‘Reconciliation in every bite’: Sharing Indigenous foods in the development of a University Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP)

Reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people is of ongoing importance in Australia. For universities, reconciliation involves recognising the traditional ownership of the campus land, building relationships, developing reciprocity and goodwill, and being an exemplar in reconciliation activities. Central Queensland University (CQU) was one of the first universities in Australia to commit to a Reconciliation Statement (in 2001). This statement held the university in good stead for some time and allowed a range of education programs and activities to use it as a platform. In 2013, CQU launched a consultation process to further its commitment to reconciliation and develop a Reconciliation Action Plan. This paper examines the event used by CQU to launch its consultation. Food was central to the event, and the authors argue that, by focusing the event on food, they were able to move beyond “just words” to provide a consultation process that helped to build common ground, share ideas, and develop solid proposals for reconciliation. The authors argue that sharing food can be a practical and simple action for reconciliation. They draw on food literature to support their argument and provide an overview of Australia’s recent commitment to reconciliation.