117-26 Moowam or Nguriny - Sugarbag Honey Bees among the Wildflowers. 120x90cm acrylic on canvas

Gija and Jaru people have been harvesting food from the bush for thousands of years, and sugarbag honey from native Australian bees is a popular form of bush tucker.

These are called Moowam in Gija/Kija language and Nguriny in Jaru. 

Sugarbag bees live in colonies and produce honey from nectar, but unlike regular honey bees, they are stingless, making harvesting simple for the well-trained eye.

Local knowledge is centred around how to locate the hives, what time of year and seasons are best for the harvest and how to extract the sweet honey.