October is Indigenous Business Month and to celebrate our partners at Welcome to Country would like to introduce you to some of the incredible Indigenous businesses that are featured in the partnership.
When you book an experience or buy a product from an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander business you are directly supporting the Indigenous economy, increasing jobs and positive economic outcomes for the whole community as well as encouraging new Indigenous business to emerge.
These Indigenous men and women create exciting and educational experiences, sharing their culture, creativity, time and knowledge to enrich and illuminate our lives.
Wajaana Yam - Clark Webb
Strength and pride shine through when you talk to Clark Webb the owner and operator of Wajaana Yaam Gumbaynggirr Adventure Tours.
Clark is a proud Gumbaynggirr and Bundjalung man who through his stand-up Paddle tours combines adventure and culture in Coffs Harbour on Gumbaynggirr Country.
Clark explains why he started his business: “I wanted to combine my love for stand-up paddling, with my love of my Gumbaynggirr culture in a safe environment, to be able to share with others the richness of our Country and culture.”
“As a strong Gumbaynggirr man, to be able to operate a business, and provide opportunities and jobs to other mob, it's an honour,” says Clark.
"The tourism industry brings so many opportunities to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities all around Australia. It great to see Aboriginal communities create products and share the stories in a culturally safe way.”
Southern Cross Cultural Walk Lullumb - Bolo Angus
Bolo Angus is a Bardi-Jawi man from Western Australia’s Dampier Peninsula and the proud founder of Southern Cross Cultural Walk Lullumb. Through Bolo’s cultural walk, he invites all people to experience the hunting and gathering techniques passed down to him through generations.
Bolo’s vision is to keep culture alive while supporting his family by sharing his knowledge of Bardi-Jawi culture with emerging generations. In starting his business, Bolo was inspired by his Mum and Uncle to teach the rest of the world how important country is. As a First Nations person, owning his own business empowers Bolo, his family, his culture and his community.
“It means the world to me and I put everything I have into it. I am proud to be doing what I’m doing, it gives me the opportunity to look after our family like our Ancestors did before us. And also to inspire other members of our tribe and show them we can do anything we put our minds to," says Bolo.
For Bolo, working in the tourism industry allows him to share his knowledge while “bringing families and different cultures together”, furthering his love for meeting new people, teaching and sharing experiences.
Girra Girra – Tim Selwyn
Wongaibon and Wiradjuri man Tim Selwyn is the proud Owner and Director of Girra Girra, a business dedicated to sharing meaningful cultural experiences on the lands of the Wannangine, Guringai and Darkinjung peoples along the Central Coast.
For Tim, setting up Girra Girra provided an opportunity for truth telling, to share knowledge and to bring all people together through storytelling, art, song and dance. Being a First Nations business owner gives Tim the freedom to lead a life he loves.
“Having my own business has given me self-belief. It has allowed me to live the life I want to live, to create, to share, to mentor and support people who haven’t had the opportunity that I have,” Tim says.
From guided bush walks to storytelling, singing and dancing, Girra Girra is committed to honouring the ancient lore of Tim’s ancestors through shared experiences for all people.
Walkabout Cultural Adventures - Juan Walker
Walkabout Cultural Adventures owner and founder Juan Walker hails from the Kubirriwarra and Julaywarra mobs on Eastern Kuku Yalanji Country. Walkabout Cultural Adventures is dedicated to immersing all people in the culture, traditions and landscape of beautiful Kuku Yalanji Country.
The incredible people Juan met while working in the tourism industry inspired him to start Walkabout Cultural Adventures, allowing him to celebrate his culture with people eager to learn.
“I was working in the industry and saw an opportunity to create tours led by local Aboriginal guides, as no one was really doing this… the tourists I had been mixing with were so interested in what I had to share and were keen to learn more,” explains Juan.
For Juan, owning his own business is all about staying connected to Country and sharing what he knows best.
“Most importantly by being self-employed I get to stay on my own country and share my own culture. It is a great feeling when we get to educate others not just about our peoples and culture, but about the land and how we see it,” says Juan.
Pudakul Aboriginal Cultural Tours – Lynette Kenyon
When Lynette Kenyon and her husband Graham launched Pudakul Aboriginal Cultural Tours near Darwin more than a decade ago, they had two goals. One was to be their own bosses and run a business on their traditional land; the other was to ensure that they passed their culture on to their four daughters.
“Knowing our heritage and living in today’s society, it’s like we have two toolboxes,” Lynette says.
“The business lets us use both. We can keep our daughters connected to their country while we make a living, too.”
“We teach visitors about bush foods, about the way we move across the land according to the seasons, and the many ways we use the plants around us, from medicine to using the fibres to make baskets and mats.”
Lynette and Graham are determined to keep growing the business – their most recent addition is some overnight accommodation – but what they are most proud of is the chance to show off their country.
“Visitors are often amazed by how beautiful it is here in the wetlands; they don’t know what’s in store for them until they get here.”
Jasmine Corr – Wayapa Practitioner
Meet Jasmine (Jaz) Corr, a Dharawal visual artist, visual arts teacher and Wayapa Wurrk practitioner living and working on Dharawal and Yuin countries.
Jaz implements her many talents through a range of programs that celebrate the power of First Nations cultures to support harmony and mindfulness.
“Due to a steady organic growth, my business has expanded over the years, facilitating workshops and programs to suit varied clients and companies. At the beginning we were offering tailored workshops to suit Wellbeing, NAIDOC, RAP, Staff Development programs and sharing our Womens Full Moon Gathering’s experience each month on Country. This expanded to the Waxing Moon Web Series, a monthly online course that is accessible and inclusive to all participants.”
Through her art centre, Jaz offers programs that highlight the values of community and connection, working with many people from diverse backgrounds.
“Our programs are culturally sensitive and appropriate to share with Non-Indigenous and Indigenous people creating community and connection because; Ngoon dyalgala niya, ngoon bamarraadbanga ni (We embrace all of you; we open the door to all of you).”
Jaz shared that working with Welcome to Country has supported her business by expanding her audience and improving consistency.
“Since appearing on the Welcome to Country Marketplace, we have a wider customer base and consistent sales, with a streamline online booking system. This gives us the opportunity to increase our programs and services.”
Dr. Michelle Evans – Co-founder of Indigenous Business Month
An Associate Professor in Leadership at the Faculty of Business and Economics at the University of Melbourne (specialising in the areas of Indigenous leadership and entrepreneurship), Dr. Michelle was a driving force in the creation of the Indigenous Business Month event.
"The focus for Indigenous Business Month is threefold," Dr. Evans explains.
"It provides a platform for the Indigenous business sector to gather, promote and celebrate Indigenous business across Australia; secondly, for the founders of Indigenous business month, our aim is to showcase Indigenous business through a focused communications strategy that targets mainstream and Indigenous media/social media outlets; and finally to highlight leading Indigenous businesses through our awards which are created by the founders and judged by Indigenous business leaders."
"There is no questioning the increased employment opportunities for Indigenous Australians within Indigenous businesses which are more likely to employ Indigenous Australians. We think the real power emanates from the culturally informed approach of Indigenous businesses making them more likely to share their proceeds far and wide amongst Indigenous communities, as well as connect other Indigenous businesses to opportunities within the supply chain.
"Between 2017 and 2020 the number of registered Indigenous Business Month events nearly doubled and last year's media exposure on Indigenous Business month increased 31% compared to the year previous. In total, over 200 events have been hosted during IBM since its inception."
When asked what Dr. Evans' vision for how Indigenous Business Month may evolve in the coming years, her answer is simple:
"This is our seventh year – so another five years of this movement gaining momentum we see many more Indigenous-led events, awards, celebrations, and I hope thought and policy leadership coming from the sector.
"Creating the platform for Indigenous voices is a source of innovation we want to both showcase and celebrate."
We hope these incredible stories have inspired you to book an Indigenous experience!
This piece was made in partnership with Welcome to Country, your guide to experiencing Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Australia.
