Embedded Files
Food Staples: PLants
Food Staples: PLants
Aboriginal people used plant and animal resources from the alpine and tableland regions according to seasonal availability. Summer and autumn were 'times of plenty' with many plants flourishing and the Bogong moths migrating. During winter, food was more scarce, but was still available (Josephine Flood, 1980).
Roots
The most important plant foods were 'roots', the underground parts of certain plants, such as Yam Daisy, orchids, lilies, Native Geranium and Water Ribbons which were available all year. They were dug up then placed on the coals or in an earth oven (in a shallow underground pit with hot stones) to cook before being eaten. Some were eaten raw (Josephine Flood, 1980).
Halling, 1999
Fruits
Fruits were mostly picked raw and eaten or let fall to the ground to be at their eating best: Native Cherry, Native Currant, Mistletoe, Geebung, Native Raspberry, Banksia, Bottlebrush, Grevillea and Cranberry Heath.
Seeds
Larger seeds from Wattle (Acacia), and also Black Kurrajong could have been ground to a paste and eaten; smaller seeds from Sorghum, and Parakeelya would have been ground and baked; and others, such as Mistletoe were eaten along with the fruit, and Hovea seeds together with their pods.
Grass seeds were not a very important food source in this region compared to other more arid areas of Australia. This is because they were quite labour intensive to harvest and process (Australian National Botanic Gardens, 2011).
Food Staples: Animals
Food Staples: Animals
The staple animal foods were possums, kangaroos, wallabies, reptiles, birds, such as emus, ducks, brolgas and swans. Most of these were available all year round. What can you see pictured in the Yankee Hat art?
The coldest months were the leanest until fish returned in the spring and in summer they could trek to the mountain ranges for the Bogong moths.
Rock Art at Yankee Hat, Namadgi National Park
Bogong moth hunt
Bogong moth hunt
One important aspect of life for the Ngarigo people was their involvement in the annual bogong moth hunt.
The moths were found in summer amongst rocks in the mountains and tribes would travel great distances to join in the feasting. Other tribes friendly with the Ngarigo were allowed to participate in the hunt after certain ceremonies and rites had been performed.
This video details the incredible migration journey of the Bogong moth and shows you where they rested in the Alps.
Watch this video to learn more about the traditional ways of hunting the Bogong moth and the associated feasts.
The Yam Daisy, one of the plants that sustained the first inhabitants of the Monaro region.
The Acacia was used for food, medicinal use and even as a fish poison. Use pp.15-27 of the pdf to learn more.
Grow well in dry areas and on granite outcrops. Fruit is eaten raw in summer and the stems could be eaten in winter.
The Chocolate Lily's tubers were often eaten. They also give off a wonderful chocolatey scent!
more resources
more resources
The Moth-hunters: investigations towards a prehistory of the south-eastern highlands of Australia
Bogong moths and Parliament House
Listen to Aunty Fran Bodkin talk about western science meeting Indigenous knowledge when it comes to Native Australian Plants
Page updated
Report abuse