Wonderful Weaving
Weaving takes many forms: utilitarian and decorative, ceremonial and sculptural.
The ancient art of weaving has been used as an Indigenous method to create;
- food tools;
- baskets; and
- fishing nets
Weaving is physically hard work traditional “women’s work” however the men would weave fishing nets and traps.
Commonly used fibres include;
- the leaves of pandanus;
- palms;
- inner bark of kurrajon;g and
- stringybark eucalyptus trees.
The fibres are woven into mats, baskets, dillybags and string bags.
The women colour the pandanus using natural dyes made from the roots, leaves or flowers of plants collected locally.
Weaving with Uncle
Elder Uncle Allan demonstrated how to use pandanus fibres by rolling the long stringy fibres together on his knee, to create string.
Following on from this experience the children worked with Elder Uncle Allan to create a shell and natural rope fibre wind chime.
Each child selected a shell, which they threaded and woven onto the pieces of rope.
This is a progressive piece of art and will be added to over the coming weeks.
Weaving is a fun and inexpensive activity that helps to develop your child’s fine motor skills, eye-hand coordination and concentration.
Weaving encourages children to use the positional language of in, out, up and down.
It is relaxing as the process is quiet and calming.
We look forward to learning more new skills as part of our Cultural Awareness Program facilitated by Elder Uncle Allan.
That’s all from Miss Patti and the Pingins ( Sea Turtles)
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