International visitors arriving at Sydney Airport this week had an immediate chance to experience Aboriginal culture as soon as they got of the plane.
Sydney Airport partnered with locally based charity First Hand Solutions to bring the celebrated BLAK Markets to Sydney Airport during National Reconciliation Week.
The BLAK Markets showcase a diverse range of Indigenous products, including beautiful examples of art.
The markets are in keeping with First Hand Solutions objectives to build empowered, resilient Indigenous communities through cultural reconnection, education, employment and enterprise,
Visitors to the BLAK Markets can be assured that all products they purchase are authentic, with proceeds going directly back to Indigenous people.
As part of the experience, sellers also told their story to help spread awareness about Indigenous culture and history.
An important social enterprise, the BLAK Markets also provide employment opportunities and assist with the development of business skills.
Sydney Airport is also in the process of developing our first Reconciliation Action Plan, which we aim to release later this year.
NSW is the nation’s number one state in terms of Indigenous tourism.
Sydney Airport chief executive officer, Geoff Culbert praised the work of First Hand Solutions in buiding strong strong, resilient Indigenous communities and empowering local communities and that’s something that’s critically important to us.
“That’s why we decided to partner with First Hand Solutions and we’re going to grow that partnership. It’s based on a shared vision around supporting social enterprise with purpose while also showcasing local talent.”
Kingsford Smith MP Matt Thistlethwaite inspected the market saying he could not think of a better location for the BLAK Markets than here in the gateway to what is the best city in the world, Sydney, at Sydney Airport,” he said.
“It would be one of the best things, I think, as an international traveller visiting Australia for the first time, to walk through those doors and to be able to experience Aboriginal culture as soon as you get off the plane here in Sydney.”
First Hand Solutions CEO Peter Cooley it was an exciting opportunity to have the BLAK Markets at Sydney Airport.
“It’s important for a number of reasons. Being the gateway to Australia, it’s an opportunity that enables us as an Aboriginal organisation to showcase authentic Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture and products to visitors on their arrival into Australia,” he said.
“I think it’s a wonderful thing for international visitors to engage with the oldest continuous culture on the planet.”
