NAISDA is proud to have become the custodian of a very important piece of Yolngu cultural heritage – a Djilikirritj mat, which was woven by Nancy Mutilnga Burarrawanga at Nyinyikay in East Arnhem Land.
This mat is a unique design specially handcrafted to bring history and knowledge back to today’s new generation of Yolngu.
A Yolngu family would have had several of these Djilikirritj. It was used as a mat, for shade, and for covering young initiates during customary law ceremonies.
Nancy Multinga Burarrwanga had a traditional birth and spent 95 percent of her upbringing and life living that lifestyle. She holds very important information regarding the history and is a skilled artist and weaver.
Nancy was born in the bush around Arnhem Bay in about 1938. She is a senior Elder of the Gumatj Burarrwanga clan. Nancy is a Dilak, which in Yolngu culture is a title given to a Yolngu elder with the highest level of cultural knowledge.
She is the most senior remaining wife of Mowarra Ganambarr OAM (deceased). Her knowledge is based on tens of thousands of years of Indigenous culture and practice and she continues to pass this knowledge on to her sons, daughters and grandchildren.
There are not many women in Arnhem Land that hold the knowledge to create such a masterpiece. NAISDA is extremely grateful to Nancy for sharing this important piece of Yonglu culture with us.