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Food for thought: exploring Aboriginal-settler relationships

11 June 2008

Dr Zane Ma Rhea from the Faculty of Education and Professor Lynette Russell from the Centre for Australian Indigenous Studies say their research will strengthen understanding of Aboriginal-settler history and relations. Photo courtesy of Myles Russell-Cook.

Monash academics have embarked on a three-year research project to explore how food and research knowledge was exchanged between Indigenous Australians and European settlers in the early days of the Australian colony.

The project will examine settler use of Indigenous foods and the adoption and development of Indigenous food preparation over a 175 year period from 1788 to 1963.

Five geographical case study areas -- Sydney, Tasmania, Central Australia, Cape York and Darwin -- will be examined reflecting differences in land and climate.

Professor Lynette Russell from the Centre for Australian Indigenous Studies and Dr Zane Ma Rhea from the Faculty of Education say the research, funded by the Australian Research Council, will strengthen understanding of Aboriginal-settler history and relations.

"When Europeans first settled here they were surprised to discover their traditional horticultural practices were often inappropriate for the Australian climate," Professor Russell said.

"The grains and seeds they had brought from England failed to grow and the impression of abundant food plants were quickly found to be an illusion."

Professor Russell said the settlers needed to find indigenous foods that were safe to eat in order to survive.

"Aboriginal people have lived on the Australian continent for tens of thousands of years, during which time they developed deep and sophisticated ecological knowledge," Professor Russell said.

"Some of this knowledge, particularly as it applies to food procurement, was passed on to settler Australians."

Dr Ma Rhea said the project had implications for how society faced today's environmental challenges.

"We can learn a lot from Australia's deep traditional Aboriginal food knowledge," Dr Ma Rhea said.

"The findings of our research will also provide an opportunity for this knowledge and information to be repatriated to Australian Aboriginal communities."

Professor Russell and Dr Ma Rhea will collaborate with the University of Melbourne's Professor Marcia Langton on the research project.

For further information on this project please email Indigenous.Food@arts.monash.edu.au.