7 ways to incorporate Indigenous culture into your next event

Delivered by the area’s Traditional Owners or acknowledged Elder or Knowledge Holder, a Welcome to Country takes place at the start of an event and can take several forms including singing, dancing, smoking ceremonies, and/or a speech. Incorporating a Welcome to Country into an event demonstrates respect by upholding Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural protocols. Today, these practices have been adapted to contemporary circumstances, but the tradition of welcoming visitors to Country is longstanding. After granting permission for a group to enter their Country, the host group welcomes the visitors, offering them safe passage and protection during the journey in exchange for respecting the rules of the Custodians while on their Country. Australia’s convention bureaux or your local event partner can assist with arranging a Welcome to Country for your next event.

A live performance – whether it be dance, rock, acoustic, or even opera – is an exciting and engaging way to share the culture of Australia’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. For a contemporary take on traditional Aboriginal dance, impress guests with a performance from Bangarra Dance Theatre at the newly refurbished Walsh Bay Arts Precinct in Sydney/ Warrane. The precinct has event space across four rooms on the water’s edge near the Sydney Harbour Bridge; or, tour schedule permitting, Bangarra’s dancers can perform at other venues around Australia. In the Gold Coast, the Jellurgal Aboriginal Cultural Centre is home to the Yugambeh Aboriginal Dance Group who will captivate guests with a thrilling display of traditional song and dance. Arrange a private performance at Currumbin Sanctuary, which offers 66 acres (27 hectares) of bushland and rainforest and a range of indoor and outdoor settings for events.

Energise the crowd at your next event by inviting a guest speaker. Saxton Speakers has access to a range of well-known keynote speakers and MCs, many of whom are Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander. Inspire guests with motivational speakers like Olympian Cathy Freeman or Australian journalist and television host Brooke Boney, or have them in stitches with comedian Sean Choolburra who’s known as the ‘Godfather’ of Aboriginal comedy. Celebrity Speakers also has an impressive pool of talent, like Dhinawan - aka Mick Baker, one of Indigenous Australia’s cultural ambassadors - whose spontaneous, straight-from-the-heart cultural commentary has attracted high profile companies including Telstra, Foxtel and Oxfam. Or, consider inviting an industry representative like Melbourne based Torres Strait Islander chef and entrepreneur Nornie Bero, or Dale Tilbrook, a Wadandi Bibbulmun woman who runs a tourism business in Western Australia’s Swan Valley and passionately promotes Indigenous history, art and culture with a particular interest in Australian native edibles.

Getting guests out and about exploring Australia with an Indigenous guide has a dual benefit: it incorporates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures into a program whilst showcasing the beauty of Australia’s landscapes. In Melbourne/Narrm, groups can gain an appreciation for the heritage of the Boonwurrung and Woiwurrung peoples on an Aboriginal Heritage Walk through the city’s beautiful Royal Botanic Gardens. As they identify significant native plants within the Gardens, guests will learn about Indigenous plant uses, customs and ongoing connection to Country before swapping stories over a refreshing cup of lemon myrtle tea. In Perth/ Boorloo, proud Noongar man Walter McGuire from GoCultural Aboriginal Tours and Experiences takes groups on insightful walking tours of the city centre, Kings Park and Rottnest Island, offering a glimpse into Perth’s Aboriginal heritage. For a water-based journey, head to Queensland’s Sunshine Coast to cruise through history with Saltwater Eco Tours, an Indigenous-led sailing tour. Aboard a restored century-old timber sailboat, groups of up to 35 guests can spot turtles, dolphins and sea birds as their guide shares the powerful Dreamtime stories of the local Kabi Kabi or 'Saltwater People'.

Give guests a taste of Australia’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture by integrating Indigenous ingredients into your event’s food and beverage offering. Engage a caterer that specialises in the use of traditional bush foods, like pop-up dining sensation Fervor, who work in partnership with the Traditional Owners of regions throughout Western Australia to stage outdoor dining experiences that celebrate local native ingredients. When it comes to the drinks list, the Aboriginal-owned Sobah Beverages is a great place to start – they’re a family run company making premium non-alcoholic craft beers infused with native fruit and spices. For an interactive experience, arrange a bush tucker tour with an expert like Josh Whiteland from Koomal Dreaming, or stage a thrilling culinary challenge with The Cheeky Olive, hosted by Australian Indigenous chef, television presenter, author, and Bundjalung man, Mark Olive. 

For a cultural experience that gives back, engage a business that supports Indigenous youth and career development. Voyages Indigenous Tourism Australia has a strong commitment to social responsibility; where profits from Ayers Rock Resort and the Mossman Gorge Centre are used to support Indigenous training and employment through the National Indigenous Training Academy. In Darwin, Karen Sheldon Catering and Training influences change by inspiring, training and mentoring Indigenous jobseekers, and by advocating the use of bush foods harvested by Indigenous Territorians. In Cairns, Dreamtime Dive & Snorkel, owned by Experience Co, has heavily invested in providing opportunity for employment and growth for Indigenous youth. They’re working towards the goal of having all crew positions filled by Indigenous staff, which includes supporting the crew to attain their skipper and engineering tickets.

To leave a lasting impression, give guests a piece of Indigenous culture to take home with them. Melbourne-based Indigenous-owned brand Taka Gin Co makes craft gin using native ingredients like lemon scented gum and finger lime, which comes in 200mL bottles that are ideal for corporate gifting. Or consider a beautiful scarf or accessory from Ngali – a high-end Indigenous-owned fashion label which brings Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artwork to the world through the medium of clothing and collectibles, whilst supporting literacy programs for young people in remote Aboriginal communities. Maruku Arts near Uluru has a range of gift ideas, from handmade Punu (wooden sculptures) to unique jewellery and paintings. Incorporate into your gift pack a product from Bush Medijina, also from the Northern Territory, which draws on traditional knowledge to make modern skincare products like body butters, balms and soaps featuring native botanicals like wild peach and wattle.