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Martjirr (bush bag)

Martjirr (bush bag) are primarily made from the bark of Baḻgurr (Red-flowered Kurrajong – Brachychiton megaphyllus) but sometimes Banyan tree (Ficus virens) and Cocky Apple tree (Planchonia careya). Sections of the tree are cut, and depending on the size, whole portions or part portions from the trunk. The inner bark is beaten or chewed to soften then dyed with natural bush dyes. Once softened and dyed, parts of the fibre are separated into fine strips and woven. The fibres can also be then rolled on the thigh to create a rope otherwise known as bush string. Martjirr (bush bag) were used for everyday utilitarian purposes, particularly collecting bush foods such as bäḻtji (yam).

Categories: Bula'bula Arts

Name: Julie Djulibing Malibirr

Language: Ganalbingu

Community: Ramingining

Biography:

Djulibing was born of a Ganalbingu father and Liyagalawumirri mother at Murrwangi - “no town, just a bush camp, and went to Milingimbi as a baby; then they took me to Darwin because of the war (WWII). -Really just outside at Kulpinya where I went to school”.

After the war she went back to Milingimbi with her parents by boat, the Arriwatha. Here she attended school for a short time - “I can’t remember who taught me, it wasn’t Miss Lowe; then I went to Galiwin'ku and worked in the gardens and cutting lawns  working with a Fijian called Binaya’ and worked at weaving baskets and mats to Sheppy (Harold Shepherdson). Lamatha was a crew (sic) on a boat which brought us food like the barge. The captain was Willi and the boat was the Larrpan. I got married there to Lamatha at Galiwin'ku and had Matjarra and Dayn’kuli  and Rrikili  too. Many’tjurrpuy also and Rorrurruwuy and Marrawuma . These are all girls except for one boy. 

We came back to Milingimbi  - Matjarra was at school; David McLay  was there. I worked in the store, Lamatha in the outstation centre. I still did my weaving. Then we shifted to Langarra and then to here [Ramingining].

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