A strategic business amalgamation between two leading First Nations companies will help drive collaborated event services while also helping Indigenous youth across Perth connect to Country and protect the environment.

One of Perth's most celebrated Aboriginal event performance artists, Corroboree For Life, and Indigenous catering and events company, Gather Foods, said the initiative would mobilise Perth's Indigenous youth into protecting the Noongar Country.

The business relationship would enable Perth event organisers to book Indigenous services for events and cultural programs through a consolidated online portal.

However, the partnership also incorporates an in-house initiative to help young 'at risk' Aboriginal people strengthen their ties to the land through integrated cultural experiences.

Gather Foods Managing Director and Noongar man, Gerry Matera, said the boundaries of Noongar Country stretch across the entire south-western portion of Western Australia, and the land is in desperate need of assistance.

"WA leads the world in biodiversity loss due to climate change and extreme weather conditions," he said.

"Forests located in the heart of Noongar Country are dying and our wildlife is already being displaced.

"In the next 10 years, the World Economic Forum has sighted that our ecosystem is at the highest risk of collapsing and, as Aboriginal people, our inherent duty is to listen to and look after the land.

"The mechanism that supports Gather Foods' unique business model promotes change through demonstration. We have grown exponentially as a business by mentoring and training young Aboriginal people into employment and building cultural bridges with event patrons through education and understanding.

"Our amalgamation with Corroboree For Life extends our work towards the greater purpose of protecting the environment. Our Country needs new Indigenous leadership and by promoting culture, bush tucker, traditional dance and stories to young aboriginal people, we are creating a ripple effect that can reignite our relationship to Country."

Australia has lost more mammal and plant species over the past 200 years than any other country, with many native animals on the brink of extinction, placing WA's ranking high on the World Economic Forum risk registry, according to a World Economic Forum Global Risk Perception survey from 2023-2024.

The program will work with Aboriginal youth to help them reengage with the culture and become the next community leaders.

It would involve visits to Country with Aboriginal Elders and Traditional Owners, which may extend to several days at a time.

Employment opportunities would be created to support the growing enterprise and help to shift the trajectory of young Aboriginal lives impacted by systemic racism, domestic violence and incarceration.

Corroboree For Life is guided by local Wadjak and Balardong Elders and offers dance workshops, youth programs and event bookings for cultural and contemporary dance, as well as Acknowledgment of Country ceremony performances, with their artists regularly headlining some of Perth's most prominent events.

Corroboree For Life Founder and proud Noongar man, Ash Penfold, said many Western Australians may have already experienced one of the organisation's 'Acknowledgement to Country' performances without understanding the depth of its underpinning work.

"I founded Corroboree For Life to address the devastating suicide rate amongst Aboriginal people," he said.

"I wanted to help them see something outside of who they think they are by sharing culture through dance and stories.

"Joining forces with Gather Foods is a natural fit for an Indigenous events business, although the impact we will have by consolidating our cultural assets in support of otherwise disengaged young people, will take our work to another level.

"This is an excellent example of how commercial enterprise can contribute to social and environmental matters without protest or hostility. I am incredibly excited to be part of the initiative and look forward to making a significant difference."

The amalgamation of the two businesses will see Corroboree For Life retain its name for booking purposes under the operation of Gather Foods events services.