General News
28 October, 2026
Expo explores Indigenous arts
FIRST Nation artists and businesses will showcase their products at the third Indigenous Business Markets Expo this Thursday at Atherton’s Merriland Hall.
The event celebrates the businesses, artists, crafters, hobbyists, performers and organisations of the region and will include guest speakers discussing their products and projects as part of the day’s activities.
A church group will be singing, and for the first time, poetry readings will be performed thoughout the day.
“We’ve got some beautiful poetry,” organiser Marita Budden said.
“There’s such a variety of things. We’ve got some young girls in their 20s working with jewellery they make with their fingernails with resin. We’ll have basket weaving, skincare products made with crocodile oil, pottery, paintings.”
Marita, together with Sally Davis, are hosting the Expo.
The two regionally-based artists run their own “micro-businesses” – Indigitel Expressions and Arty Didgeridoo Bags, respectively.
Marita’s business creates products rooted in the original artworks of her and her family, including her sister Margaret Go Sam (Manggangu).
Their designs celebrate the country, cultural landscapes, flora, fauna, and native food sources of the Jirrbal (Jirrbalngan) and Ngadjan (Ngadjan-jii) rainforest peoples, and are featured on handmade items including art prints, paper crafts, custom card sets, unique gift boxes, wall hangings, and handmade jewellery (such as their popular “Dancing Brolga” and “Banggurru Birring” sea turtle necklaces).
Sally’s business is also a popular enterprise which creates hand-crafted carry bags for didgeridoos, blending durable fabrics with hand-applied artwork so no two pieces are the same.
The women said they first decided to hold an Expo in December last year.
“The thing is, the Tablelands is quite secluded, nobody knows what Indigenous arts are doing,” Sally said.
“We wanted to show the strength of the arts community, that it’s not about handouts.”
The women, who volunteer all of their time to organise and set up the Expo, said laughingly that they held the first one “four weeks out from Christmas”, which was a big learning curve.
The result was “awesome”, and they held another Expo in May.
Now, by popular demand, this third one will again promote an exciting cross-section of Indigenous ingenuity.
The women said the event aims to sell and promote First Nation businesses and creatives of the region.
They see the Expo as a “great opportunity to stroll the event and see who is doing what in our region, purchase some creative products such as art, clothing, books and other things”.
It also provides networking and conversations among businesses and visitors, and raises awareness of the vibrant Indigenous business community.
Sally and Marita are committed to building an inclusive and supportive Indigenous community and building a strong, respectful relationship with the wider community.
“Having built up our own businesses and shared with so many others doing the same thing, we realised that the most important thing is being able to show our products and reach new audiences,” Marita said.
“These Expos are a chance for us to catch up with other businesses and see what they are doing and support each other to be sustainable, creative and connected.
“We love seeing people share their stories and their products in a place that supports us to do so.”
The Indigenous Business Markets Expo will run from 10.30am to 6pm on Thursday at Merriland Hall, Atherton. For more information about the event, contact indigitelexpressions@gmail.com
