Imagine a world where ancient traditions meet modern innovation, where bush foods are harvested with precision and care, and where the stories of the past shape the future.

Welcome to the vibrant world of First Nations businesses, where self-determination is the driving force behind a revolution that's changing the face of Australia.

At the heart of this movement are almost 14,000 First Nations businesses and community-based enterprises, which generate $16.1 billion in economic activity each year. Standing alongside many of them is not-for-profit organisation Community First Development.

“Self-determination lies at the heart of our approach,” Community First Development General Manager of Supporter Engagement, Kathy Farrell, says.

“The community determines what’s best. We don't in any way, shape or form, say you should be doing this or that because we know they get better outcomes when they've identified what's going to work for their community and have ownership of the project.”

Kungkas Can Cook – a café, catering and bush foods business based in Alice Springs – is one such business that CFD has supported since early-2019. It promotes foods that have been enjoyed by Aboriginal communities for more than 60,000 years.

CFD helped the business increase the efficiency of its financial processes and to develop an e-commerce website that reflected its voice and social purpose. Kungkas Can Cook have shortened its supply chain so that local women harvesters benefit from every purchase.

“It's creating economic opportunities for women,” Kathy says. “We know women have an additional layer of challenges – they have a lot more caring responsibility looking after kids and grandkids.”

Kathy says the certainty of philanthropic multi-year funding and a flexible funding approach is crucial to achieve long-term positive changes. CFD receives multi-year support from various trusts managed by Equity Trustees.

“It can be a totally different environment when you're in a very remote community. Understanding the importance of self-determination and agency, as well as being flexible in your funding approach, is crucial.”

There have been times when a community hasn’t been able to achieve its original specific goals, but the work is continuing and having a positive impact because it is directed by communities who know their own changing needs.

Not all the organisations CFD supports are businesses – projects are entirely determined by First Nations communities with activities spanning governance, tourism, social enterprise, community facility upgrades, and cultural programs.

Another success story is the Littlewell Working Group. CFD worked with the group over several years as they sought to establish a trail and record their stories on the former Aboriginal reserve Jinjamarba Baba – or Littlewell – located on the outskirts of the town of Mingenew in Midwest Western Australia.

The Littlewell Working Group of about 30 First Nations people – former residents of Littlewell or their descendants – had total control over their decision-making. They chose to build a strong relationship and formalise a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the land’s legal owner, the shire, who were then able to lodge a funding application on the group’s behalf.

Their dream was ultimately realised, and their success was recognised with a NAIDOC Award for Caring for Country and the award of Woolworths Community Group of the Year through the Western Australian Regional Achievement and Community Awards.

For more information about Community First Development or to make a donation go to: www.communityfirstdevelopment.org.au/donate

 

Image (from left) Rayleen Kungkas Can Cook. Thomas Cameron from Littlewell Working Group. Thomas accepting the 2019 National NAIDOC Award for Littlewell Working Group.