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Cafe and culture combine

Briana FioreHarvey-Waroona Reporter
Kaya Treendale team members Ngapeita and Jasmine Karati pay their respects to the Noongar community.
Camera IconKaya Treendale team members Ngapeita and Jasmine Karati pay their respects to the Noongar community. Credit: Briana Fiore/Briana Fiore

A new cafe in Treendale has paid tribute to traditional land owners and the Noongar community.

Kaya sits on the corner of Grand Entrance and The Promenade and acknowledges the Aboriginal culture through the use of Noongar language, artwork and products.

Inspired by the famous cafe strip in Wellington, New Zealand — and with some resemblance to Fremantle and Melbourne — the new cafe is hip, alternative and inclusive.

Kaya means hello in Noongar and owner Jasmine Karati said it was a great conversation starter when people entered the cafe.

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“I realised I didn’t know how to greet the Noongar elders in their native tongue,” Mrs Karati said.

“In New Zealand, that is something that everyone is taught.

“As an Indigenous Maori and Cook Islander myself, I wanted to pay my respects to the Indigenous Australians.”

Mrs Karati said she spoke with local elders the Jetta family who gave her their blessing to use the name.

Artist Cassie Jetta also painted artwork for the cafe.

Mrs Karati said she was keen to support local producers and had several Harvey products in-store.

“Our culture appears on the menu and we are stocking special New Zealand products,” she said.

“Everyone is welcome here, it does not matter about their race, gender or identity.

“This is a place for all.”

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