Peninsula in far north Queensland. The early European settlers had discouraged it, and despite efforts to stamp it out, the practice never completely went away. On Cape York, the country was still pretty much as it was two centuries ago, unlike the increasingly urbanised areas of eastern and southern Australia. But Doctor George and Doctor Musgrave could see the country was sick, and needed the medicine of fire. They found a young man full of curiosity about his culture, and a researcher who would become their ally and their student. Their collaboration sparked a nationwide revival of Indigenous fire practice, and helped create national events and organisations promoting awareness and understanding of this ancient cultural practice. We hear from Victor Steffensen, Dean Freeman, Lewis Musgrave, Oliver Costello and Peta Standley.