A First Nations-led bush food nursery that will create Indigenous employment, training pathways, food sovereignty, and cultural knowledge sharing for future generations is getting underway in Myocum and you can help get it established.
Ma Earth’s global matched crowdfunding campaign doubles your donations to the nursery until 21 July (https://chuffed.org/project/the-returning-bush-food-nursery).
‘Our nursery site is ready. We’ve employed Bundjalung Elder, Uncle Mark Cora, as our nursery manager, and are about to hire another nursery assistant manager this week,’ Ella Bancroft, Founder & CEO of The Returning (www.thereturning.com.au/), who are championing the project, told The Echo.
While the native food industry has a $80 million output, First Nations-led enterprises account for less than one to two per cent of the supply chain. This is despite Indigenous communities holding the knowledge that built Australia’s native bush food industry.
Self-determination
The Bundjalung Alliance Native Nursery project was initiated earlier this year and is supported by Bundjalung chef and native foods advocate Mindy Woods.
‘Our native nursery is about self-determination. We’re not looking for handouts. We’re looking for a hand up,’ Mindy explained.
‘Creating industry that is connected to culture is essential for Indigenous wellbeing and a beautiful way to share the ancient knowledge of Bundjalung to a wider audience.’
Bangalow Koalas are another local organisation who hare participating in the Ma Earth crowdfunding campaign you can donate to both via: https://maearth.com/projects).
For four decades The Echo has printed the stories some people loved, some people hated, and some pretended not to read. If you want us to keep telling the truth, the real truth, not the sugar-coated version. We’ll need your support to keep the presses rolling. 
