Pitjantjatjara words - Bush foods
Since the time of Tjukurpa, hunting and gathering has linked us Anangu traditional owners with our land. Gathering food expresses and reaffirms our knowledge and ownership of the land.
Women and men perform specific tasks to collect bush foods that benefit the whole community. Anangu women were traditionally responsible for gathering mai (vegetables, fruits and seeds), tjuratja (sweet foods such as nectar or honey ants), maku (edible grubs like witchetty grubs) and some kuka (meat such as goanna).
Men can and do dig for honey ants or collect fruit, but generally they are more likely to be hunting kuka (meat).
Bush plum
Anangu word: Arnguli
Sounds like: Ah-noo-lee
Bush tomato
Anangu word: Tjantu
Sounds like: Jarn-too
Dead finish
Anangu word: Walka puka
Sounds like: Wharl-ka-booker
Desert raisin
Anangu word: Kampurarpa
Sounds like: Come-poor-rah-pah
Fruit and vegetable food
Anangu word: Mai
Sounds like: May
Honey ants
Anangu word: Tjala
Sounds like: Jah-lah
Meat or meat animal
Anangu word: Kuka
Sounds like: Kooka
Native fig
Anangu word: Ili
Sounds like: Ear-lee
Seed cake
Anangu word: Nyuma
Sounds like: New-mah
Witchetty grub
Anangu word: Maku
Sounds like: Mah-koo
