Minyerri
After Alawa woman Samara Billy attended a Magpie Goose fashion show in Katherine NT, she said - "I want to see Minyerri community designs out there in the world, and up there on the catwalk! I want opportunities for our artists." And so the Minyerri collection was born! A textile design workshop in April 2018 engaging six emerging Minyerri artists; an expedited production process; a return to Minyerri, Alawa country in June 2019 for a community photoshoot; and a Darwin launch and popup a few weeks later!
This collection teaches us about eating the stem of the lily pad just like celery (Yalbun + Jo jo); poisoning the water with a native tree to catch the most delicious fish around (Garrjala); the Goanna totem (Darbalun'); grinding the seeds of the lily pad to make flour, then patties (Yalbun); the traditional bush tools that Aboriginal people on Alawa country used to use to hunt, make babies strong, and carry bush food (Bush Tools); and the delicious crayfish that you can catch in the salty and fresh water rivers around Minyerri! (Dakawa’).
Magpie Goose acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we live, work and trade. We acknowledge their ongoing connection and custodianship for Country.
We pay our deep respects to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, particularly those who we work and collaborate with.
Always was, always will be.