Dreamtime weavers: Jillaroos make cultural gifts for opponents

Jillaroos players have been learning traditional Aboriginal basket weaving to create gifts to present to opposition teams before World Cup matches.

Ali Brigginshaw, Sam Bremner and Tallisha Harden have handed the framed weavings to their rival captains during the pre-match coin toss, and Kezie Apps will do the same in the final against the Kiwi Ferns.

“We did a lot of cultural awareness work in our camp about First Nations people, and weaving was something they did so we got taught how to do it,” Apps said.

“It is a skill that we got addicted to and it is also good for a bit of mindfulness, so when we have had a bit of down time after training, or just back in our rooms, we would start weaving.

“We used that as a gift to give to the captains of the other countries we play against.”

The Australian players were first introduced to weaving while in a pre-World Cup camp on the Gold Coast and have continued the practice in England.

The seven Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander players in the squad – Shaylee Bent, Jaime Chapman, Tahlia Fuimaono, Harden, Caitlan Johnston, Keilee Joseph and Olivia Kernick – have also been teaching their team-mates Indigenous language.

“It’s just been things like how to say thank you, how to say hello or good morning and how to introduce themselves,” Jillaroos assistant coach Jess Skinner said.

“They have really embraced that, too, and we have been sharing that throughout our community visits.”

Apps said: “We say it to each other and we say it when we are out as well. We’ll say, ‘Yaama, hi’, and people ask, ‘what is that about’. Then we can explain it and start a conversation around it”.

The focus on Indigenous culture stems from a determination by Jillaroos coach Brad Donald that the players understand they are representing all of Australia, including First Nations people.

Skinner showed the players different weaving techniques and while some such as Johnston, who works with Indigenous students in her role as a teacher’s aide, had previous experience, most had never done it before.

“We did a connection piece about the Jillaroos - who we are and who we represent - and in previous years we have given cultural gifts so we felt that we would like to get the girls involved in that,” Skinner said.

“That is where the weaving concept came in, so I taught the girls how to weave and make the bottom of baskets, which we have formed into an art piece that we have then gifted to the opposition.

“They have really embraced it and they are really proud of it. I think when we first framed it up for our round one game, they saw it all come together and they felt they had played a part in it.

“It has helped the girls connect more to Australia and a different side of Australia that they have never been exposed to before.”

For most of their World Cup campaign, the Jillaroos have been based in York, which is one of the most historic cities in England, but Johnston said it was good for the players to realise that Indigenous culture was much older.

“It is pretty special, and I think for them it is a bit of knowledge of our culture and our heritage of Australia, like how our people survived.” Johnston said.

“They used to make baskets to carry food, they used to weave canoes as well, and beds, so there is heaps of history and knowledge behind it.

“For First Nations people of Australia, it is something that is really rich and important to us.”