Mr Barilaro said the project would help restore traditional Aboriginal yam fields along the Bundian Way, which runs between the high country at Kosciuszko and Eden’s coast.

“I’m delighted the government’s been able to support this project because these yam fields have such an important connection to our community’s history and cultural heritage,” Mr Barilaro said.

Mr Constance said the open grassy habitat along the Bundian Way was under threat from exotic plant invasion, vegetation thickening, and feral animals. Aboriginal women traditionally helped managed these problems in the past.

“This project won’t just bring back the yam, it will help connect our communities with traditional Aboriginal food,” Mr Constance said.

Aboriginal women elders with traditional knowledge and cultural skills will help guide the project. Coordinating the project the project will be elder Aileen Blackburn with Annabel Dorrough from Native Seeds @ Natural Regeneration Australia.  

“This has provided the ideal opportunity to provide training for young indigenous women in the cultural importance of yams and yam fields and how this pertains to women and plant identification, seed collection, plant propagation and even building,” Ms Dorrough said.

“We built the yam hut at Jigamy farm and have been growing plants from seed collected along the Bundian Way.

“This grant will address the issue of the loss of yams and their associated open grassy habitat as a result of vegetation thickening, exotic plant invasion and feral animal introductions,” she said.

“These issues have arisen concurrently with the removal of human management practices such as the burning and digging that was traditionally undertaken by Aboriginal women.

“The lack of understanding of the women's roles and customs relating to the care of yam fields and those which are related to women's ceremonial and family business is viewed by Aileen Blackburn and others as being central to the demise of these species.  

“With this additional funding will enable a larger number of women to undertake training,” Ms Dorrough said.