UNESCO choses KJ’s Waru (Fire) Program to include in their Green Citizens projects — the only one in Australia this year (so far)!

KJ’s men and women rangers continue to build on 10-year-strong fire-management partnership developed with Wildlife Service WA (PWS) Swan Coastal District fire crew.

The lifting of coronavirus restrictions saw the Jigalong rangers head out near the Canning Stock Route for their annual fire and pakaljarra (Black-flanked Rock-wallaby) work.

Many Martu have always said that older and younger Martu need to teach and learn the knowledge and practices of their old people, Pujiman. Retaining and sharing these practices takes time, planning and a community to bring it all together. Martu who work with KJ and Martumili Artists spent time on country to talk about waru (fire).

Atlas Obscura — a global community of explorers and journalists who focus on unique places and stories — have featured Martu in their January edition, with contributing writer, Reina Gattuso, taking a look at KJ ranger’s work of reinstating cultural burns.

The rangers are forming firm friendships with the crew members from the Department of Biodiversity and Conservation fire crews of the Swan Coastal District. 

Fire management activities are well underway across Martu country. Following the Incendiary Machine Operator (IMO) training earlier in the year, each ranger team has undertaken aerial burning operations. This work is linking fire scars from previous years to produce fire breaks, and breaking up large areas of unburnt country — the rangers truly are managing fire on a landscape scale.

The last three months of cooler weather have seen rangers engaged in fire management activities across Martu Country.

In April, KJ rangers gathered at Nifty Mine to undertake Incendiary Machine Operator (IMO) training; a critical role in aerial burning operations.