Arts and Culture
Nyoongar bush foods with Bindi Bindi Dreaming
02 Dec '20
Marissa Verma, Bindi Bindi Dreaming
Nyoongar bush foods with Bindi Bindi Dreaming
Marissa Verma of Bindi Bindi Dreaming, shares her love of the traditional Nyoongar ingredient, the quandong.
Marissa has a background in Natural Resource Management and enjoys working with Elders to share stories and help maintain the strong connection to country. One of the first things she learnt about bush foods and medicines through her work with the Department of Conservation, Biodiversity and Attractions was the quandong.
Marissa is passionate about sharing the knowledge and culture around the quandong because she knows how much it means to the Elders and the community.
The quandong has bright red flesh - packed with vitamin C – with an edible nut on the inside (used for jewellery back in the day). Nyoongar people would eat the quandong in the season of Kambarang (October and November) as they travelled towards the coastline for the Birak season. Kambarang and Birak are two of the six Nyoongar seasons.
“We go to our little secret spots and then we all collect it together. We’re laughing…our aunties and our grandmothers and our mums are all yarning. It’s yarning time. It’s very therapeutic for us as well that we’re all together as a family and continuing to share our culture to keep it strong.” Marissa explains.
The quandong is just one example of the versatility of Nyoongar ingredients, something you can experience for yourself with Marissa’s business.
Bindi Bindi Dreaming
Bindi Bindi Dreaming is an award-winning, 100% Aboriginal owned and operated business delivering a range of cultural activities around Perth. Marissa runs workshops on Country, bush tucker school programs, youth mentoring programs and cooking lessons to show you how to infuse native ingredients into your everyday cooking. Great for those looking for a foodie experience as well as an authentic cultural experience! Marissa is happy to adapt the experience based on what you’d like to learn more about.
native dining at wildflower Native dining experiences in Perth
Native ingredients are growing in popularity on restaurant menus. Perth’s poster-child for native dining is Wildflower, whose menu changes with the six seasons of the Nyoongar calendar. Situated in the beautiful State Buildings, and with views of the river, you can taste WA’s most interesting native ingredients with their four and six-course tasting menus.
Down at Ritz Carlton on Elizabeth Quay is Hearth. Executive chef Jed Gerrard, previously of Wildflower, is bringing his love of native ingredients to the venue. This includes in the food (think: boab leaves), in the smoker (think: fruitwood sawdust) and in the centrepieces (think: Kimberley stone). A full showcase of Western Australia here in Perth!
Looking for other Aboriginal cultural experiences in Perth?
Learn some basic Nyoongar words with Eric, Ben, Jake and Fraser from Koolangkas Kreate.
Visit the beautiful photographic exhibition celebrating the life, legacy and culture of the Nyoongar Elders in Perth.
Discover the spiritual importance of the different Aboriginal Ceremonies.
- 02 Dec '20
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