July Trip 21nd to 29th 2012: Women’s only weaving workshop

August Trip 4th to 12th 2012: Mixed weaving workshop and bush survival skills program

Cost $2000

CERES Global is privileged to run two trips to the remote Homeland Community of Mäpuru in East Arnhem Land. The trips run for 10 days in July and August of each year with the objective to offer people the opportunity to learn about Yolngu culture from Indigenous leaders who are passing on their traditional skills and knowledge in basket weaving and bush survival skills to future generations “it is, as it always has been”. However the trips always leave people with far more than baskets, bark paintings and didgeridoos. Whether it is through the intuitive guidance under the weaving shelter, walking through the mangrove forest, buffalo hunting on the mud-plains, swimming in the water-hole, gathering pandanus or being together around the bush camp-fire, the gentle people of Mäpuru open our western eyes to a glimmer of the knowledge and wisdom of Yolngu culture.

The trips are divided into two areas, weaving workshops for women and bush survival skills for men.

Weaving Workshops

Weaving is used as a means of cultural exchange and will enable women participants to witness and learn the entire process; from the collection of barks, pandanus and ‘kala’ (natural dyes) to the weaving and creation of your own pieces.

Bush Survival Skills

The men’s bush skills program see Balanda (white) men hunting buffalo, stripping bark from trees, learning how to paint using traditional methods, making didgeridoos, fishing and engaging in ‘men’s business’.

Through this sharing of local knowledge participants will experience the extraordinary way of life in a homelands community and in doing so, support this Indigenous community enterprise (http://www.arnhemweavers.com.au).

Mäpuru is approximately 1000 km east of Darwin with a population of around 100 people. The Arnhem Weavers was established in 2003 by two elders who wanted to preserve their ancestral culture, ensure financial self sufficiency, and open up inter-cultural exchange between balanda (white people) and indigenous people.

Both trips meet our group facilitators in Darwin. Over two days participants are driven by 4WD to Mäpuru where they spend five days in the community. Participants return to Darwin via 4WD over two days.

For more information
www.arnhemweavers.com.au
http://learnline.cdu.edu.au/yolngustudies/index.htm
www.pool.org.au/audio/sherre_delys/there_is_a_story_in_my_land

Download our information booklet here.