Whichway?

Our truth

The Gamilaraay people, and other First Nations peoples across the plains of semi-arid Australia, once managed vast perennial grasslands. Amongst a suite of benefits, such as priceless ecosystem services, these native grasslands also produced edible and nutritious grain that have sustained mind, body, and spirit since time immemorial. 

However, our people have been systemically and systematically dispossessed, disenfranchised and exploited within agribusiness. Furthermore, our systems and structures of governance have been dismantled, making it difficult to equitably negotiate and impossible to self-determine. 

All peoples now exist within this globalised system; a system that relies on domination, homogenisation, extraction and exploitation; a system where, for the few to succeed, the many must fail; a system that is causing the climate crisis, the extinction crisis, and the little acknowledged global crisis that is loss of Indigenous cultures, knowledges, and languages.

We envision a world that is different, a world built on the principles of reciprocity, relationality, responsibility, & respect. We know that Indigenous people's, as the stewards of global biodiversity and holders of time-tested wisdom, can help us move through and beyond our current global crises.

Our purpose

Yaamarra & Yarral is a 100% Gamilaraay owned and operated social enterprise dedicated to reawakening the Gamilaraay people's native grain foodways; and increasing First Nations participation in, benefit from, and leadership of, the broader food and agriculture industry. 

We have developed seven streams of research, development and extension (RD&E) strategies and activities, guided by seven pillars of Indigenous self-determination, to see a self-perpetuating, First Nations led, holistically delivered, native grain industry operating within 10 years. Core to our purpose is maintaining authenticity and integrity in the re-emerging native grain industry.

Within the next 10 years we aim to be able to showcase a more resilient, regenerative, reciprocal, respectful and equitable way of producing food and managing Country. In the process of re-awakening our native grain foodways we will also look to advocate, elevate, and work with those in the food and agriculture industry who are aligning with our principles and working towards a better food future. This means that, beyond working with native grains, we will also work with other varieties of cereals, such as heritage wheat, ancient wheat like spelt, & underutilised grains like millet. 

Our way

Our Stone Mill project is the first small step to self-determination. While we don't own land, and Native Title does not allow for economic outcomes, we are working with landholders to re-establish our native grasslands. In collaboration with our growers, we will enter this space by addressing the biggest gap and bottleneck the native grain industry currently faces, the post-harvest processing stage. 

All native grains have specialist processing requirements preventing the industry from transitioning from a concept into a proven model. This is good for First Nations people, it means we have an opportunity to embed ourselves in the supply chain and assert our rights in this space before the industry is appropriated like so many other bushfood products. 

Gamilaraay people have not forgotten how to process our grains, and based on our cultural knowledge, we are innovating a commercially viable process whilst maintaining our authentic methods and identity. By showcasing the commercial viability of native grains, we hope it will increase the supply of native grains, and provide a viable income stream for First Nations communities.