modernworld.“Weneedtocreateculturalframeworks
forthefuturesurvivalofthisinformation,”shesays.
ClintonSchultzfromSobah,anAboriginal-owned
breweryonYugambehcountryknownastheGold
Coast,agreeswiththeneedforlegalrecourseor
a frameworktoprotectthissacredplantknowledge.
Thenativeingredientsheusesforhishand-crafted
non-alcoholicbeersaresourcedfromalloverthe
country,buttheavailabilityoftheplantsfluctuates
indifferentareasduetotheincreaseofpeopleand
companiesusingthem.Largercompanieshaving
theabilitytouseupandtakemassivequantities
is inconflictwiththesustainablenatureofnative
plantsandbotanicals.
“Insomeways,it’sa goodproblemtohave,
becausethatmeansthefinancialviabilityofplanting
morebutnativesarenotoriouslyslowtogrowto
thefruitingstage(aroundsevenyears).Farmers
thatplantedovera decadeagoarejustnowstarting
togetgoodenoughyieldstosell,”saysSchultz.
Earlierthisyear,Sobahreleaseda Davidson’splum
gluten-freealethatfrequentlysoldoutduetoits
popularity.ThiscreatedanopportunityforSchultzto
securea constantongoingsupplyofDavidson’splums
andsupportthatfarmer’scommunity.“Ourbusiness
is proofoftheviabilityofnatives– butwewanttosee
a lotmoreassistanceinAboriginalcommunitiesto
havea significantplaceinthisspace,”hesays.
ThevoicesaroundIndigenousfoods,particularly
inrestaurants,arestillnotcomingfromAboriginal
people,andthisneedstobeaddressedandchanged.
UnderThompson’sguidance,theboardis balanced
equallywithFirstNationspeopleandnon-Indigenous
Australians,witha focusanddesiretobuildup
Indigenousrepresentation.Realleadershipis
a collaboration,andsherecognisesthatweare
“bettertogether”– bringingthatbelieftoANFAB.
“It’stakenquitea whiletogetthesenative
agriculturestotheforefront,butwe’recreatinga shared
spacefornativesinpeople’severydaylivesanda respect
forthatspace,”saysThompson.It’sthisbeliefof
integrationandcollaborationthatcouldopenthe
doortopilotprogramsforlandrestoration,tourism
and education about native foods in schools.➤Rosella flower (dried)
Lemon myrtle (dried)Lemon myrtle (ground)“Weneed torelearnthepractices ofbush
foods,integralagriculturalknowledge – we
need to start thinking long-term integration.”GOURMET TRAVELLER 51