SPOTLIGHT

The story behind three inspiring Victorian Aboriginal business entrepreneurs

Niyoka Bundle – Owner of Pawa Café and Catering and Taka Gin

What inspired you to start up the Pawa Café and catering concept?

I love food and cooking for people and it was a new and exciting thing to try and incorporate native foods into everyday foods, then showcase it to people. We then decided to start Pawa Catering as the interest was there, including a partnership with catering events at the Arts Centre Melbourne.

How have business event planners reacted to your menu featuring unique native flavours and ingredients?

Event planners have been great as they have our food as a feature included in their events. It's a good conversation starter about what Australia has to offer and the history behind it.

Where do you source the majority of your café/catering and gin botanical ingredients from?

Some we pick locally around the suburb I live in. Some are foraged locally by a great sustainable business. Then others are sourced from a great supplier I have known for years, who sources from local farmers, growers, wild forages of First Nations people and non-Indigenous. But in all sources, they are supplied ethically and sustainably.

Tell us more about Taka Gin, what is the concept and why did you choose to start this business?

I started Taka Gin when we went into lockdown as a side project. We wanted to have a First Nations business in the alcohol industry as there was a huge increase in the use of native ingredients. It's a billion dollar industry and only 1-2 First Nations companies. I also like gin and experimenting with flavours and native ingredients. During the lockdown brought us Taka Gin. Featuring fresh lemon-scented gum leaf, which we hand-pick locally, near where we live. It represents a taste of Australia.

Why is identifying your café/catering and gin businesses as Indigenous-owned and operated important to you?

It's important to show that we are just as capable as anyone else. It's about self-determination and generational wealth. It's being proud and supporting my family by doing something I love.

What impact can business event planners have on Melbourne’s Aboriginal communities by using a local Aboriginal-owned and operated business such as yours?

Partnering with us showcases us to other customers, partners and opportunities that we might not otherwise get. It shows a positive working relationship for more businesses to use our services.

Shahn Stewart of Alchemy Orange

Tell us about your journey into starting up Alchemy Orange, what inspired you to become a florist and start up this business?

A big part of starting Alchemy Orange was about pushing boundaries. I’ve been a florist for over a decade, and have worked with some pretty amazing floral artists, but I felt as if I wanted to push things further with the materials and forms. I felt like traditional floristry would sometimes overlook the obscure or less desired materials/flowers. In the same vein I think that native flowers and their significance to Country, and the power they hold is something that I’ve wanted to highlight and honour in my work.

What has been one of your most favourite business events to work on and why?

This year I was ecstatic about being part of the National Gallery of Victoria's (NGV) “Art of Bloom” which showcased some of the top and most creative floral minds around. Each florist created a work responding to art that had been acquired by the NGV Women’s Association - I was grateful to make a work in tribute to Emily Kame Kngwarreye. I ended up creating a woven native grass sculpture titled “Barrpan” which translates to grass in Yorta Yorta. It was over ten metres long and took a solid amount of time. It was definitely a proud moment seeing it stand in the great hall of the NGV.

Why do event planners love working with you?

I’ve been doing this a long time, floristry is just one of those professions that constantly puts your organisation and flexibility to the test. I think I’m used to thinking on my feet and problem-solving - event planners need that kind of vendor, as they often have a lot of moving pieces. I always love making things as simple as possible. Our ethos at Alchemy Orange is to over-deliver as opposed to over-promise.

Why is identifying your business as Indigenous-owned important to you?

An interesting question, I guess partially because it just is. I’ll always represent that because it’s an important piece of who I am and how I think. And more broadly I believe it’s about giving people the opportunity to put their resources towards a brighter future where First Nations people are valued and celebrated for our skills. It’s not really about me, but about the flow on effect, succeeding in business and elevating other Mob, being able to give back to community and grow new relationships is really important to me.

What impact can business event planners have on Melbourne Aboriginal communities by using a local, Aboriginal-owned and operated business such as yours?

I think it’s essential that events and event planners are actively engaging with Mob, I mean why wouldn’t you, Aboriginal people are out here killing it in so many practices and industries. Aboriginal business directories like Kinaway showcase so many incredible businesses, and through this, Aboriginal people are able to build stronger foundations and futures. Aboriginal businesses often showcase a thoughtfulness and skill, and many I know, including Alchemy Orange then put our resources into helping other Mob directly, in our case through great organisations like Deadly Connections or Dhadjowa, just to name a few.

Kieran Ironfield – Yidaki Player

Who taught you to play the yidaki didgeridoo and how long have you played it?

I'm a Darug man and have been playing Yidaki for most of my life, In around 2000, my parents gave me a Yidaki for Christmas, along with a lesson at the local set of shops in Canberra, Ngunnawal Country. I've carried one with me ever since. I'm mostly self-taught but over the years I've had inspiring discussions, jams and advice with musical and cultural keepers, including Larry & Vernon Gurruwiwi, Jeremy Donovan, Uncle Ron Murray, Fred Leone, Gumaroy Newman, William Barton and Brent Watkins. They, along with the birds of Merri Creek and moments of life keep me inspired.

Tell us about your journey into playing professionally, how and why did you take this path?

The sound and feeling of playing Yidaki has always resonated so strongly with me. Since being introduced as a child the resonance carries through to this day. I'm fortunate to be finishing my first year playing full-time professionally. I've been performing since 2015 alongside various jobs and studying and this is the first year I've been able to focus solely on it, I feel increasingly fortunate. I love getting up in front of people, sharing stories and invitations before playing songs on the Yidaki. I love the people that I meet and artists I get to collaborate with - it feels like living a dream.

With my music, I feel there's an opportunity to plant seeds of thought, which can be watered, if you may, by the songs on the Yidaki. This can create a kind of reflective stillness. I really love the impact playing has on mine and others nervous systems - helping to have a short moment of relaxation. Breathwork, the nervous system and frequency/vibration are all of great interest to me and things I want to explore further.

I believe the resonance of the Yidaki can be felt by the Country, by the plants, the birds and animals. That belief brings me such peace and I encourage all to take their shoes off and stand on the earth as part of my practice. I hold some stories of animals in the bush coming to listen when I've been playing.

At the beginning of 2023, I wrapped up three years as Co-CEO of Songlines Music Aboriginal Corporation - an Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation doing great work supporting the Victorian First Nations community in the music industry. Prior to this role, I was studying Economics at a graduate level, having previously worked in higher education, entrepreneurship and banking - exploring my purpose, learning and aiming to make some sort of impact.

The first performance opportunities I had came through the wonderful Maylene Yinar at Songlines Music, through the University of Melbourne and Vision Australia. I played Yidaki for a couple of AFL seasons for the Hawthorn Football Club pre-match entertainment in 2021/2022 which was a great experience. I keep performing because I believe that each person can make a difference in their life, day and moment, and I like to do what I can to provide a mechanism to encourage it.

What has been one of the most special moments you’ve experienced when performing the yadaki for a Welcome to Country?

Living as a guest on these lands here in Melbourne, on the Kulin Nation lands, it's a real honour to stand alongside Wurundjeri and Boon Wurrung peoples through their ceremonies and practices. I play for peace and I play for the upholding of First Nations ceremonies, rights and leadership.

Any time I'm invited to perform with the Wurundjeri women's dance group, The Djirri Djirri Dancers, led by Dr Mandy Nicholson, is a special moment. They are the most knowledgeable, kind and multi-talented people who are also sharing their culture with some of the largest audiences in the country. They play the most amazing shows and have played the biggest events including for the US President and still have time and energy to play for free at an old folks home - I love the Djirri's.

Similarly, being invited by Dr Carolyn Briggs to perform at sunrise for the Mourning Service on January 26 is a special and emotional performance. Coming from Darug people - who have greatly felt the impacts of colonialism which began with the sunrise on January 26, 1788 - to be putting out those vibrations through the Yidaki to the crowds that gather pre-dawn on that day in St Kilda holds significance to me.

What has been one of the biggest business events you've performed at?

The biggest business events have been the Gala dinners and awards, they've been some of the most exciting too as they present opportunities to collaborate with other artists and the event teams to create exciting impactful performances. The Multicultural Gala in 2022 was a really fun show held at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre.

Working with conductor Tamil Rogeon on both the ARA Gala at Town Hall and the Indian Film Festival Melbourne at Hamer Hall was fantastic. It's been amazing to play the Yidaki with orchestras in some of the most iconic venues in Australia. I'm forever grateful for the people who support me to play such incredible shows. I recently performed at Marvel Stadium for the RMIT University graduation. That was a great one playing with Andrew Loadsman for around 30,000 people.

What has been on of the more intimate business events you've performed at?

Performing for Shaq (Shaquille O'Neal) on his 2022 tour stands out. This was with the Djirri Djirri Dancers and we were doing a short performance for Shaq at an event for around 150 people. Our performance started with a Yidaki solo and then into a few of the Djirri Djirri's songs - songs written and sung in Wurundjeri Woiwurrung language by Mandy Nicholson. Getting a nod and a thumbs up from Shaq when we finished is something I don't think I'll forget.

Why do you think it's important for business event planners to consider incorporating either a Welcome to Country or Indigenous performance element into their event program?

First Nation stories and songs are as old as time itself. First Nation perspectives and contributions to society are good for the country and good for business. A Welcome To Country is a ceremony held by the custodians of the land that the event is being held. It's important to engage with the custodians of the land the events are being held on, because it reminds everyone of the context of where we are meeting and centres the custodians' voices.

To some extent we all have abilities to shape the world, within our own minds, through our decisions and through the choices that we make in our roles. What we hear and see impacts our position and the thoughts we have. Presenting First Nations stories and art from custodians of the land to Australian audiences (particularly a Welcome to Country), centres voices of these lands and experiences that can offer guidance and leadership as we strive together for a better world.

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Indigenous Supplier Guide for Business Events

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The Kinaway Chamber of Commerce helps Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander businesses in Victoria thrive. As a registered charity, Kinaway provides business support and advice, helps improve visibility and networks, strengthen relationships and create opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander businesses across Victoria.

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Artwork by Yorta Yorta artist Chloe Jones.