Fire

By Uncle Gerry Laughton, Arrernte/Luritja Nations, Leader Djidi djidi network

Traditional burning encompasses many things that can make different from one another. There are burns associated with spiritual belief, some specific for male and others specific to female, and others associated with tribal belief that are undertaken by the whole tribe.

All associated with time and place indicators. The burns should only be instigated by those who accumulate the rite of passage through tribal learning and ceremony.

This rite isn’t given to anyone. However, an individual can make their own small fire for things like warmth or cooking. The practice of cooking for the whole family also has specific steps/protocols that must be followed. Those living a somewhat tribal lifestyle would still practice these things, but modern lifestyle has somewhat changed the dynamics.

To burn a piece of Country for ceremonial reasons must be done according to imbedded tribal lore. This cannot and should not be broken. If so it bastardises the passage for a true spiritual burn making it a Cultural burn with rather than a Traditional spiritual burn.

Traditional spiritual burns have a connection to ancestral spiritual world which guide and directs responsibility according to Traditional lore. In these burns right songs must be sung, right ceremony, right dress, right symbols body art. These things are applied before, during and after the burn. The specifics vary from Nation to Nation (based on language groups); desert people would be different to rainforest people and so on. Although there are some similarities likely due to trade in language and beliefs between the nations.

There are only a few who conduct Traditional burns now.

The Country has been locked out of Aboriginal hands for so long which has changed the landscape in many ways. Foreign invasive/exotic plant and animal species have been introduced which have changed the natural balance. Government practices of managing parcels of land have changed the natural dynamics, and with that the process of managing land with fire is mainly based on fuel loads.

The reason for burning varies across the country. For example, there are ecological burns associated with the protection of specific species of plant and animal. This is ok, but Aboriginal people should always be included in some way. The knowledge of managing their Country is still embedded in their customs and beliefs. If incorporated properly, maybe some of those lost species of plants and animals may return over time.