Earth Ovens - Celebrating Aboriginal Intangible Heritage

Summary

Daniel Clarke, a Wotjobaluk man, shares insights into the earth oven event, a cultural gathering initiated in 2015 by Maurizio Campanelli and Darren Griffin. The event, held near the significant Wopet site in 2017, educates attendees about local Dreaming stories while demonstrating traditional cooking methods using earth ovens. Participants experience the revival of native foods like murrnong, once a staple for Indigenous people, and enjoy traditional dances led by Ben Muir. Clarke hopes the event will strengthen Aboriginal communities and foster unity between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Australians.

Takeaways

• 📜 Daniel Clarke introduces himself as a Wotjobaluk man with a diverse heritage, highlighting his family's origins from different regions in Australia.
• 🔥 The earth oven event, initiated in 2015, is an annual gathering that celebrates Indigenous culture and traditions, now in its third year as of 2017.
• 🏞 The event takes place at Wopet, a significant cultural site linked to the Dreaming story of Tchingal the emu, offering an opportunity for collective learning.
• 🍲 An earth oven is a traditional cooking method using an underground oven, heat-retaining clay, and wet rushes to steam food without burning it.
• 🌳 Bark from local trees, traditionally harvested with a stone axe, is used as a barrier in the earth oven to protect the food from direct contact with the soil.
• 🕰 The cooking process in the earth oven is slow, taking about 12 hours, allowing the food to cook gently underground.
• 🥘 The unveiling of the earth oven in the morning is met with anticipation, revealing the cooked foods, including tubers, meats, and murrnong.
• 🌾 Murrnong, once a staple food for Indigenous people, has been brought back from near-extinction thanks to the efforts of people like Wilma.
• 💃 Wotjobaluk dancers perform traditional dances at the event, led by Ben Muir, providing an opportunity for both Indigenous and non-Indigenous attendees to experience and appreciate the culture.
• 👨‍👧‍👦 Daniel Clarke's children, along with many other attendees, have the chance to witness traditional dances for the first time, fostering cultural understanding.
• 🌐 The event aims to strengthen the Aboriginal community in Western Victoria and South East Australia by providing a platform for involvement, learning, and community building.

Q & A

Who is Daniel Clarke and what is his cultural background?

Daniel Clarke is a Wotjobaluk man of mixed descent, with his grandfather's mother from Dimboola and his father from Warrnambool, and his grandmother from the Coorong in South Australia.

What is the Earth Oven event and who initiated it?

The Earth Oven event is a cultural gathering that began in 2015, led by Maurizio Campanelli and Darren Griffin, focusing on traditional Indigenous cooking methods and storytelling.

Why is the location of the Earth Oven event significant?

The event takes place next to the site of Wopet, an important cultural site where Tchingal the emu was killed in the Dreaming stories, making it significant for many communities.

How is an earth oven constructed and what is its purpose?

An earth oven is constructed by using clay as a heat retainer in the form of fist-sized balls, placed on a fire and covered with wet rushes and bark to steam the food without burning it. It is used to cook food slowly underground.

What materials are used to create the heat and steam in an earth oven?

Clay balls, wet rushes soaked for several hours, and locally sourced bark are used to create heat and steam within the earth oven.

How is the bark used in the earth oven cooking process?

The bark is used as a barrier between the food and the dirt, preventing direct contact and allowing the food to cook without being burnt.

What type of food is typically cooked in an earth oven according to the script?

Tuber vegetables and meats, specifically kangaroo and murrnong, are cooked in the earth oven.

What is murrnong and why is it significant to Indigenous people?

Murrnong is a native tuber that was a staple food for Indigenous people, especially in southeast Australia. It has a bitter taste when raw but becomes sweet and soft when cooked.

How has the availability of murrnong changed over time and what efforts are being made to restore it?

Murrnong became scarce as sheep grazing led to its disappearance from the landscape. Efforts by individuals like Wilma are being made to reintroduce and cultivate it, bringing it back from near-extinction.

What role do the Wotjobaluk dancers play in the Earth Oven event?

The Wotjobaluk dancers perform traditional dances at the event, led by Ben Muir, providing an opportunity for both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal communities to experience and appreciate their cultural heritage.

What is Daniel Clarke's hope for the future of the Earth Oven event?

Daniel Clarke hopes that the event will strengthen the Aboriginal community in Western Victoria and South East Australia, providing opportunities for involvement, learning, and community building.