A DAY OF REFLECTION AND RESILIENCE
January 26 is a day of reflection, not celebration. Today, it’s important to acknowledge the ongoing pain it represents for many First Nations people.
January 26 marks the beginning of profound mistreatment and injustice experienced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islands communities across modern Australia. For Dja Dja Wurrung People, and for many others communities, this date is not one of celebration but a time to honour resilience, reflect on truth, and continue the journey of healing and justice.
BUSINESS AS USUAL
As a First Nations-owned business, we acknowledge the ongoing discussions around the significance of January 26 and its impact on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. For us, this is not a day of celebration but an opportunity to foster understanding, healing, and solidarity.
Rather than treating the day as a public holiday or aligning with outdated narratives, we are embracing a “BUSINESS AS USUAL” approach. This reflects the growing movement to recognise and challenge the historical and cultural weight of this date, while continuing to focus on meaningful actions and conversations about justice, equity, and reconciliation.
We will remain open, treating the day like any other, without promotion or acknowledgment of "Australia Day." We aim to foster education and awareness about the cultural significance of the day. Our focus will remain on celebrating and uplifting First Nations voices, products, and stories.
TRIBUTES TO STRENGTH AND SELF-DETERMINATION
Survival Day, also known as Invasion Day, reminds us of the resilience and strength of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples. Despite the referendum rejecting a Voice to Parliament, our communities’ enduring strength ensures the fight for recognition, rights, and justice continues. For some, it is a day of survival and cultural pride; for others, it mourns the losses brought by colonisation—of land, lives, languages, and lore. These perspectives call for empathy, openness, and meaningful dialogue to bridge divides.
Before European colonisation, for more than 40,000 years our Martinga guli (Ancestors) celebrated the names and songs for the natural places within Djandak (Dja Dja Wurrung Country). We had an economy, a political system and the resources and means to take care of community.
Every day we honour our Martinga guli who fought for our right to access land and resources on Country, and who fought to uphold our values, lores, Culture and rights. Through initiatives that support cultural, environmental, and economic empowerment, we reclaim our rights, amplify our voices, and build pathways for self-determination.
OVER SIX YEARS, DJA-WONMURUK (YES-TEA!) HAS GROWN INTO A THRIVING BUSINESS, BLENDING BUSH TUCKER, CULTURE, AND COUNTRY TO CREATE PREMIUM LOOSE-LEAF TEAS.
Our teas are handcrafted with native ingredients sourced from organic and Aboriginal-owned growers, reflecting our deep respect for Dja Dja Wurrung traditions and sustainability. Dja-Wonmuruk bridges community and business by fostering cultural exchange, supporting Aboriginal growers, and promoting the health benefits of native superfoods and bush tucker.
Our reach has expanded into wholesale markets and high-profile venues, sharing the unique flavors of bush tucker with wider audiences. Late last year, Sharlee Dunolly-Lee (Founder) celebrated her graduation of the MURRA Indigenous Business Program at Melbourne University, a milestone made possible by the support of our communities and partnerships. While much has been achieved, there is more to do. These are exciting times as we continue our journey to share the flavours of Country and celebrate culture through tea.
The journey of Dja-Wonmuruk reflects the resilience, passion, and self-determination of sharing bush tucker benefits, knowledge and culture. From humble beginnings blending teas inspired by the benefits of bush tucker, Australian superfoods and native botanicals, to becoming a business that supports cultural and economic empowerment, Dja-Wonmuruk embodies the values of SUSTAINABILITY, QUALITY, and CULTURAL INTEGRITY.
Every tea blend tells a story—of healing Country, honouring tradition, and creating opportunities for the future. Each sip is a testament to the enduring connection between People, Culture, and Country, ensuring that the flavours and benefits of bush tucker continue to thrive, bringing strength, health and unity to communities near and far.
SUPPORTING INDIGENOUS BUSINESSES
Survival Day serves as an opportunity to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander businesses. Economic empowerment is a cornerstone of resilience, and when you engage with Indigenous products and services, you’re not just making a purchase—you’re contributing to community development and cultural preservation.
As a registered Aboriginal business, we invite you to stand with us. Every tea you sip, every connection you make, helps build stronger Aboriginal communities and supports the cultural and economic aspirations of our People.
THE GROWING INTEREST IN BUSH FOODS OVER THE LAST TWO DECADES HIGHLIGHTS THE SIGNIFICANT POTENTIAL OF THIS INDUSTRY. HOWEVER, FIRST NATIONS BUSINESSES REMAIN UNDERREPRESENTED IN THE SUPPLY CHAIN, ACCOUNTING FOR LESS THAN 1% OF GROWERS, MANAGERS, AND EXPORTERS.
Indigenous operators often receive the lowest financial returns, while non-Indigenous businesses benefit more by value-adding through processing, packaging, and distribution. Addressing these inequities requires supporting Indigenous businesses to participate across all stages of the supply chain—from production to value-added processing. Investing in technologies and infrastructure can help increase their share of the industry’s revenue and create sustainable enterprises.
By choosing to support Indigenous businesses, you are not only fostering economic resilience but also playing a vital role in preserving and sharing the rich cultural heritage of First Nations People.
WAYS YOU CAN TAKE ACTION
Australia often prides itself on being a diverse and inclusive nation. Yet, continuing to celebrate on Jan 26 perpetuates a national narrative that actively ignores the voices and lived experiences of First Nations people.
- SHARE & SIGN THE PETITION - You can help by signing the Clothing The Gaps not A Date to Celebrate petition which puts pressure on the Prime Minister, to reconsider and recognise the profound significance of this date and to acknowledge the harm that celebrating “Australia Day” on January 26 continues to cause Indigenous Communities.
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EXPLORE SUPPLY NATION - Discover and support certified Indigenous businesses that are creating meaningful change.
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LEARN ABOUT BUSH FOODS - The Bush Food Alliance highlights how Aboriginal entrepreneurial spirit is shaping the future of Australia’s bush food industry.
- READ BUSHFOOD DISCUSSION PAPER - Read the discussion paper to learn more about the challenges and opportunities for First Nations participation in the bush foods industry.
- SHOP OUR TEAS - Every purchase from Dja-Wonmuruk empowers Aboriginal communities, preserves cultural knowledge, and supports a sustainable future. With Shopify Planet, all orders include carbon-neutral shipping. We directly fund innovative carbon removal technologies, working to build a greener world.
WALKING FORWARD TOGETHER
FROM CARING FOR COUNTRY TO OUR HAND-MADE LOOSE LEAF TEA BLENDS, WE CONTINUE TO WORK TOWARD A FUTURE WHERE OUR PEOPLE, CULTURE, AND COUNTRY THRIVE TOGETHER IN UNITY.
January 26/Survival Day reminds us of both the historical injustices that have shaped this Country and the enduring resilience of its First Peoples. The journey of the Dja Dja Wurrung People, like that of all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples, is one of strength, adaptation, and profound self-determination. Let's approach this day with sensitivity and resolve, fostering respect, understanding, and justice. Together, we can build a society that honours the strength of the past and celebrates the possibilities of a brighter, more inclusive future.
