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Fire Country

How Indigenous Fire Management Could Help Save Australia
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( 648 ratings, 88 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Fire Country by Victor Steffensen explores the profound cultural and environmental knowledge held by Indigenous Australians, focusing on traditional fire management practices. The author shares personal experiences learning these techniques, highlighting their significance in caring for the land and preserving ecosystems. Steffensen's work offers an insightful memoir, blending personal reflections with broader cultural and environmental discussions.
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Format: Paperback / softback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

If you have an interest in learning about traditional land management and cultural wisdom through the lens of Indigenous Australians, you might enjoy this autobiography. It delves into reconnecting with nature, highlighting the importance of traditional fire management practices and offering insights into Indigenous culture and heritage.

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A bestselling title in Australia,Β Fire Country is a cry from the heart asking for change in how we care for country.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

Delving deep into the Australian landscape and the environmental challenges we face, Fire Country is a powerful account from Indigenous land management expert Victor Steffensen on how the revival of cultural burning practices, and improved 'reading' of country, could help to restore our land.

From a young age, Victor has had a passion for traditional cultural and ecological knowledge. This was further developed after meeting two Elders, who were to become his mentors and teach him the importance of cultural burning. Developed over many generations, this knowledge shows clearly that Australia actually needs fire. Moreover, fire is an important part of a holistic approach to the environment, and when burning is done in a carefully considered manner, this ensures proper land care and healing.

Victor's story is unassuming and honest, while demonstrating the incredibly sophisticated and complex cultural knowledge that has been passed down to him, which he wants to share with others. As global warming sees more parts of our planet burning, this book emphasises the value of Indigenous knowledge systems. There is much evidence that, if adopted, it could greatly benefit the land here in Australia and around the world.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Fire Country by Victor Steffensen receives high praise for its rich insights into Indigenous cultural fire practices and their critical role in Australian land management. Reviewers highlight Steffensen's deep understanding of the spiritual and ecological benefits of traditional fire knowledge, learned from Elders, and its potential to improve modern environmental practices. This book is valued as an urgent and essential read for Australians, shedding light on a transformative approach to managing fire in a country frequently devastated by bushfires, and is recognised for its potential to bridge cultural understanding and foster environmental healing.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781741177268

Publisher: Hardie Grant Explore

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 18 February 2020

Country: Australia

Imprint: Hardie Grant Explore

Illustration: Black & white pages with 8pp colour insert

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 20.0mm

Width: 153.0mm

Height: 234.0mm

Weight: 329g

Pages: 240

About the Author

Victor Steffensen is an Indigenous writer, filmmaker, musician and consultant applying traditional knowledge values in a contemporary context, through workshops and artistic projects. He is a descendant of the Tagalaka people through his mother’s connections from the Gulf Country of north Queensland. Much of Victor's work over the past 30 years has been based on the arts and reviving traditional knowledge values – particularly traditional burning – through mentoring and leadership, as well as on-ground training with Aboriginal communities and many non-Indigenous Australians. He is also the co-founder of the National Indigenous Fire Workshops, which have so far been hosted in Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria. Victor has also connected with First Nations communities in California, Canada and the SΓ‘mi people of Scandinavia, sharing cultural knowledge practices related to caring for country.

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