Great traditional Indigenous activities

Words Jamie Jansen

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Have you ever really immersed yourself in the culture and traditions of the Kuku Yalanji people? There is so much we can learn from the traditional custodians of our land. Experience an Indigenous tour, learn and share the culture of our country’s ancient people and you’ll feel a deeper connection to our beautiful region.

Dining with dreamtime stories

Each Thursday night visitors are treated to a very special and intimate performance at Flames in the Forest restaurant in the Mowbray Valley.

Presented by two local Indigenous brothers, the Indigenous Cultural Experience on Thursday evenings offers you the unique opportunity to immerse yourself in the traditional grounds of the Kuku Yalanji people, whilst connecting through storytelling, didgeridoo and song.

They share their remarkable culture with you during the evening which is staged within the natural, authentic backdrop of the rainforest.

You will learn about nature, heritage and spirituality and emerge with a true understanding of country through timeless oral traditions.

An educational experience

Learn about the environment, different bush foods and medicines. Sample some seasonal bush tucker while appreciating the history, culture and traditions of our Australian Aboriginal people.

Visit Aboriginal cultural sites, learn about the history of the region, taste some bush tucker and try spear and boomerang throwing.

Walkabout Cultural Adventures owner, Juan Walker has been guiding in the Port Douglas Daintree region for 19 years.

His business provides unique cultural tours within Kuku Yalanji country, focusing on Aboriginal culture, significant sites, environmental information and local tourist attractions, whilst being an educational and interpersonal Aboriginal cultural experience.

Indigenous fine art

An important way of getting to know more about Idigenous culture is through art. Indigenous art reflects the earliest period of this ancient culture; it has both artistic and anthropological merit.

Ngarru art gallery in Port Douglas showcases one of Australia’s finest collections of high-end indigenous art. The gallery also mentors and promotes a number of aspiring up and coming artists.

The collection includes a diverse selection of artefacts, including Maningrida sculpture and fibre weavings, authentic termite-hollowed didgeridoos, fashion, jewellery and homeware.

Dive even deeper into the understanding of Indigenous art at Janbal Gallery in Mossman where you can paint your own Aboriginal boomerang or canvas.

Owner of the gallery, local Aboriginal artist Brian “Binna” Swindley, is passionate about sharing his knowledge, Dreamtime stories and creative visual interpretations of Kuku Yalanji life.

Traditional Indigenous spearfishing

Cooya Beach (Kuyu Kuyu) is a special place and traditional fishing ground of the Kuku Yalanji people.

Kuku Yalanji brothers Linc and Brandon Walker follow the traditions of their ancestors by educating visitors about their traditional homeland on Cooya Beach where they continue to practice their cultural activities and maintain their cultural heritage.

During their Kuku Yalanji Cultural Habitat Tour the brothers teach you how to throw a spear, hunt whilst stalking and observing wildlife and how to find plants used for food and medicine.

They will also share some of their extensive knowledge of this special area and how they care for their country.

Learn the art of weaving

Indigneous people have transformed materials from their local environment using skill and innovation for many thousands of years.

One excellent example of this technology is weaving, using natural and renewable resources to create items such as baskets and traps.

Kuku Yalanji woman Delissa Walker learnt the traditional art of weaving from her grandmother, Wilma Walker, who was a famous weaver.

She now shares the cultural knowledge of weaving in boutique weaving workshops. A two hour weaving session includes sharing cultural knowledge on gathering methods, dyeing and techniques, as well as weaving demonstrations and personalised instruction by Delissa.