At the Bangerang Cultural Centre, one of the many questions we very often hear from our visitors is about what kind of bush tucker Aboriginals eat, and what kind of bush medicine we have.
Living on and near the rivers for the Bangerang people was like living near a supermarket. When the Murray River was in flood, (spring and summer) fishing became a joint activity, involving more than one person. Large groups of people were working together in netting fish and crayfish, spearing fish and, as the river began to subside, building fish weirs across outlet channels to trap the fish returning from the swamps to the main stream.
Once the river level had dropped (late summer and autumn) and waters were confined to their normal channels, group activities were confined to underwater drives for fish in the broader reaches of the river, using short, stout spears. Canoes were used by the men as an aid in spearing fish in the river, with 3-pronged spears. At night a small fire would burn in the bow of the canoe attracting fish to the canoe.
The most comon fish caught were the Murray Cod and the Yellow - Bellied Perch. Tortoises were taken during hot summer days when the water was low.
Red and white meat was the favourite, including: Possum, Emu, Kangaroo, birds, fish, grubs, eggs, snake, ducks, larvea of ants, wild fowl, fruits and roots from the reeds.
The Bangerang loved fat from animals this was used to rub into their bodies to protect them from the cold and mosquitoes.
For more specific information about bush tucker click here
For information about our free guided bush tucker walk tours click here
