The world’s oldest continuous living culture is Australia’s First Nations people. Aboriginal peoples have been living on this land for at least 65,000 years. National Reconciliation Week (NRW), which runs May 27 to June 3, is a chance to honour that culture.
Every year, workplaces, schools, early learning services, community groups, reconciliation groups and people around Australia host activities and events and serve to remind us that no matter what, the fight for justice and rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people must continue.
A highlight NRW event in Perth is a free Bushtucker Talk and Tasting with Dale Tilbrook, held on Wednesday, May 29 from 5pm ‘til 7pm. The workshop is led by Wardandi Bibbulmun woman Dale Tilbrook whose traditional Aboriginal Country is the Margaret River, Busselton area, though she’s been a Swan Valley local since 1998.
After returning from living overseas, she began her journey in Aboriginal tourism 25 years ago, starting with running boomerang and artefact-making sessions with her brother.
Since then and as customers sought out more knowledge about Aboriginal culture and life, she expanded into experiences, launching Dale Tilbrook Experiences.
It offers cultural activities, talks, performances and bush tucker tastings.
Tilbrook is passionate about education on Aboriginal culture and works extensively with students of all ages, sharing her knowledge of Australian native edibles and the cultural traditions of the South West peoples of Western Australia.
In the workshop, Tilbrook shares her knowledge of bush tucker, local Aboriginal people, traditional agricultural practices and the Noongar Six Season. Participants can taste local herbs, leaves, spices, lemon myrtle tea, jams from native ingredients and other goodies.
You’ll get to learn about their flavours, health benefits and how to blend and use them at home. Light refreshments will also be also provided. And though the talk is free, registration is essential.
If you miss this talk and tasting, Tilbrook also has a 90-minute, regularly running Local History and Culture session, held at Caversham in WA. For $70, you’ll be taken through the timeline of Aboriginal life before the Europeans arrived, after and how Aboriginals live today.
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