October 05, 2022

Why we don't call it Bush Tucker

At Warndu we prefer to use the terms for Australian Native Food or Bush Botanicals to describe our amazing foods that are endemic (or native) to Australia.

To us they are the ultimate food. The oldest foods in the world. The ones that grow in our backyard. Bush Tucker and Bush Food are not our preferred terms due to the sometimes.

Bush tucker, bush food, native food. All terms to describe our amazing foods that are endemic (or native) to Australia. But to us they are simply local food. The oldest foods in the world. The ones that grow in our backyard.

We personally as a business have decided not to use the terms ‘bush tucker’ or ‘bush food’ because of the sometimes racist associations as well as the old fashioned 1980’s Russel Coight type stereotype which takes the piss out of the bush and to us, is offensive.

Warndu prefers to use the terms local food, First Nations Food, Australian Native Ingredients, Australian Native Food, Bush Botanicals, Australian Native Fruits, Australian Native spices in place of Bush Tucker and Bush Foods or Bushfoods.

Please note that we do use the terms bush tucker and bush food on our website to help people find our site.

More and more people are using First Nations Foods to describe all first nations or indigenous food to a land or area.

In our Native Food directory and free app we have gathered information about the plants from our research that we have used for our books. Where possible we have gathered information about Aboriginal use of foods. Local foods make part of a totemic responsibility for Aboriginal peoples.

It is more than a symbol and speaks to the custodial and stewardship that Aboriginal peoples have that connect personal identify to country.

Aboriginal Totems are more than just a symbol. They represent the sense of ownership and responsibility these communities feel over the land, by connecting personal identity with the natural world.

This means that they look after the natural resources in their area and ensure that they are not overused. It also means that they will never kill their totem animal. As everyone is given a specific totem, this means that each part of nature has a steward looking over it.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples also have a spiritual responsibility for their totem. During their ceremonies, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples ask for enough food and rain for the following season so that their totem can survive. This translates over into farming and agriculture practices, too.

A totem is a symbol taken from nature, such as a plant or animal, that is inherited by members of a culture, community or family as their spiritual emblem. Totems define peoples' roles and responsibilities, and their relationships with each other and to creation itself.