BUNDA ART | 'Pandanus (Yagal)' | 2025 | Mixed media

Yidiny word for Pandanus is Yagal.  

“As a child growing up at Yarrabah I would go with my mother and sisters to gather the leaves of the Yagal tree and prepare them for weaving under the watchful eye of my grandmother Grace. While they did the hard work of gathering the leaves, stripping the thorns off and laying the leaves out to dry in the sun, I played happily in the running fresh waters. Once dry these leaves were rolled up and taken home to weave into beautiful baskets, dilly bags and mats. They were skilled and the woven objects were highly sought after by visitors to Yarrabah.

The large mats were used for us to sit on in the school rooms and baskets to carry and store our possessions. We did not take food with us, as my grandmother Grace was a skilled and knowledgeable hunter gatherer, adept at catching the freshwater rock cods or Ngangguyju (which is the Yidiny name for this fish) which were plentiful and made good eating.

Now as I reflect back on my 80 year old memories, I enjoy remembering these times, and am a bit sad that children of today don’t enjoy these simple pleasures. I am proud that basket weaving remains a significant cultural practice and the weavers at the Yarrabah Art Centre continue to win awards and pass down the traditions of weaving to the next generation. It is important to keep our culture alive.”