Meet the Minyungbal Traditional Owner and CEO of Currie Country Group.
Meet the Minyungbal Traditional Owner and CEO of Currie Country Group.
We are very fortunate to live in a part of the world where we are so rich with indigenous history; and if you’re anything like us, you want to soak up every single bit of it! Now, in case you weren’t aware, NAIDOC (National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee) Week runs from Sunday 3rd to the 10th of July this year. And this stands as an opportunity to celebrate the histories, cultures and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people along with the chance for you to participate in culturally enriching activities and events. With such a monumental occasion approaching we spoke to Minyungbal Traditional Owner and CEO of Currie Country Group, Arabella Douglas, about what Currie Country (located in the Tweed Coast) will be doing that you can partake in.
Tell us a bit about yourself.
I am Minyungbal Traditional Owner and CEO of Currie Country Group we have a farm at Burringbah where we grow award-winning Native Foods by Currie Country. We offer online cultural education and deliver cultural immersion events for private groups on land and sea.
What do you love the most about South East QLD / Far North NSW?
The lands, the waters, the skies and the people. It is a beautiful and special place, a privilege to call this place home for thousands of years 3500 generations of connection.
For those who don’t know about Currie Country, please explain to us a bit about it.
Who are you?
Currie is about family and country. We are a clan (minyungbal) within a nation (Bundjalung). Big, proud and loving. Smart, creative, organised. Applying an Aboriginal worldview to the future. Our vision is a suitable future. Culturally. Environmentally. Economically. To lead for the benefit of all. To help others change their views.
What do you do?
Know and Share Culture.
How?
We are in the business of solutions. Produce Quality Natives Foods. Quality education for chefs. Genuine culture events.
Tell us about your Full Moon Cruise and New Moon River Bank Events.
We host an incredible full moon cruise every month (they sell our fast), along with incredibly divine food and a time to release and renew, experiencing Aboriginal knowledge to connect to the country, place and purpose. A cruise to center yourself, and find an intimate connection to place. This is followed by a river moon ceremony as we watch the full moon rise, a reminder to engage in rituals that sustain the heart, mind and soul.
You will be launching a First Nations Talk radio program soon; what will this entail?
We are launching our radio program show First Nations Talk on the first Sunday of NAIDOC 3rd July to celebrate the theme this year Get Up, Stand Up, Show Up. First Nations Talk is a super cool, engaging and informative Sunday morning program on 101.3FM 8am-9am introducing the voices of First Nations people, their stories and their knowledge in/on the GC, Tweed, Byron and Ballina Coasts and around the world online. Seagulls Club Tweed Heads is supporting our launch (the first Sunday of NAIDOC 3rd July) at Seagulls Club with a family fun day! Come and celebrate, all are invited.
What is Currie Country doing for this year’s NAIDOC Week 3-10 July?
Sunday 3rd July – We are launching our radio program show First Nations Talk a Sunday morning program on 101.3FM.
Sunday 10th July – In partnership with Tweed Eco Cruises we host our ‘Annual NAIDOC family day on the River’ inviting folks to get in their boats – fly the Aboriginal flag, and honour the country and enjoy the waterways as a community (free event). All community members are invited to join us on the Tweed River in their boat or ours, bring a plate and cruise the river together as a community. Take a moment and focus on what we share as a community, and the incredible lands and environment brings to our lives. Rivers being activated include Tweed, Brunswick, Ballina, Brisbane and Sydney.
What does NAIDOC Week mean to you?
NAIDOC means a time for community to support the magnificence of vibrant First Nations culture, develop pride and joy, and a closeness to First Nations thinking, contributions and excellence.
When you visit the Gold Coast, what are your favourites…
Café/coffee spot: Dust Temple for coffee & vibe and Sumptuous Fine Food for the best salad roll ever!!
Restaurant: Absolutely “The North Room” at Mermaid – exceptional!!
Beach: Tallebudgera – ‘life does not get better than that, the connection of beach and river’.
How do you choose to spend your days off?
Spirit Work – beach walking, on country and reading (audio or books).
