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The dotted motifs of much of today’s Aboriginal modern design work has become
the trademark of the contemporary Aboriginal Art movement. Its iconic status
developed from a culture stretching back into the history of an ancient land,
evolving and weaving into desert dreamtime stories. Aboriginal people have
lived in Australia for many thousands of years. One of the secrets to their
success was their knowledge of nature and ‘bush food’ (‘bush tucker’).
Throughout Australia, different plants have been identified as edible by the
Indigenous Australian's over many thousands of years. Among the many plants are
many species of bush berries gathered by Aboriginal women and forming a staple
part of their diet. Identifying the plants and knowing the plants lifecycle of
flowering and fruiting formed part of the knowledge that is past down from
elders to children.
Plants that produced edible berries are depicted in many Aboriginal art work,
some specifically identified such as sultanas and bush tomatoes, whilst others
are just rendered as ‘bush berries’ encompassing the full range of edible
berried plants.
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