Bush foods
Since the time of Tjukurpa, hunting and gathering has linked us Anangu traditional owners with our land. Gathering food expresses and reaffirms knowledge and ownership of the land.
With bush food collection, women and men perform specific tasks that contribute to the benefit of the whole community. Traditionally, the seperation of men's and women's business exists by Law, and these functions are balanced by a strong sense of cooperation.
Anangu women were traditionally responsible for gathering mai, tjuratja, maku and some kuka.
Men can and do dig for honey ants or collect fruit, but generally they are more likely to be
hunting kuka (meat). The men use a kulata (spear) with the help of a miru (spear thrower) to
hunt malu (red kangaroo), kanyala (euro) and kalaya (emu). Children have an important role to play in gathering and hunting. They accompany their parents and other adults to collect bush food and play, dig and work with the adults whilst watching and learning.
Pitjantjatjara words for bush foods
video: Bushfoods
Mai
Vegetables such as tjanmata (bush onion) and wataki (native pigweed)
Fruits such as kampurarpa (desert raisin), arnguli (bush plum), ili (native fig) and wayanu (quandong)
Seeds such as wakalpuka (dead finish) and wangunu (woollybutt grass)
Tjuratja
Sweet foods such as nectar from the kaliny-kalinypa (honey grevillea) and tjala (honey ants)
Maku
Edible grubs such as witchetty grubs
Kuka
Meat such as tinka (sand goanna), ngintaka (perentie), and malu (red kangaroo)
Ngampu (eggs) of birds and lizards
Tools for food collection
Women use three types of bowls. A wira is the smallest of the three bowls and is also used as a digging tool. Kanilpa is used primarily for cleaning seeds and piti, the largest dish, is shaped for carrying water. A head ring, manguri, is used to carry dishes on top of the head and a wana (digging stick), is used to loosen the earth to find bush foods. A tjungari (large grindstone) is used to process seed and the ground seed is then made into nyuma (seed cake). A smaller grindstone is used for preparing medicinal plants and ochre.
These traditionally designed implements are now often made for sale as artefacts. They are also used for demostration and learning purposes. The wana (digging stick) and wira (digging tool) are now made of metal and the kulata (spear) is often replaced by a rifle. Today people still enjoy hunting and gathering bush foods for teaching, enjoyment and experience.
Animal foods are still prepared according to the Laws. Such knowledge is highly valued and the older people are keen to pass it on to their children and grandchildren.
Learning more
The information on this page represents only a small fraction of the traditional knowledge of Anangu. Through working together with the traditional owners and engaging in cultural practices such as hunting, gathering, tool making, ceremonies and daily life, non-Indigenous people can continue to experience and learn this amazing culture. Anangu spend a lifetime learning from their parents and grandparents and it is the richness of this living tradition and culture that makes Uluru-Kata Tjuta a World Heritage living cultural landscape. We hope you enjoy the opportunity to learn about Anangu culture such as stories, landscape values, cultural significance and the importance of protecting and conserving the natural and cultural values of the park.
