Noongar Bush Tucker: Bush Food Plants and Fungi of the South-West of Western Australia

$34.99

FISH - Foundation for Indigenous Sustainable Health

Before the colonisation of Australia, Aboriginal Australians lived on a wonderful larder of fresh fruit, vegetables and lean meat, in a land largely free from disease, with more exercise, less stress and supportive communities.

Today, in Aboriginal communities all over Australia, there are higher instances of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, renal disease, some types of cancer and lung diseases than in the general population.

This book is an attempt to preserve bush tucker knowledge for future generations of Aboriginal and non- Aboriginal people to ensure the information is not lost with the passing of Elders.

The authors describe over 260 species of the edible plants and fungi that were regularly gathered by the Noongars of the Bibbulmun Nation of the south-west of Western Australia before and after colonisation.Many of these plants and fungi are difficult to find today because of land clearing for crops and the farming of sheep and cattle.

About the Authors

Vivienne ‘Binyarn’ Hansen is a Balladong Wadjuk Yorga woman from the Bibbulmun Nation, or Noongar people, of the south-west of Western Australia. After a childhood of learning about traditional medicine, Vivienne undertook formal training at the Marr Mooditj Foundation and completed Certificate IV in Bush and Western Herbal Medicine. She was also the first Indigenous member of the National Herbalist Association of Australia, and presented at the 7th International Conference on Herbal Medicine in 2010.

John Horsfall has had a long career as a Mental Health and General Nurse. He has taught at the Western Australian School of Nursing and, later, at the Curtin University Centre for Aboriginal Studies. He was the Training Coordinator at the Specialist Aboriginal Mental Health Service in Perth before retiring in 2013.

About the Book

Paperback

Pages 442