Reinforcing alternative economies: self-motivated work by central Anmatyerr people to sell Katyerr (Desert raisin, Bush tomato) in central Australia
Sarah Holcombe A D , Peter Yates B and Fiona Walsh C
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A Australian National University, Research School of Humanities and the Arts, Sir Roland Wilson Building 120, McCoy Circuit, Canberra, ACT 0200, Australia.
B Charles Darwin University, Grevillea Drive, Alice Springs, NT 0871, Australia.
C CSIRO Ecosystem Sciences, Alice Springs, PO Box 2111, NT 0871, Australia.
D Corresponding author. Email: sarah.holcombe@anu.edu.au
The Rangeland Journal 33(3) 255-265 https://doi.org/10.1071/RJ10081
Submitted: 16 December 2010 Accepted: 6 June 2011 Published: 9 September 2011
Abstract
This paper examines an alternative economy in the Anmatyerr region of central Australia, with reference to the ‘hybrid economy’ concept. We argue that this concept has application in recognising emerging Aboriginal economies surrounding the utilisation and management of natural resources. In particular, we examine the ‘bush harvest’ of one species – where Aboriginal people sell Desert raisin (Katyerr or Bush tomato) to traders who then on-sell to manufacturers and retailers. This seasonal economy intermittently injects relatively significant amounts of cash into households (but unaccounted for in census figures). Although some groups have been selling bush harvest produce for up to 30 years, it is increasingly gaining momentum with a larger market developing. Yet, there is a risk that this burgeoning market and the mainstream interest in horticulture will fail to recognise the value of local Aboriginal motivations that drive the customary harvest activity. Nevertheless, there is increased federal government recognition, via the Central Land Council, of the value of Aboriginal people as local land managers; as rangers. This in turn has provided resources to promote and encourage this harvest through the recognition of Aboriginal land management practices, such as seasonal burning to encourage the crop’s growth.
Additional keywords: Aboriginal people, arid zone, bush foods, bush harvest, local knowledge.
References
Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act (1976). Available at: www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/cth/consol_act/alrta1976444/ (accessed 5 August 2011).Altman, J. C. (1987). ‘Hunter-Gatherers Today: An Aboriginal Economy in North Australia.’ (Australian Institute of Aboriginal Studies: Canberra.)
Altman, J. C. (2001). ‘Exploring Sustainable Development Options on Aboriginal Land: the Hybrid Economy in the Twenty-first Century.’ CAEPR Discussion Paper 226. (Australian National University: Canberra.)
Altman, J. C., and Hinkson, M. (2007). ‘Coercive Reconciliation: Stabilise, Normalise and Exit Aboriginal Australia.’ (Arena Publications: Melbourne.)
Altman, J. C., Buchanan, G., and Larson, L. (2007). ‘The Environmental Significance of the Indigenous Estate: Natural Resource Management as Economic Development in Remote Australia.’ CAEPR Discussion Paper 286. (Australian National University: Canberra.) Available at: www.anu.edu.au/caepr/system/files/Publications/DP/2007_DP286.pdf (accessed 1 March 2010)
Australian Financial Review (2009). Self-employed are a happier lot by Jacqueline Maley, 7 September, p. 7.
Bird, D., Bird, R., and Parker, C. (2005). Aboriginal burning regimes and hunting strategies in Australia’s Western Desert. Human Ecology 33, 443–464.
| Aboriginal burning regimes and hunting strategies in Australia’s Western Desert.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Bryceson, K. P. (2008). ‘Value Chain Analysis of Bush Tomato and Wattle Seed Products.’ Report 40. (Desert Knowledge Cooperative Research Centre: Alice Springs.)
Cane, S., and Owen, S. (1985). ‘Land Use and Resources in Desert Homelands.’ (Australian National University, North Australian Research Unit Monograph: Darwin.)
Central Land Council. (2011). Building the Bush, CLC Rangers. Available at: http://clc.driverwebhosting.com.au/articles/info/clc-rangers/ (accessed 13 May 2011).
Centrefarm Aboriginal Horticulture Ltd. (2009). ‘A 5-step Training Program for Employment in the Anmatjere Region: An Internal Review of Centrefarm Aboriginal Horticulture’s Training and Employment Program from an Industry Perspective.’ (Centrefarm Aboriginal Horticulture Ltd: Alice Springs.)
Cunningham, A. B., Garnett, S. T., and Gorman, J. (2009). Policy Lessons from practice: Australian bush products for commercial markets. In: ‘Desert Knowledge Geojournal: Special Edition’. (Eds J. Davies and S. Holcombe.) pp. 429–440. (Springer: The Netherlands.)
Davies, J., White, J., Wright, A., Maru, Y., and LaFlamme, M. (2008). Applying the sustainable livelihoods approach in Australian Desert Aboriginal development. The Rangeland Journal 30, 55–65.
| Applying the sustainable livelihoods approach in Australian Desert Aboriginal development.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Davies, J., Campbell, D., Campbell, M., Douglas, J., Hueneke, H., La Flamme, M., Pearson, D. M., Preuss, K., Walker, J., and Walsh, F. (2011). Attention to four key principles can promote health outcomes from desert Aboriginal land management. The Rangeland Journal 33, .
| 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC3MXhtVGrsL%2FL&md5=cd26b283dab47745ecb5f35ff71e1161CAS |
Devitt (1988). Contemporary Aboriginal women and subsistence in remote arid Australia. Doctoral Dissertation, University of Queensland, Australia.
Douglas, J., and Walsh, F. (2009). ‘Small-scale Commercial Trade in Bush Produce Species between Aboriginal Harvesters and Traders from the Central Australian Region.’ Invited paper presented to CAEPR/ASSA Forum on Homelands/Outstations, Centre for Aboriginal Economic Policy Research/Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia. (Australian National University: Canberra.)
Fordham, A., and Fogarty, B. (2010). The viability of wildlife enterprises in remote Indigenous communities of Australia: A case study. CAEPR Working Paper No. 63. Available at: http://caepr.anu.edu.au/sites/default/files/Publications/WP/CAEPRWP63.pdf (accessed 7 August 2011)
Gibson-Graham, J. K. (2002). Beyond global vs. local: economic politics outside the binary frame. In: ‘Geographies of Power: Placing Scale’. (Eds A. Herod and M. Wrights.) (Blackwell Publishers: Oxford.)
Gray, M. C., Altman, J. C., and Halasz, N. (2005). The Economic Value of Wild Resources to the Indigenous community of the Wallis Lake Catchment. CAEPR Discussion Paper No. 272. Available at: www.anu.edu.au/caepr/system/files/Publications/DP/2005_DP272.pdf (accessed 1 March 2010).
Horner, R. (2001). Wild harvest. In: ‘Bush Food Workshop’. Centralian College, NT. (Northern Territory Government Desert Knowledge: Alice Springs.)
Hunt, J., Altman, J. C., and May, K. (2009). Social Benefits of Aboriginal Engagement in Natural Resource Management. CAEPR Working Paper No. 60. Available at: www.anu.edu.au/caepr/system/files/Publications/WP/CAEPRWP60.pdf (accessed 1 March 2010).
Ingamells, A. T., Holcombe, S., and Buultjens, J. (2010). Economic development and remote desert settlements. Community Development Journal 46, .
| Economic development and remote desert settlements.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Maru, Y., and Davies, J. (2011). Supporting cross-cultural brokers is essential for employment among Aboriginal people in remote Australia. The Rangeland Journal 33, .
Morse, J. (2005). ‘Bush Resources: Opportunities for Aboriginal Enterprise in Central Australia.’ Report 2. (Desert Knowledge CRC and Central Land Council: Alice Springs.)
Ngaanyatjatjara, P., and NPYWC (Yankunytjatjara Women’s Council) (2003). Ngayu-Lampa Mirrka, Our Food: Report on the Research Done to Investigate the Viability of Establishing an Aboriginal Bush Food Collective on the NPY Lands. Ngaanyatjarra, Alice Springs, NPYWC.
NTG (2001). Desert Knowledge Bush Food Workshop. Northern Territory Government, Desert Knowledge, Alice in Ten. Alice Springs (Unpublished).
Rea, N., Messner, J., and Gipney, C. (2008). ‘The Character of Aboriginal Training Pathways: A local Perspective.’ Report 34. (Desert Knowledge CRC: Alice Springs.)
Robins, L. (2007). ‘Outback Spirit Bush Foods – A Learning Model in Marketing and Supply Chain Management.’ RIRDC Publication No. 06/037. (RIRDC: Canberra.)
Robins, J., and Ryder, M. (2004). ‘Bush Tomatoes. New Crops Industry Handbook.’ RIRDC Publicaiton No. 04/125. (RIRDC: Canberra.)
Sanders, W., and Holcombe, S. (2010). The role of local government in desert settlement sustainability: a view from Anmatjere. In: ‘Sustainable Desert Settlements – Special Edition of the Journal of Economic and Social Policy (JESP)’. (Eds K. Seemann and J. Buultjens.)
Scoones, I. (1998). ‘Sustainable Rural Livelihoods: A Framework for analysis.’ (IDS) Working Paper 72. (Institute of Development Studies: Brighton.) Available at: www.uvg.edu.gt/instituto/centros/cea/Scoones72.pdf (accessed 5 August 2011)
Von Sturmer, J. R. (1984). ‘Talking with Aborigines.’ (Nungalinya College: Casuarina.)
Walsh, F. (2008). To Hunt and to Hold: Martu Aboriginal People’s Uses and Knowledge of Their Country, with Implications for Co-management in Karlamilyi (Rudall River) National Park and the Great Sandy Desert, Western Australia. Ph.D. Thesis, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia. Available at: www.desertknowledgecrc.com.au/education/graduates.html (accessed 5 August 2011)
Walsh, F., and Douglas, J. (2009a). ‘Aboriginal Harvesters Who Sell Bush Foods and Seeds from Central Australia for Food and Mining Revegetation Markets: Their Practices, Priorities and Opinions.’ Desert Knowledge CRC Report No. 72. (Desert Knowledge CRC, CSIRO and Charles Darwin University: Alice Springs.)
Walsh, F., and Douglas, J. (2009b). Harvester–trader exchanges: critical elements of small-scale commercial bush produce harvesting in central Australia sustained to at least 2006. In: ‘Sustainable bush produce systems’. Desert Knowledge CRC Working Paper 31. (Eds M. Ryder, F. Walsh, J. Douglas, M. Waycott, H. Robson, Z. Singh, M. Majer, T. Collins, J. White and B. Cheers.) pp. 20–49. (Desert Knowledge Cooperative Research Centre: Alice Springs.)
Walsh, F., and Douglas, J. (2009c). Alyawarr speakers from Ampilawatja. In: ‘Angka Katyerr-akert: A Desert Raisin Report’. (Eds F. Walsh and J. Douglas.) (Desert Knowledge Cooperative Research Centre, CSIRO and Charles Darwin University: Alice Springs.) Available at: www.desertknowledgecrc.com.au/researchimpact/downloads/DKCRC_Angka-Katyerr-akert_A-Desert-raisin-report.pdf (accessed 1 March 2010)
Walsh, F., and Douglas, J. (2011). No Bush Foods without People: the essential human dimension to sustained harvest and trade in native plant products from desert Australia. The Rangeland Journal 33, .
Yates, P. (2009). The bush foods industry and poverty alleviation in Central Australia. Dialogue, Academy of the Social Sciences 28, 47–56.
