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General
view of Iga Warta
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Terry
Coulthard deftly plucks one of the lime sized green fruits from the distinctive dark leaved umbrella shaped tree. He breaks it open to reveal a pulpy yellow interior with a delicious zesty taste. This is
‘Iga’ the native orange and just one of many bush food
and medicinal plants that are abundant in his home country, the
spectacular arid mountains of the Flinders Ranges. Here the Coulthard
clan at the small outstation community of Iga Warta named after
the distinctive bush food we have just tasted, have established
a unique family enterprise to share their land and culture.
There
is an infectious energy about this place and the way the Coulthards
envelop all visitors into their community and lifestyle. This
is contemporary Aboriginal Australia at its best in a landscape
filled with the presence of ancient cultural traditions, sites
and powerful stories. To the electric hum of the blenders, the
modern day ‘Bush Tucker’ ladies of Iga Warta work their
magic in the small kitchen of the Restaurant/Shop, one of the
hubs of this enterprise. They have worked out endless combinations
of mixing, blending and preparation to incorporate the exquisite
flavour of the wild peach ‘Quandong’ into an amazing
menu that delights the fortunate guests who dine in this off the
track, uniquely different restaurant.
Gourmet
bush food cooks, story tellers, cultural interpreters, singer/songwriters,
horse trek leaders and sharing, caring hosts; the Coulthard family
are an experience not to be missed.
Good travelling!
Joc
Schmiechen
Terry
Coulthard, Administrator of Iga Warta, explains the background
to Iga Warta.
“Nangga”
to you all. This means hello in Adnyamathanha, the language spoken
by my people the Adnyamathanha of the Flinders Ranges region of
inland South Australia.
The
Flinders Ranges are an arid mountain range stretching north from
the shores of Spencer Gulf into the dry outback of South Australia.
The Aboriginal history of the Flinders Ranges spans thousands
of years. I am a descendant of the original inhabitants of this
area, the Adnyamathanha people - the rock people. I grew up at
Nepabunna, which originally was a Lutheran mission. It was established
to accommodate the Adnyamathanha people whose land was taken away
when European pastoralists moved to the area. Nepabunna has now
developed into an important hub for the Adnyamathanha people.
My
family established Iga Warta meaning home of the native orange
and located a few kilometres west of Nepabunna, as our family
homeland. Here we enthusiastically and passionately share our
culture with our guests and take them through our Dreaming stories
(muda), go on bush tucker excursions and visit numerous art (paintings
and engravings) sites found in the Ranges. Urdlu and Mandya, Walha
and Warratyi, Wildu and Wakarla are some of the fascinating characters
of the Adnyamathanha Dreaming that I talk about with visitors.
As
a singer and songwriter I have used music to assist me in interpreting
the history of the area I live and work in. I follow a timeline
from before European contact to the present day with songs that
tell of the mission time, pastoralists and where my people are
today. As an educator I am very aware of the importance of education
in breaking down barriers and I believe that, with better understanding,
more people will come to respect my land, my culture, and my people.
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