Mewana is a bush basket/scoop primarily made from mewana grass but sometimes from other fibres such as gunga (pandanus spiralis). Traditionally Yolngu made mewana baskets to carry bush foods such as baltji (yam) and warraga ngatha (cycad nuts). Sometimes mewana were used to scoop dhulumburrk (water lily) and other water reeds from the billabongs.
Name: Mary Dhapalany (1)
Language: Mandhalpuy
Community: Ramingining
Biography:
Dhapalany is a very skilled weaver. She has been making fibre objects for utilitarian and ritual use since her early teenage years. Her work includes mindirr (dilly bags), nganiyal (woven mats), djerrk (bush string bags) and batjbarra (traditional fish traps).
Mary Dhapalany is the twin sister of the late David Gulpilil. Other siblings include Peter Minygululu, Djelirr (1), Belinda Gunydjulma and Evonne Munuyngu.
Dhawurr/batjbarra fish trap Fish traps are placed into the river to face the oncoming fish. The woven tunnel traps the fish and prevents their escape. The traps are tapered so when they are submerged in the water, Read more…
Mapu (egg) hunting This is as ancient story about how Yolngu used to collect food. They would go out into the swamp in their bark canoes and collect all the magpie geese eggs. You Read more…
Raypiny Dhawu (Fresh Water Story) All Aboriginal people originate from a spiritual source, fixed in a particular place in their land or the sea. These ‘spiritual reservoirs’ are often in the form of special waterholes Read more…