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.
kulabbarl
billabong,swamp Billabong, swamp. Benewam kore kulabbarl.
* Kuninjku
‘I am a freshwater woman from Kakodbebuldi where there is a big billabong. There are too many crocodiles, Komrdaw (long neck turtles), vile snakes and birds like ngalgordaw ( brolga) in the billabong.I like green and bright colours.’ Jocelyn 2023
Bathi are woven from the split leaves of the Screw Palm (Pandanus Spiralis). Coil weaving was introduced to Arnhem Land in the 1930s. It was adapted from techniques used by Indigenous women throughout South East Australia.
This design has lots of types of bush tucker including njanamaya(mud Muscle), kangodjbaya (mangrove worm) and warrangarla (caterpillar). The latter can be eaten cooked or raw.
Bathi are woven from the split leaves of the Screw Palm (Pandanus Spiralis). Coil weaving was introduced to Arnhem Land in the 1930s. It was adapted from techniques used by Indigenous women throughout South East Australia.
The long necked turtle is a dreaming totem for the freshwater people, the Ganalbingu, whose country includes the World Heritage listed, Arafura Wetlands in Central Arnhem Land, Northern Territory
The Yolngu (people) of Arnhem Land 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 made by Wangga (Creator Beings), long ago close to the beginning of time. These creator beings moved across the country side, shaping the land and implanting in each tract of country, the spiritual life force for the people who were to own it.
These creator spirits took many forms. When they gave the land to each group they also gave songs, dances, ceremony, the associated laws and language. The Creation story for Ganalbingu people took place near the middle section of the Glyde River where it becomes the Goyder River. Their land, Ngaliyindi, sits astride the Arafura Swamp in Central Arnhem Land. Some of their major Creative Beings include Banda (freshwater long neck turtle) and Yalman (water lilies).
Aboriginal art in Ramingining, Central Arnhem Land is commonly illustrated through designs and images of animals, plants, and landscape. These motifs commonly reflect the artists ancestral inheritance and their dreamings and are referred to as totems.
For this painting, the artist has painted Northern Marbled Velvet Gecko (Oedura marmorata)
Ngalkunburriyaymi
Kuninjku people call mermaids yawkyawk, but in my language, Kune, we call them Ngalkunburriyaymi (pronounced Ngaal gun borro yay mee).
The Ngalkunburriyaymi depicted in my artworks is from a place called Marra-yii (sp?). There are too many Ngalkunburriyaymi living at this place. They are always there and have been there forever. We can go camping and fishing at this place. Marar-yii is a place in the river. They are freshwater. They are Duwa moiety. Same as the freshwater crocodile.
My mum told me her story. Ngalkunburriyaymi gave her a baby. Ngalkunburriyaymi came to her in a dream. They gave her my brother. In my mother’s dream, she went fishing Marra-yii and Ngalkunburriyaymi came to her to tell her she was having a baby. She said to her I will give you a baby. In a couple of months, you will be pregnant.
Ngalkunburriyaymi eats fish and waterlilies.
Owen Yalandja is my cousin from my father’s side and Lulu is my grandmother also from my father’s side. They are from different outstations, but we are family. My Ngalkunburriyaymi story is connected to them but different.
I love my mother’s story and it is why I made a lino plate. I print it on different colour fabrics – silk, linen and cotton. I like using lots of different colours. I come from a family who have made artwork on bark and hollow logs using ochre—black, yellow, red and white. But at Babbarra Designs, we can use bright colours in our fabric designs.
Peter is painting a sea turtle (or Hawksbill Turtle) from his Yirritja song line. This depiction of the Guwarrtji is a small part of a great story which Peter inherited from the Liyagal-wu Mirr tribe, his mother tribe. The diamonds on the Guwarrtji’s shell connect this story to the honey story, another part of Peter’s song line. Upon Peter’s death, his spirit will return to the Guwarrtji.
Traditionally, Nganiyal (conical mats) were used as an insect screen when erected, and as a sitting mat when folded. They are used in Ceremony as well as a functional item.
Nowadays, artists weave many different shapes including flat, round and oblong.