The visiting rangers work across a wide range of landscapes and are responsible for fire mitigation, cultural burning and land management on country.
The three day visit was hosted by Yarkuwa Indigenous Knowledge Centre and its indigenous rangers.
Participants gained a deeper understanding of cultural fire practice, shared knowledge between nations, and strengthened long‑standing relationships, including a 35‑year connection with Deniliquin.
They were taught how the Wamba Wamba people approach cultural burning, mapping and community‑based landcare.
Upon arrival at Yarkuwa on Tuesday, they spent time acknowledging Indigenous protocol, including a Welcome to Country, and a smoking ceremony.
On other days, they went out on Country and explored the importance of Indigenous decision‑making in fire management, which is often overlooked in mainstream emergency planning.
Rangers also took part in two cultural burns, removing dry undergrowth, and promoting green life to sprout.
A major theme of the gathering was the need to reignite cultural spirit and ensure traditional knowledge is recognised as essential to modern hazard reduction.
Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water senior cultural scientist Graham Moore acknowledged the importance of the work they were doing, and in sharing knowledge between language groups.
“Indigenous people are the largest landholders in NSW outside national park agencies, making our leadership crucial in preparing for fires, floods and other emergency procedures,” he said.
The group also discussed the global reach of their work, including a documentary on cultural fire practice that has already screened in Brazil and Calgary, with hopes to publish it more widely.
“What we are doing, coming together to share knowledge, is really making history,” Mr Moore said.
“It’s something that would have happened for hundreds of years. There’s evidence of groups of more than 10,000 meeting.”
Mr Moore said the cultural program will continue, with the Yarkuwa rangers to learn from the south coast rangers next.
“Going into the future, we will invite these guys to the coast, and share our traditions with them,” Mr Moore said.
“It’s a two-way exchange.”
