Wurrumay Collective brings Indigenous makers to the heart of Braddon

Posted on 4 December, 2024

In what is certainly a first for Braddon, if not the entire city, Canberra now has an independent boutique stocking nearly 40 Indigenous-made, owned and run labels.

Wurrumay Collective is the brainchild of proud Gomeroi woman, Natasha Kaiser, whose mob is from Moree, but who moved with her husband to Canberra to pursue a career in the Royal Australian Airforce.

A skilled painter, who has operated an online shop for nearly five years, Tash always maintained a creative output on the side of her military career and, following the birth of her third son Henry Aagal (meaning ocean) earlier this year, felt it was time to follow her cultural calling.

Admittedly, in the race to settle on a shopfront in the Branx building and fill it with products, Tash did question her sanity, as her two other boys are just five and six.

But now she is officially open and ready to receive, particularly Canberrans wanting to support independent Indigenous brands, purchase ethical local goods for Christmas and learn more about the country along the way.

Tash has set up a coffee station as well as a welcome mat and sofa for mums who want to shop with their babies in tow. Henry will probably also be in attendance most days…

Wurrumay (which means “son”) Collective brings a central repository of beautiful Indigenous-made products to the city – from art, to candles, skin care, food products, teas, spice ranges, clothing, children’s toys, books, jewellery and homewares.

With nearly 40 makers, labels and creatives on board already (and more to come) Tash said that only three of her suppliers were not 100 per cent Indigenous-owned, although they did pay royalties and commissions to their Indigenous artisans.

Tash aims for the light and airy space to become a community centre of sorts, a place for workshops, talks and events centred on Indigenous culture and crafts.

“I would love everyone to feel welcome in the shop and to embrace more of our Indigenous culture through learning and exposure. Whether that’s understanding more about how to use native ingredients in a cooking demonstration, or enjoying story time with an Indigenous author.

“My whole ideology around this was I want to empower and showcase and also create a space that isn’t just a shop that you have to come in and buy stuff. I wanted to have a community space where you can make connections and get creative. This is a community space for not just for mob, but for everyone to come.

And yes kids are absolutely welcome.

“I know what it’s like shopping with kids, and if I can distract someone’s kid for five minutes by colouring-in while their mum has mom or dad has a look around them, I want to be able to do that.”

Tash also said that her growing range of T-shirts and clothing was suitable for Indigenous and non-Indigenous allies to wear. “I represent a range of really beautiful black and small businesses and I am so proud to showcase what mob puts out.”