Limestone Coast Business Celebrates First Nations Creators for National Reconciliation Week 2023
Content Warning: Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples should be aware that the following content may contain the names of people who have passed away.
Mountain Path Meadows is proud to mark National Reconciliation Week in Australia by shining the spotlight on Indigenous-owned businesses and First Nations artists and creators in South Australia’s Limestone Coast.
This week and every week, we acknowledge the Bunganditj/Boandik people, the Traditional Owners and First People of this Country where we live and work. We respect and acknowledge their Elders past, present and emerging.
It’s our privilege to share the following stories of local First Nations businesses and creators with you.
Little Blue Wren
Pumpundi by MJ
Pumpundi by MJ was started by Mount Gambier-based 13-year-old Mabel, who is proudly Boandik and Gunditjmara. Pumpundi, meaning “wild cherry,” is Mabel’s traditional name.
Mabel started a kindness campaign called Undercover Kindness, doing random acts of kindness for and within her mob. Watch a video all about Undercover Kindness (and get ready to have your day made).
Mabel has now branched out and created her own business, Pumpundi by MJ, selling hand-poured scented candles. Support a budding entrepreneur and buy one of Mabel’s scented candles today.
Aunty Penny Bonney
Aunty Penny Bonney is a proud Elder of the Moandik, Meintangk and Narrungga people, and is a celebrated musician and artist. She was born in Kingston into a large family of eight brothers and four sisters.
Her father was Phillip Bonney from Kingston and her mother Constance Wanganeen from Point Pearce mission on Yorke Peninsula.
Yawuri Penny Bonney’s great grandmother was the last traditional full blood Aboriginal woman to reside in Kingston and passed away in 1954. She was known as Queen Ethel Watson née Whimpy.
Yawuri Penny released her debut single in 2021 to recognise the 30th anniversary of the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody. Yawuri Penny originally wrote the song -- titled "Only Brother Knows" -- in 2004.
She was inspired to write the song about her brother who passed away in custody in 1990. Just this year in February, Aunty Penny was featured on The Project, telling the Craitbul story, which explains how WarWar (Blue Lake) and Mount Schank came to be.
Check out Yawuri Penny Bonney's music on Spotify.
Windyagarn
Windyigarn Natural Skin Care was created in January 2022, after intense testing to create the best quality natural and clinically active based skin care line possible. Windyigarn is 100% Aboriginal Owned, and family operated, and believes in sharing traditional culture with those willing to receive it, by using natural skin care based on thousands of years of cultural heritage and knowledge. Aboriginal Artist turned formulator, Bianka Carson, has created a line of skin care especially for you. Bianka has had her own skin issues and after using product after product, she turned to the stories told to her as a child, around Aboriginal Bush Medicine and protecting the land. Swing into the shop next time you're in Mount Gambier, or access Windyigarn's beautiful website anytime from anywhere.
Thanks for celebrating National Reconciliation Week 2023 with us. Please give these businesses and creators a like and follow…it’s free, and it helps them find customers in the future!