111982311960

Published by on



An-gujechiya (Fish Trap)

To make fish traps and fish net fences artists firstly get vine (mirlarl) from the jungle and they put it in water for one night to make it soft. Next they start weaving it; they make rings for the inside to keep the fish trap’s shape. Artists work for three or four weeks on the fish trap. They also make string from kurrajong (burdaga) to attach the hibiscus (bardainy) rings and to tie the conical end of the fish trap. This fish trap is used in saltwater and freshwater. People also use fish net fences called mun-dirra. A long time ago they would put the mun-dirra across rivers and creeks. In the middle they would place the an-gujechiya. They also used small things like sticks, rocks, mud and grass to block the fish from going through. People would then catch fish like saltwater barramundi rajarra, freshwater barramundi (janambal), small black freshwater catfish (buliya), bonefish (an-guwirrpiya), and sand bass (dalakan) in these fish traps.

Name: Freda Ali Wayartja


Language: Burarra


Community: Maningrida


Biography:

Freda Wayartja is a master weaver and cultural leader and educator. She is from Yilan Oustation a Burarra-Martay speaking caln, one of the east-side od Maningrida language groups who specialise in the customary conical dilly bags, woven string bags and mats. She is particularly renowned for the use of mirlarl, (malaisia scandens), a type of vine that grows in the coastal jungle. The use of this vine to manufacture fish traps, barriers and large strong dillybags is unique to this region. 

She is a cultural leader in her community, teaching younger generations of weavers and also regularly leading demonstrations and tours for visitors and tourists. 

In 2022 alongside her sister and artistic collaborator Bonnie Burarngarra, Freda won the Telstra NATSIAA Wandjuk Marika 3D Sculpture Award for their piece An-jucheciya (tradition conical fish trap).  A meticulously woven three meter long fish trap made from Jungle vine,


© the artist / art centre