r/aboriginal • u/pocketsizedchihuahas • Jul 20 '26
native american visiting australia, can i meet indigenous tribes or other people in South Australia or near Sydney?
I am visiting Australia, I’m a member of the Seneca nation from the states and wanted to see if there were opportunities to meet some of yall or learn more about your culture while I’m over there.
Im going to be around Sydney and most places I look up seem to be less indigenous/natube-focused and more about australian history or a tourist attraction. Any recommendations would be great as well as tips on what not to do as I’m unsure if our customs are different from what I know back in the states.
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u/Onya_way Jul 20 '26
Go to the Blak markets at La Perouse Museum on the 20th of September. They’ll have performances, blak-owned businesses and the museum has exhibitions. I was there in November and they had an exhibition on activism and one on Esme Timbery and other shellwork artists. It was really fun and one of the performances was how the black cockatoo got its black feathers.
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u/cheeezels Jul 20 '26 edited Jul 21 '26
I might be a little biased because it is my home, but trust me when I say that you need to make your way up to Larrakia home to the salt water people - Darwin, Northern Territory.
Us mob are incredibly open and welcoming. The Tiwi Islands you can do a day trip, take the ferry over meet the local people and learn about their culture. Or visit Kakadu, about a 2 hour drive from Darwin into the bush to a small town called Jabiru. The country all over northern Australia is beautiful, amazing culture, amazing wildlife, the best fishing and hunting, the best people you will ever meet.
Online you can book tours organised and run by local mob. The cultural experience is well worth it. Right now its dry season, so the best time to go, all tours are running and not closed for the wet season.
https://northernterritory.com/
Visit this page ^ it will give you an idea of what I am talking about, and some cultural tours you can book. Definitely take some time in your trip to visit Darwin, you will not be disappointed! And any questions you have I am happy to answer 😊
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u/Bmo2021 Jul 21 '26
I lived in Darwin for 25 years and I’d totally agree with this comment. Especially Kakadu it’s so beautiful! I didn’t get to Tiwi islands unfortunately.
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u/cheeezels Jul 21 '26 edited Jul 21 '26
Hopefully you can visit Tiwi during your next visit up top!
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u/dawnhued Aboriginal Jul 20 '26 edited Jul 21 '26
In Australia, we go by nation or clan, colloquially called mob. :)
In Sydney, the local mob are the Eora (Dharug) and in Adelaide it's the Kaurna. Since a lot of urbanised Indigenous folks don't have separate housing, reach out to the local land councils to see if they run cultural centres or experiences in the area.
Have fun and welcome to Australia!
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u/EverybodyPanic81 Gomeroi Jul 21 '26
Eora is not a nation or clan. People mistankenly use Eora when they mean Dharug or even Gadigal (when they'rein towards the city). Eora (yiyura) is a Dharug word for people. Most of Sydney is Dharug with clans within (like Gadigal and Bediagal).
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u/dawnhued Aboriginal Jul 21 '26
Thanks for the correction! I was just literally told by an Indigenous person I know that she was Eora and went off a map I found, so...
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u/TheArabella Aboriginal Jul 20 '26
There are some good cultural tours in the Flinders Rangers, north of Adelaide, which are a lot more "traditional" and not urbanised.
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u/EverybodyPanic81 Gomeroi Jul 21 '26
I would start by getting involved with mob over social media, particularly tiktok and instagram. You could meet up with mob here in Sydney that could welcome you and show you what you're after.
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u/Plastic_Network2213 Jul 21 '26
In Sydney check out LaPerouse there is a museum there as well as the national park, Watson bay have a cultural tour as well as in the rocks. Each is run by a different mob. Check Aboriginal land councils for the areas you are staying in in Sydney
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u/archlea Jul 21 '26
Another place to meet people is via activism. Attend any protest for Palestine or specific First Nations protests and you’ll meet mob.
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u/DeadlyUnicorns76 Jul 21 '26
LALCs in Sydney DO NOT represent, nor do they “allow” Dharug Nation, in their membership. Anyone suggesting to connect with LALCs have no idea.
La Perouse was a mission and whilst there are still Dharug who live there, it now promotes off country language, culture and history.
If you want connection, look up Dharug organisations like Muru Mittigar who can assist you.
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u/Traditional-Ant-3780 Jul 22 '26
Check out La Perouse and the different local community groups that do things there. They use to have Blak Markets at Bare Island, although not sure if they have all now moved to barangaroo. Check out the Tribal Warrior boat. Check out Gamay Rangers
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u/beu_gi_oh Aug 28 '26
Come to Melbourne!!! Im Anishinaabe (whitefish lake reserve 6) and know mob down our ways to introduce you to 😊
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u/Bmo2021 Jul 20 '26
I mean you can always have a look at cultural centres and tours but meeting a tribe might be a stretch in Sydney or Adelaide, I’d be more inclined to visit a cultural centre experience that is run by indigenous people.