Djakitjuk Djanga native food and botanicals Community of Practice

Djakitjuk Djanga native food and botanicals Community of Practice

The Djakitjuk Djanga Community of Practice (CoP) brings together Traditional Owners and other First Peoples working in the native food and botanicals industry.

The purpose is for members to:

• share knowledge and support each other
• grow leadership in Victoria's native food and botanicals industry
• guide research and industry development.

The aims of the Djakitjuk Djanga CoP are to:

• strengthen First Nations skills and confidence in the native food and botanicals industry
• increase participation and leadership from Traditional Owners and Aboriginal communities
• support Aboriginal businesses and Traditional Owner groups by sharing knowledge and working together
• create pathways for Aboriginal-led economic development in native foods and botanicals
• support First Nations food and plant sovereignty so communities can define their own food systems, rebuild practices and sustain health and culture.

How the Djakitjuk Djanga Community of Practice works

Members meet online and in person through study tours and other activities. These activities support sharing information and building knowledge.

Caring for Country is a key focus when members come together.

Members say they value meeting in person and connecting with other mob who share their values and interests.

Djakitjuk Djanga Community of Practice case studies

Native plant foods

A recent study tour to Djaara Country visited 4 First Peoples organisations growing native plant foods.

Participants learned about:

• small-scale horticulture on land accessed through an agreement with a private land holder
• growing kangaroo grass for food
• how communities use food to support youth cultural learning and broader community awareness.

First Nations Native Food Blockchain Workshop

This 2-day workshop was run in partnership between the Djakitjuk Djanga CoP, Agriculture Victoria, RMIT University and the Federation of Victorian Traditional Owner Corporations.

The workshop looked at how blockchain technology could support First Peoples’ businesses within the native food and botanicals industry.

At the workshop, participants:

• learned about blockchain technology
• explored how it could support First Peoples
• learned about self-determination in the native food industry
• reviewed examples from First Nations groups around the world
• explored supply-chain challenges
• identified opportunities for product tracing, data soverenignty, accreditation, governance and blockchain-based financial systems.

Participants agreed there is a need for a co-designed and culturally governed blockchain pilot. Work is now underway on a pilot that will use blockchain for agreement-making and traceability across native food supply chains.

Native food and botanicals industry development

The Victorian Traditional Owner Native Foods and Botanicals Strategy (TONFABS) outlines the reforms needed to legislate, regulate and create industry standards to ensure Traditional Owners can occupy their rightful place leading this emerging industry.

The TONFABS project control committee has developed a cultural protocol to provide guidance to the Victorian native food and botanicals industry. The protocol is a guide for all individuals and organisations involved in the industry on how to engage with and recognise the rights of Victoria’s Traditional Owners in their biological resources and indigenous knowledge.