Taungurung News

The Koori Heritage Trust recently conducted a community development activity to train interested people in the techniques required to produce a traditional fish trap.

A number of sessions were conducted and the trap was completed at home after many hours of twisting and twirling the flax. Each stem of the flax grass was stripped into 1-2 mm wide strips and used to sculpt the trap. The most difficult part of process was to maintain a constant long cylinder diameter and produce the lip of the trap. Never the less I was happy with the final result and have started weaving another trap. Unfortunately my flax plant is not producing its leaves fast enough so things are currently at a standstill while nature does it's business and produces more leaves.

Posted by Loraine Padgham at 02:58 PM | Permalink

VACL recently presented a two day workshop to those interested in becoming more familiar with the Miromaa software program designed to assist communities in language reclamation. The word Miromaa means 'saved' in the Awabakal language (near Newcastle) and it aptly describes this software that is currently being accepted internationally by first nations people in their language reclaimation activities.
The Miromaa software provides an opportunity for linguists and others interested in preserving their language to organize, analyse and disseminate language information in a simple logical manner that can easily be understood within a few hours of training. This well designed Australian software enables users to develop good archival practices and the opportunity to incorporate audio, video and images along with the text. Once language materials has been uploaded into the database the database can then be easily manipulated to develop specific worksheets etc.for training purposes.
Further information about the Miromaa program can be obtained from the following website.
http://www.miromaa.com.au/about-miromaa/introduction.html

Posted by Loraine Padgham at 04:40 PM | Permalink

The Possum Skin Coat that has been a major project for Taungurung community is completed and is on display at the Centre for Australian Indigenous Studies at Monash University.

The project was funded by Monash University and quite a number of the Taungurung community participated in this cultural artifact.

The coat was decorated using a traditional approach of burning iconography onto the pelts that were then sown together. The patterns burnt onto the pelts represent the various research schools of the University and it is intended that the coat will be used in ceremonial activities at the University.

Posted by Loraine Padgham at 09:53 AM | Permalink

At the old Mansfield railway station the Delatite Indigenous Reference Group were able to put a mud brick wall featuring a snake tiled shape.

A scarred tree from which a canoe had been cut out has been stood up under the cover of a protective roof. Local residents, both Indigenous and non-Indigenous, participated in developing the lovely paved area which is flood lit at night.

click on the sign to enlarge.

Posted by Bernie Franklin at 11:11 AM | Permalink