Yugul Mangi Faiya En Sisen Kelenda

Abstract

The 'Yugul Mangi Faiya En Sisen Kelenda' (Yugul Mangi Fire and Seasons Calendar) was developed by Indigenous Elders and Yugul Mangi Rangers in collaboration with non-Indigenous scientists, for the cross-cultural interpretation of savanna burning in the South East Arnhem Land (SEAL) Indigenous Protected Area (IPA), Northern Territory, Australia. The language and information, including its visual representation, contained in this publication includes the traditional biocultural knowledge, cultural expression and references to biological resources (plants and animals) of the peoples of the Ngandi, Wubuy (Nunggubuyu), Ritharrŋu/Wagilak, Marra, Ngalakan, Alawa, Rembarrnga, Warndarrang and Roper River Kriol language groups. The information was shared by Elders and rangers for the purposes of knowledge preservation, general education and language maintenance. Yugul Mangi Rangers are using Indigenous and western knowledge to manage fire for multiple purposes, including ecosystem restoration, cultural maintenance and greenhouse gas abatement, in SEAL IPA. The Yugul Mangi Fire and Seasons Calendar presents biocultural indicators- defined as predictable, obvious, seasonal events that may or may not be culturally significant- to guide fire management. In addition, the calendar has potential for application in regional fire management planning, improved understanding of savanna burning and inter-generational transfer of Indigenous Knowledge.