NAIDOC WEEK REFLECTION
Dorinda Stone’s family is part of the Nunukal clan from Quandamooka Country and has connections to Kullili Country. She is also a much-loved member of our BOQ family.
We sat down for a chat with Dorinda to reflect on last week’s NAIDOC celebrations, in particular our bush foods sessions which were hosted by Kieron from Yalabin dining. Kieron's passion is to highlight the importance of sharing flavours enriched with scared story and deep meaning, and also happens to have a close connection to our very own Dorinda.
What’s your connection to Kieron?
Kieron is my cousin. My Nan and Kieron’s Dad (Uncle Greg) are brother and sister. Through Nan and Uncle Greg’s Mum, our family is part of the Nunukal clan from Quandamooka Country (Moreton Bay and Brisbane Bayside) and we have connections to Kullili Country (Thargomindah and surrounding areas) through Nan and Uncle Greg’s Dad. Our family is pretty close knit, and we all look after each other. We also both work in Indigenous sectors, are involved with our Native Title bodies and other local organisations, so that we stay connected with our wider families.
How important is it for workplaces to acknowledge NAIDOC week?
I think the best way for the outcomes of Indigenous peoples, minority peoples and Australian society to improve is for people to engage with, understand and appreciate those who are not like them. So that when people make decisions in their daily lives and at work, they take the needs of others into consideration. By celebrating NAIDOC week with an engaging experience like Kieron’s, BOQ is giving its employees the opportunity to engage with, understand and appreciate Aboriginal culture. I hope that everyone involved came away feeling enriched and they can use what they learned in the choices they make in the future.
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Did you learn anything new yourself from Kieron’s bush tucker session?
Personally, I love trying to implement native foods into my garden and pantry. For example, I went up to the Bunya mountains where our people used to meet with other groups in Southeast Queensland and learned about the uses of lemon myrtle and aniseed leaves. I now have those two trees in my garden and use their leaves when I have a cup of tea. Kieron’s session reminded me that I want to learn more about native foods and how our old people used to forage and cook – which is something I’ve been waiting to do for ages!
What does this year’s NAIDOC week theme - get up stand up show up - mean to you?
For me, NAIDOC is such a fun time of year because the events that are held bring our community together in such a positive way. It allows me to connect with family I haven’t seen in a while and lets me have conversations with people that I don’t normally get to have. I think this year’s theme is about doing more than making a promise to do something, but actually doing the hard yards to make things happen. For me it’s a reminder to go back to country, keep in touch with our wider family and helping as much as I can at work. For big organisations like BOQ, that means acting on our Reconciliation Action Plan, not just being satisfied with having one. Like I said before, our whole country needs to live this theme for meaningful change to happen.
Learn more about Kieron's buck food sessions and how you can celebrate the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples all year round by checking out the resources below.
https://supplynation.org.au/