Buying Blak for your Classroom
Did you know that Indigenous businesses are 100 times more likely to hire Indigenous staff, 56% more likely to provide pro-bono advice and 54% more likely to sponsor local community sport teams. These are just a few of the reasons why you should use your spending power to support and empower the incredible range of First Nations businesses out there that exist across all industries and sectors.
Growing the Indigenous business sector also has the potential to significantly assist Indigenous communities in breaking complex cycles of intergenerational disadvantage, economically empowering individuals, families and communities.
In recent years, we have seen the launch of a number of amazing platforms which support, celebrate and highlight First Nations businesses; Trading Blak being perhaps the most well known of these. This platform is “reclaiming the First Nations business space for First Nations people”.
In the education space, the market is full of non-Indigenous companies who sell ‘Indigenous inspired’ resources, artefacts and toys, majority of which have not been created by or even in partnership with First Nations people, businesses or communities. These often mass-produced products flood the market and compete with legitimately produced and licensed Indigenous products, thus taking away opportunities for Indigenous people to commercialise their culture in their own ways and for the benefit of their own families and communities.
While there are certainly varying levels of ‘allyship’ in regards to non-Indigenous businesses that sell products or services relating to culture, and while there are many non-Indigenous businesses that are collaborating respectfully with non-Indigenous communities and individuals, there are many more who are not, so the best way to avoid participating in the practice of cultural appropriation, is to do your research and know who you are buying from.
Supply Nation is Australia’s leading database of verified Indigenous businesses, and this register can be found at www.supplynation.org.au. It is a great starting point for finding out more about what Indigenous businesses are out there in your local area, and in the industry you are seeking. Most importantly, when purchasing ‘Indigenous’ resources, people shouldn’t be afraid to ask where the resources have come from. Transparency is key, and you can be sure that if a business is Indigenous owned and run, they will be stating that first and foremost, and it will not be hard to find that confirmation.
By ensuring that you take the time to do your research and engage directly with Indigenous businesses, you will be taking an important step to ensuring that your approach to including Indigenous perspectives into the classroom is not tokenistic, but rather, grounded in the recognition that it is Indigenous people themselves, who are best placed to share information and resources about their own culture.
While there are so many more, here is a quick list of some Indigenous businesses who work across the education space:
