Coordinators of the Bundian Way’s AWAY program are delighted by last week’s announcement of their successful grant application, with the funds a vital step in putting traditional Aboriginal foods back ‘on the map’ culturally and historically.
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The NSW Environmental Trust’s Restoration and Rehabilitation grant will give the Eden Local Aboriginal Land Council (ELALC) $100,000 towards restoring yam fields along the Bundian Way, drawing on a yam cultivation program that has been running at Eden’s Jigamy Farm for over two years.
AWAY’s scientific coordinator Annabel Dorrough said the ELALC project was initially funded by the federal government, the Local Land Service and Office of Environment and Heritage.
“This has provided the ideal opportunity to provide training for young indigenous women in topics such as the cultural importance of yams and yam fields, in particular how this pertains to women; plant identification; seed collection; plant propagation and even building,” Ms Dorrough said on Tuesday June 21.
“We built the yam hut at Jigamy farm with the help of Lindsay Caldwell and have been growing plants from seed collected along the Bundian Way.”
Ms Dorrough said the Restoration and Rehabilitation program addresses the issue of loss of yams and their associated open grassy habitat as a result of vegetation thickening, exotic plant invasion and feral animals.
“These issues have arisen concurrently with the removal of human management practices such as the burning and digging that was traditionally undertaken by Aboriginal women,” Ms Dorrough said.
Ms Dorrough said the lack of understanding of indigenous women’s roles and customs relating to the care of traditional ecosystems is central to the demise of the yam fields, with only a small number of Aboriginal women elders still retaining the knowledge.
One of them is AWAY’s cultural coordinator Aileen Blackburn who is of Monero/Yuin descent with Gunia/Jerringa connections as well.
“(This program) could be something that focuses on our ability to refine the cultural integrity of the yam for future generations,” Ms Blackburn said.
“The yams attract attention and interest in culture and the land; as it was, as it's changed, and as it can be into the future. Yams are a reminder of our opportunity to share on many levels.”
The women believe the additional funding will enable them to “throw open the doors” to a larger number of women, of all age groups, in the Koori community to undertake cultural and scientific training relating to yam fields.
“AWAY will be working closely with the Aboriginal community, NPWS, LLS, OEH and the RFS to develop a plan of management for the yam fields,” Ms Dorrough concluded.
“We are all very excited about this opportunity!”
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