Pic: The performance from Brolga Dance Academy captivated everyone!
Community turned up for a night of Indigenous excellence at Twilight Blak Markets at NCIE on Thursday 1 April 2021.
The event was a deadly celebration of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, businesses and culture, right in the heart of Redfern.
13 First Nations stalls sold a range of products including jewellery, art, homewares, clothes, gifts and more.
Stalls were curated and organised by First Hand Solutions – a social enterprise providing economic development opportunities, training and employment for Aboriginal people.
NCIE CEO Clare McHugh said it was exciting to partner with First Hand Solutions again and support, promote and amplify Indigenous businesses and enterprises.
“It’s wonderful to see community come out in force and support Blak Markets here at NCIE,” Ms McHugh said.
“Every dollar spent at the stalls, goes straight back into improving wellbeing outcomes for not only the individual business owners but their families and communities – it has a massive flow on effect.”
THE COMMUNITY CAME OUT TO SUPPORT FIRST NATIONS BUSINESSES, TRADITIONS AND CULTURE
First Hand Solutions CEO Peter Cooley said “Blak Markets has been running for 8 years with the aim to improve the lives of mob through economic development and employment, and by showcasing and promoting our culture for everyone to be a part of.”
“Thank you NCIE for partnering with us, we love coming to Redfern and we hope to continue in the future.”
Jewellery, Fashion:
There was a wide variety of fashion, clothing and jewellery businesses.
The Acension apparel stall stood out with its bold and proud t-shirts, while Nariama Designs sold handmade jewellery, paintings and prints.
Beautiful jewellery items were also for sale at Sonia Pallett’s stall.
Ms Pallett makes sterling silver jewellery using semi-precious stones, while incorporating Aboriginal symbols such as Emu footprints and waterholes into the pieces.
BEAUTIFUL JEWELLERY FROM SONIA PALLETT
Art, homewares, gifts:
The hand-sewn products and fabrics from Indigenous women’s sewing group, Double Bridge Farm, were stunning as was the work from Ngandabaa.
Proud Yuin woman Rheanna Lotter, founded Ngandabaa in 2014, which showcases her original art on everyday products such as drink bottles, digital prints, phone cases and more.
Rheanna said in doing this she is staying modern and ahead of the curve.
There was also a range of hand painted boards, earrings and cushions from Bundjalung Art and amazing original pieces from Yaingayaingarra.
DREAMING OF COUNTRY HAD AN EXCELLENT RANGE OF AUTHENTIC ART FOR SALE
Food and Plants:
The Unexpected Guest had a range of organic food and Dreaming of Country sold a variety of bush foods.
First Hand Solutions’ own enterprise, native plant nursery, IndigiGrow sold native herbs, seeds and plants during the evening.
IndigiGrow, is a new venture which aims to provide a place to connect to community, culture and native flora.
Mr Cooley said having IndigiGrow be a part of the Blak Markets was a great way to meet with community and teach them about the traditional ways plants were used.
“The IndigiGrow stall gives people an opportunity to learn more about native plants, then take them home and grow them themselves,” he said.
The NCIE Catering team served up some deliciously perfect market food including vegetarian spring rolls, South American hot dogs and Peri Peri chicken wings.
There were also some deadly live performances at the Blak Markets, starting with a Smoking Ceremony from our good friends at Tribal Warrior and an Acknowledgement of Country from Aunty Donna Ingram.
OUR FRIENDS AT TRIBAL WARRIOR KICKED OFF THE EVENT WITH A SMOKING CEREMONY
This was followed by an incredible performance from Brolga Dance Academy, which had the large crowd enthralled and mesmerised from start to finish.
A TRADITIONAL DANCE WAS PERFORMED BY BROLGA DANCE ACADEMY
Our very own Aunty Beryl and her friend and renowned chef Kylie Kwong gave a cooking demo later in the evening, creating tasty barbecue chicken and kangaroo using traditional flavours.
AUNTY BERYL AND KYLIE KWONG CREATED DELICIOUS, INDIGENOUS-INSPIRED FOOD
Kylie Kwong said it is always exciting cooking with Aunty Beryl, who has taught her so much about the culture and culinary traditions of First Nations people.
Thank you to everyone who turned up, watched the performances and supported First Nations businesses! Big shout out also to our MCs, Abigail Delaney and Maia Dowd!
Huge thanks also to Blak Markets for their partnership in this event, and also to City of Sydney for supporting the evening.
Take a look at more photos from Twilight Blak Markets on our Facebook.