Palawa people continue mutton birding season
The mutton bird harvest has taken place every season for as long as Tasmanian Aboriginal people have inhabited lutruwita (Tasmania). Mutton birds have sustained Tasmanian Aboriginal people throughout history, providing a seasonal, reliable source of nutritious food
Mutton birds are Australia's most abundant native seabird. It is estimated that 18 million birds breed in 211 colonies across the Furneaux Islands in the Bass Strait, between Victoria and Tasmania.
Rebecca Digney, a palawa woman and Manager of the Aboriginal Land Council of Tasmania understands the importance of continuing the practice of mutton birding by the palawa people.
‘People were able to go out to the islands and practice their culture. The islands provided a sanctuary for knowledge to be passed down, away from judgement,’ said Rebecca.
The ancient tradition of mutton birding has sustained Tasmanian Aboriginal people throughout history and these ongoing cultural practices have continued to provide a source of economic participation today.
‘What mutton birding has done over the years is it’s provided that seasonal income where people can earn a little bit of money for themselves and their families,’ said Rebecca.
Whilst the method of catching mutton birds has remained the same for millennia, over the last 220 years, the way in which mutton birds are processed has changed significantly.
These days, Aboriginal people are harvesting, as required, to follow modern standards of food processing and handling.
Other cultural practices have continued on the islands too. Shell stringing, the practice of collecting shells for necklace making, kelp basket making and traditional basket weaving.
‘People were able to go to the Furneaux Islands as a community and while they were there, a lot of storytelling happened, a lot of passing of cultural and family knowledge happened,’ said Rebecca.
For the last 20 years, The Aboriginal Land Council of Tasmania have been assisting mutton birders by providing infrastructure, such as processing sheds on the mutton bird rookeries, in lutruwita (Tasmania).
During the 2023 season, all mutton bird sheds on lutruwita remained operational and funding from the National Indigenous Australian Agency supported the Tasmanian Aboriginal community to maintain their spiritual connection to Country and culture.
The ongoing maintenance of infrastructure ensures that the community can continue their cultural practice each year