Aboriginal communities across Australia have taken part in extensive consultations as part of Yoordaninj-bah - Growing the Australian Bush Produce Industry with Aboriginal Participation, a national project being led and facilitated by the Noongar Land Enterprise Group (NLE).
Since its launch in late 2019, the project has engaged 196 participants through workshops and meetings held in locations including Beverley, Esperance, Carnarvon, Geraldton, Bremer Bay, Nowra, Woorabinda, Cairns and Tennant Creek.
About 75 per cent of attendees were Aboriginal, with non-Indigenous participants invited as trusted partners or potential collaborators.
NLE chief executive officer Alan Beattie said the consultations demonstrated both the potential of the bush produce industry and the issues that need to be addressed to ensure Aboriginal people benefit fairly.
“Aboriginal communities see real opportunities for social, cultural and economic outcomes through a strong bush produce industry. But they also have legitimate concerns about how Sacred Knowledge is protected, and how participation is supported in ways that are culturally appropriate and community-led.”
Each workshop followed a two-part model: a meeting and tour on country or through local facilities to set the context, followed by presentations and facilitated discussions.
These sessions explored the current state of the bush produce industry, intellectual property and knowledge protection, and examples of Aboriginal enterprise.
Bush foods were often showcased as meals, sparking discussion and highlighting the potential of the industry.
Key themes emerged from the consultations, including a desire for stronger collaboration between communities, the need to invest in Aboriginal leadership, and the importance of bridging generational divides so that cultural knowledge is transferred while new business opportunities are developed.
Communities also highlighted that while many programs focus on social service delivery, there is a gap in support for entrepreneurism and enterprise building.
Mr Beattie said the feedback reinforced the value of NLE sharing its own journey and grower group governance model.
“Communities want examples they can learn from, and they want to see that business development is possible when it’s done in the right way,” he said.
The consultations will directly inform the next stages of the Yoordaninj-bah project, including the development of cultural protocols, and the business case for a Bush Food Incubation Hub at Avondale.
