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Session 1.02

Tracks
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Thursday, June 19, 2025
11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Boulevard room B2

Overview

Aboriginal tools and fibre – knowing native plants and their uses in tool-making, healing, medicine and everyday items


Details

This session is suitable for: All


Speaker

Mrs Sally Lawrence
Black Cockatoo

Aboriginal tools and fibre – knowing native plants and their uses in tool-making, healing, medicine and everyday items

Presentation description

Join us for an engaging workshop with Gordon Waraba Lister, a renowned Aboriginal educator and artisan, as we explore the rich tradition of Aboriginal wood and fibre use in crafting tools, weapons, housing, and medicine. This hands-on session will delve into the sustainable practices and deep cultural significance behind these techniques, highlighting how Indigenous knowledge has been passed down through generations.

Participants will discover the various types of wood and plant fibres traditionally used by Aboriginal peoples, learning about their specific properties and uses. Gordon will demonstrate how to identify these materials in the natural environment and share stories that connect them to Aboriginal culture and spirituality.
You’ll also gain insight into Aboriginal peoples' holistic approach towards nature, emphasizing respect and sustainability.

This workshop offers a unique opportunity to deepen your understanding of Aboriginal craftsmanship and the cultural narratives intertwined with these materials. Come ready to learn, create, and appreciate the incredible knowledge that informs Aboriginal ways of living in harmony with the land.

Don’t miss this chance to engage with a vibrant aspect of Aboriginal heritage and leave with new skills and a deeper appreciation for Indigenous culture.

Biography

Sally Lawrence has been an educator for 25 years with 20 of those years working with and for both Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. Her vast experience and differing roles within education enable Sally to bring a wealth of knowledge, skills and understanding to any given task.
Mr Leslie (Gordon) Waraba Lister
Waraba Arts

Co-presenter

Biography

Leslie (Gordon) Waraba Lister is a proud Yuwaalaraay/Gamilaraay Kamilaroi man from St George Qld. He is inspired by traditions and the art and stories of his people. He is also Wakka Wakka/ Wulli Wulli through his father’s side and has connections to Eidsvold and surrounding areas in Qld. Gordon Lister has been a First Nations artist and performer for over 20 years. In 2024 he won the prestigious Overall Winner – The 49th Rio Tinto Yarwun & QAL Martin Hanson Memorial Art Award after winning the Martin Hanson local Murri Artist Award in 2023. He was also a nominee for the Gladstone Art/Cultural Australia Day Awards. Gordon's cultural knowledge extends beyond the paintbrush to a deeper level of knowing about his environment, the plants, their uses in tool making, fibre production, medicine and healing. As a Lore man for his people. Pull up a stump and join Gordon sharing knowledge.
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