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Ngumpie Weaving Term 2 & 3

27 May – 16 August 2024

In the Centre for Creativity

Schools

A First Nations Workshop for students | Stages 3 - 6 | Overlooking Sydney Harbour, students learn about First Nations heritage and culture from Barkindtji, Maraura, Yorta Yorta and Duduroa artist Tegan Murdock before weaving bracelets and baskets using natural materials, feathers, flowers and native seeds.

I want my weaving circles to help break down barriers between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.

Tegan Murdock

A workshop with weaving, story and culture

Weaving is a traditional practice of purposeful and sustainable making. Aboriginal people use natural materials such as long grasses, gumnuts, flowers and leaves to weave baskets for gathering food and other materials, as coolamons to carry babies or place ochres in for painting in ceremony, as well as for decorative reasons for performance, corroboree and to express their identity.

In this hands on workshop, students learn the importance of weaving and how Aboriginal people have used this craft to weave important things for our people to source food and provide for family. Students learn about different techniques and how all mobs across Australia use similar ways of weaving.

In this workshop students:

  • Explore First Nations identity and cultural practices throughout time, and their relationship to nature, place and materials
  • Share conversations and connect with classmates in yarning and storytelling
  • Learn about First Nations agricultural and sustainable practices such as weaving and other tool-making techniques
  • Create woven pieces such as bracelets, headpieces and baskets using natural fibres, seeds, leaves and flowers to take home

 

Curriculum links

Exploring First Nations identity and cultural practices, connection to nature and the land, and First Nations understanding of agricultural and sustainable weaving and tool-making practices in English, Aboriginal Studies, Visual Arts, Design and Technology and STEM.

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Learning resources

The Opera House’s learning resources provide inspirational activities to watch, listen and read for students in the classroom or learning at home. 

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Meet the artist

Tegan Murdock, Barkindtji, Maraura, Yorta Yorta, Duduroa woman

"My beautiful Mum Margaret taught me to weave several years ago. I started weaving earrings and then kept creating new pieces as the inspiration came to me. I now create jewellery and wall pieces as well as teach others to weave in face to face and online workshops, school visits and corporate staff development days. 

I want my weaving circles to help break down barriers between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians. I hope I can help educate and contribute to a more peaceful world where our children can all walk as one, hand in hand, no matter their skin colour or cultural identity.

Ngumpie in Barkindtji means ‘Beautiful’ – this is what my Nanna Shirl used to call me when I was younger. I wanted to keep this shining through my work."

Ticket and Travel Subsidy

The Sydney Opera House is committed to providing the very best national and international performing arts experiences to NSW students as part of their educational studies.

The Sydney Opera House Arts Assist program provides the full cost of the Creative Learning performance ticket and $5 per student toward travel costs. School applications are assessed according to socioeconomic disadvantage, schools with special needs and individual responses regarding the School Profile and School Community.

The Sydney Opera House thanks and acknowledges our generous Arts Assist donors; The Greatorex Foundation and Sydney Opera House Ladies’ Committee.

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