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Arnhemweavers Workshop Information
These workshops are offered to women interested in
Yolngu culture where the focus is textiles. The knowledge and skills
the participants will be shown by the workshop leaders has been passed
down for thousands of years, “it is, as it always has been”.
Participants will learn how to collect barks, pandanus and other
plants. They will then be shown how to collect and prepare the fibres
for dyeing
before weaving or spinning.
It is assumed that workshop participants are
motivated to engage with, and learn about Yolngu culture and therefore
will be keen to learn the traditional skills offered by these women.
English is not the first language for these women, but as skilled
linguits, speak as many as twenty Yolŋu languages.
In addition there will be opportunities for those
interested participants to take part in hunting expeditions, including
collecting mud crabs, a variety of shellfish, fish and other game and
vegetable staples that Mäpuru residents regularly hunt and collect.
Workshop leaders: Two elderly
women who have lived on their ancestral homeland all their
lives, daily they spin and weave articles that they need for
themselves, their relatives, for ceremonies and for sale. These sisters
have remarkable skill, this is shown by the extent to which they have
traveled throughout Australia teaching their skills through workshops
at galleries and museums.
These women are expert at utilising a variety of
seasonally available materials for their weaving. They use pandanus
leaves, roots, and bark for spinning and weaving, as well as a wide
selection of roots, leaves and fruits to dye the fibres before spinning
and weaving.
These women see this extremely successful project
succeeds creating meaningful employment as well as financial
independence for
themselves and their families, they are striving to create a
welfare-free future for their children, grandchildren and
great-grandchildren. They can only do this on their ancestral estates
or home-land.
Location: The workshops are held
at Mäpuru. Mäpuru is a home-land situated on the mainland 10 minutes
flight south of Elcho Island, North East Arnhem Land. The residents are
all Yolngu and connected ancestrally to the area. Mapuru has a
permanent population of about 100.
Accommodation: The Mäpuru
residents will provide a traditional bark shelter for shade. It is
recommended participants bring their own mosquito domes or small tents.
Phones: There are two phones in
Mäpuru, one is a public phone, that has a ring up number, ie people can
ring directly through to the pay phone number. There is a second phone
at the Home-Land Learning Centre. It is a good idea to bring a
phone-away card.
Ablutions: There is access to a
clean ‘long-drop’ toilet, access to a shower and laundry basin with
usually running water, (though we are hoping that another toilet will
be built in 2006).
Climate: Mapuru is in the
tropics, where the day time temperature is around 30˚C, and a night
time temperature of about 24˚C. Rain doesn’t usually fall between May
and November but night time temperatures can fall to 18˚ in June.
What to take: food (be prepared
to cook over a fire), eating utensils, mosquito net or dome (although
there are very few mosquitos, camera, note book, .., .., ..,
Food: Food is not provided. A
very basic co-op operates from the Homeland Learning Centre (school),
where some canned goods can be purchased through an EFTPOS machine.
No fresh fruit or vegetables are available from the co-op. It is
suggested that participants bring non-perishable food such as muesli,
noodles, canned fish, vegetables and fruit such as carrots, sweet
potato, oranges, etc.
Travel: It is recommended that
participants travel by 4 WD to Mäpuru because it is the cheapest
transport method and enables participants to take part in excursions
from Mäpuru for hunting and gathering, as well as travelling through
some beautiful country on the way. For the past 8 years there has
only been annual workshops held in mid dry season. In each case John
has organised hire cars, permits and acted as guide.
By 4WD vehicle, Mäpuru is a minimum 11 hours drive
from Darwin. These are some of the options for road travel;
Option 1. If a vehicle needs to be hired. It is important participants
agree before arrival in Darwin to share vehicle hire and fuel costs. If
there are eight participants then hire vehicle will be about $200 and
fuel about $70 for the week (a return trip in a Toyota troop carrier
uses about 450L).
Option 2. If participants have their own 4WD. Other participants agree
before arrival in Darwin to contribute to vehicle running and fuel
costs. If there are eight participants then hire vehicle will be about
$200, and fuel about $70 for the week.
If John is not available to guide participants and
so that they do not get lost (which is easy to do), it is recommended
that all participants contribute $100 and pay for a Mäpuru community
man to fly to Darwin and guide your journey.
Fly to Mäpuru: It is possible to
fly to Mäpuru, by charter plane from Darwin the cost is approximately
$1,400 one-way for four to five people. By Regular passenger Transport
to Elcho Island then charter to Mäpuru the cost is approximately $500
per person one way. Travel to Mäpuru by plane is not recommended, as
participants will have no transport while at Mäpuru however it may be
an option for individuals who have limited time.
Insurance: The women at Mäpuru
are eager that their workshops continue to grow, providing meaningful
engagement with Balanda (non-Indigenous people) and income for their
families. In an effort to reduce complications and keep the project
under their control, the women have no insurance. They do not see that
is necessary as they are undertake to only;
• provide workshop tuition
• act as guides when procuring materials, including leaves, bark,
roots, etc.
Participation in all activities is encouraged, but
if participants decide to involve themselves in weaving activities such
as pulling down pandanus leaves, digging dyes, they do so at their own
risk.
Permits: Before any travel is
undertaken through Arnhemland, ( ie, to Mäpuru), all participants must
have a permit. These will be organised for participants through the
Northern Land Council.
Intellectual Property:
Participants are authorised to make records of workshop activities
solely for their own personal use. No publication is authorised unless
written permission is granted by Linda Marathuwarr. Participants may be
asked to sign an agreement to this affect. While workshop participants
are requested not to take cameras, a digital camera will be available
at each workshop for all participants to use, images taken shared with
all participants.
Workshop Costs: The cost is $150
per day, per person for the five day workshops, and $100 per day for
the ten day cycad workshops. This is best brought out as cash as there
is no access to banks or automatic teller machines at Mäpuru. Darwin is
the closest bank and post office to get cash and the women don’t have
access to these services. Just prior to departure all fees are paid
direct to Linda Marathuwarr.
Workshop numbers: A minimum
number of 5 participants are necessary for the workshops to be offered.
So that learning and engagement with the teachers is personal with
independent instruction, there is a maximum of 8 participants.
Securing a place in a workshop: A
deposit of 50% is required to make sure you have a place. If there are
insufficient numbers four weeks before the planned date of travel to
run a workshop then the full deposit will be refunded. We suggest that
people endeavour to organise their own groups of five to eight with
friends and professional associates to ensure the workshop proceeds.
John’s involvement: There is no
contract or business agreement with John, he is volunteering his time
and while he and the Mapuru women will make every endeavour to ensure
the success of each and every workshop there are no absolute
guarantees.
Contact: John Greatorex, (08) 89
466 983, email: john.greatorex@cdu.edu.au (Emailed preferred contact).
Post Script: If participants are
interested, John is willing to provide a half-day program introducing
participants to the language and culture of North East Arnhem Land.
John is the Co-ordinator of the Yolngu languages and Culture program at
Charles Darwin University.
See: yolngustudies
Last updated 17th June 2009
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