Season 3 | Episode 6 | Good Fire Podcast

Season 3 | Episode 6 | Good Fire Podcast

From Good Fire by Amy Cardinal Christianson and Matthew Kristoff

April 11, 2025 · 1h 14m · Season 3 · Episode 6

About this episode

The episode discusses the role of Indigenous fire stewards in managing climate change with guests Rachael Cavanagh and Melinda Adams.

In this episode of the Good Fire Podcast, hosts Amy Cardinal Christianson and Matthew Kristoff sit down with Rachael Cavanagh and Melinda Adams to talk about the role of Indigenous fire stewards in managing climate change. Quotes 20.51 - 20.56: “Our law is still in the land and it’s in all of the stories that have been passed down to us by our Elders.” 40.27 - 41.08: “It comes back to our relationship. Us as First Nations people or Indigenous people, we have a very respectful relationship with fire, but then if you look at non-Indigenous people… everything is from fear… If you look at the language they use, it’s… suppression and it’s firefighting and… all of their language is based around reactionary responses whereas if you talk to Indigenous people across the globe, it’s all about care. We come from a place of care and guardianship, and this is our obligation.” Takeaways “Cultural obligations as guardians and custodians” (03.19) Rachael Cavanagh is a Minjungbal woman from the Bundjalung/Yugambeh Nations of South East Queensland and Northern New South Wales. Rachael’s family name means ‘the wind’, and she runs a consulting business working with First Nations people across…

People in this episode

Hosts: Amy Cardinal Christianson, Matthew Kristoff

Guests: Rachael Cavanagh, Melinda Adams

Topics covered

  • Indigenous fire stewardship
  • climate change
  • cultural practices
  • land management
  • First Nations
  • guardianship

Keywords

  • Indigenous fire
  • climate change
  • cultural stewardship
  • First Nations
  • land management
  • fire practices
  • guardianship

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Bundjalung/Yugambeh Nations

Places: South East Queensland, Northern New South Wales

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