Firekeepers

Firekeepers is a documentary driven by the urgent need to reconnect with ancient land management practices in the face of the escalating climate crisis.

Cultural burning is reviving Indigenous knowledge systems that have sustained the land for millennia. The wisdom embedded in these practices holds the key to addressing some of the most pressing environmental challenges of our time. Firekeepers is a call to action, a way to ignite conversations around sustainability — or, regenerative practices — and the power of First Nations cultural heritage.

Centring Indigenous perspectives and knowledge in the climate change conversation is key to establishing a sustainable future. The resilience of Indigenous communities, despite the ongoing impacts of colonisation, shows both cultural and ecological strength, offering a hopeful vision for a future where Aboriginal knowledge is recognised and valued as essential to Australia’s regenerative future.

“Firekeepers” envisions a future where Wiradjuri cultural burning practices, grounded in sovereignty and deep ecological knowledge, lead the way in transforming land management for the benefit of all. By amplifying First Nations solutions and showcasing their effectiveness in addressing climate resilience and environmental challenges, the project aims to center Indigenous leadership and cultural preservation. Through authentic storytelling and community collaboration, “Firekeepers” seeks to demonstrate how restoring and respecting Indigenous knowledge systems contributes to a healthier, more sustainable future for both Country and community–for Wiradjuri, Australia and beyond.

“Firekeepers” documents and amplifies the Wiradjuri community’s efforts to revive traditional cultural burning practices on their ancestral lands.

The film contributes meaningfully to cultural preservation, community health, regional and national awareness, and the broader conversation about integrating Indigenous knowledge into environmental stewardship. Our aims include:
– Showcase traditional cultural burning methods AND encourage their adoption in modern land management.
– Raise awareness of sustainable land management practices.
– Fostering a deeper understanding of Wiradjuri cultural practices in climate resilience and land management.
– Enhance regional understanding of the role of cultural burning practices in climate resilience and land management.
– Drive national and global movements for decolonisation, environmental justice, and cultural preservation.

Jack Steele is a Wiradjuri filmmaker who holds close relationships with the local community.

Our Campaign Strategy will be designed when further project funding becomes available. The strategy will pinpoint core Indigenous and environmental issues at personal, institutional and systemic stages, providing viewers with tailored CTAs, for example:

— Personal and immediate CTAs, for example learning more about cultural burning in your local area, donating to Traditional Owners or community organisations or rasing awareness via social media.

— Institutional and intermediate CTAs, ie. supporting existing advocacy work or hosting an event in an individual’s community that drives collective action.

— Systemic and long-term/intergenerational work, involving local landowners, environmental organisations, and policymakers in influencing future land management practices.