Gulbarn tea from the Yunmi Marketplace
Finders Keepers curator Monique chats with Founder/CEO Laura from Enterprise Learning Projects and Yunmi marketplace.
You must stop by Yunmi at stall B13, the recipient of our Brisbane Indigenous Program, at Brisbane AW18, this 22-24 June.
Tell us about Yunmi and the role you plays with the artistic and cultural life of traditional Aboriginal artists
Yunmi was established to provide a platform for Aboriginal people living in remote Australia to share their unique, culturally informed products with the world. Enterprises need access to markets in order to survive and grow. Remote Aboriginal communities are isolated from mainstream markets, and entrepreneurs in these areas face additional challenges in connecting with potential customers. Yunmi offers an online marketplace to help overcome these challenges, and provides sales, marketing and distribution support to the emerging Aboriginal businesses featured on the site.
This enables remote enterprises to tap into larger markets, increase their revenue and grow their businesses, while providing people across Australia and the rest of the world an opportunity to buy a range of products they would not be able to purchase otherwise.
People living in remote Australia are passionate about sharing their culture and using their traditional knowledge to produce contemporary items. Yunmi provides an avenue for consumers to interact with these producers, enabling the creation of new relationships that are mutually beneficial.
Margaret Duncan’s hand weaved basket from the Yunmi Marketplace
multi disciplined artist Margaret Duncan
What are you most looking forward to about your upcoming stall at Finders Keepers Brisbane?
We’re looking forward to giving Brisbane a small insight into the amazing creativity, entrepreneurship and cultural leadership that is happening among Aboriginal people in remote Australia.
We can’t wait to share some of the stories behind the products and give visitors to the markets a chance to take home something special.
Margaret Duncan’s hand weaved basket from the Yunmi Marketplace
Earrings from Nauiyu community
Who’s eligible to be a member of the Yunmi’s marketplace?
The products currently available through Yunmi have emerged through enterprise support offered by Enterprise Learning Projects (ELP), a Katherine-based business incubator. We are open to taking on products from other Aboriginal-led remote enterprises who need sales, marketing and distribution support.
Ngarinyman Bush Soap from the Yunmi Marketplace
Fridge magnets from Nauiyu – Yunmi Marketplace
What kinds of products do you sell in your shop?
Gulbarn, a traditional bush medicine of the Alawa people from Minyerri community, who have introduced it to the world as a herbal tea. You can learn more about Gulbarn Tea by watching this video here.
Our friend Ben Shewry, owner and head chef at Attica, says this about Gulbarn:
“It’s the most beautiful thing. It’s very light, very mellow, floral, soothing. It makes me feel good to drink.” We think you’re going to love it too!
We’ll also have a range of soaps from Yarralin-based Ngarinyman Bush Soap, who use infuse bush medicines wild harvested from their land with a glycerine soap base.
We’ll have some photography products from some of our enterprise project partnerships – postcards from Yarralin and earrings, key rings and magnets from Nauiyu/Daly River.
And a range of products created by artist Margaret Duncan, including gift cards and posters, wood carvings and hand woven baskets. You can learn more about Margaret’s story by watching the video below.