Traditional Aboriginal Burning
The Jigija Indigenous Fire Training Program is a wholly Indigenous owned business that provides wild fire management and mitigation training on the traditional country of the Gangalidda People, where we are able to conduct controlled burns and demonstrate planning for fire management across different landscapes.
Our provides a unique opportunity for us to share our Traditional Ecological Knowledge of fire, together with practical lessons that are relevant to contemporary fire management across Australia. During the program, participants are introduced to and assessed on the application of our Gulf Savannah Fire Management Guidelines and have the opportunity to view and understand the fire landscapes of the southern Gulf of Carpentaria. We also instruct participants on the importance of using fire to manage pasture, seasonal burning and the importance of burn frequency and intensity.
While there is an increasing recognition of the efficacy of Indigenous fire knowledge and practice across Australia, the Jigija Indigenous Fire Training Program offers a practical way to integrate such insights with conventional fire management strategies.
Our courses are suitable for fire practitioners, fire volunteers, Indigenous rangers, pastoralists and the mining industry.
Terrence Taylor
Lead Instructor and Coordinator
Terrence Taylor is the Lead Instructor and Coordinator of the Jigija Indigenous Fire Program. A Gangalidda man from the southern Gulf of Carpentaria, Terrence is a Director of the Carpentaria Land Council Aboriginal Corporation and President of the Burketown Volunteer Marine Rescue Service. Terrence is the Doomadgee Fire Warden for Queensland Rural Fires.
Terrence has also employed as the Ranger Coordinator of the CLCAC Gangalidda and Garawa Ranger Program, where he worked since its inception in 2007. He is now dedicating his time to the Jigija Indigenous fire training program.
‘Our ancestors understood the importance of managing fire in a way that maintained ecological diversity and as a tool for production. Knowledge of how our ancestors used fire to manage country continues to inform how we burn today.’
Desmond Armstrong
Fire Ranger
Desmond is a graduate of Abergowrie College and has worked in the Gangalidda & Garawa ranger program for approximately 3 years.
Desmond has lived all his life in Mt Isa and Burketown and enjoys going camping, fishing and hunting with his family. Desmond is a keen didgeridoo player and a skilled craftsman of Aboriginal artefacts.
“I’m proud of my Gangalidda culture and proud to help keep it strong and to help teach the younger generation the importance of our history.”
Lurick Sowden
Fire Ranger
Lurick is employed with the Gangalidda & Garawa ranger program and has qualifications in Mining Operations and Plant Operation.
Lurick has lived in the Gulf all his life and enjoys soccer, football, fishing, and hunting, camping, and traveling. His favourite place to go camping is across the Burketown saltpan.
“I want to make a career as a ranger. It’s important to me that I keep learning my culture and heritage so I can teach younger generations about fire, bush tucker, hunting and so many other things.”
DYNIEKA TAYLOR
Administration Officer
A Gangalidda woman from Moungibi (Burketown), Dynieka also has family ties in Doomadgee, Mount Isa and Alice Springs.
Dynieka completed Year 12 at St Patrick’s College in Townsville where she graduated with a Certificate III in Business.
She is currently completing her Certificate IV in Business and Business Administration.
MANGUBADIJARRI YANNER
Research Officer
Mangubadijarri (Mangu) is a Gangalidda man of the Gunnamulla clan.
He grew up in Moungibi (Burketown) and has completed part of his studies towards a Bachelor of Laws.
Mangu completed Year 12 at Abergowrie College before attending Bond University.
He recently completed an internship with the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland.
