Sally Jarvis, Denmark Bulletin

A NAIDOC Week Wild Weedy Weaver project launch will celebrate indigenous culture with weaving demonstrations using an introduced pest plant on July 12.

The Denmark Environment Centre-hosted project launch will include conversations with cultural and environmental custodians and morning tea.

Attendees can reflect and celebrate the creative and cultural possibilities of learning more about and working with introduced species.

A series of basket weaving workshops, Wangee Maaje, led by artist Shandell Cummings and Merningar Elder Lynette Knapp and artist Jessikah Woods, inspired the Wild Weedy Weaver project.

During one of these sessions, participants Linda Scotti and Steph Tchan talked about the prolific wonga wonga vine, Pandorea pandorana, growing along the edges of Mt Hallowell Bush Reserve. They wondered if this plant could be used as a weaving fibre.

Mixed media artist Linda Scotti has been keen to explore the characteristics of introduced plants and their potential as natural fibres. Linda asks attendees to reconsider the plants which are often removed or overlooked and discover their creative possibilities.

South Coast Bushcarers veteran Diane Harwood, who has worked in landcare for decades protecting and restoring Denmark’s bush reserves, is also part of the project.

The launch of the Wild Weavy Weaver is part of a collaborative NAIDOC Week program with Denmark Arts, which will host a Film Festival on Sunday, July 6.

Also Green Skills will lead planting and creating with local cultural holders at Tootanellup, west of Mt Barker, on July 7.

Wild Weavy Weaver workshops will run from July to October, culminating in a community exhibition.

Bookings are essential either online via Humanitix or by visiting the Denmark Environment Centre on Strickland Street.

The Mary MacKillop Today Highways and Byways program and the Denmark Community Fund have supported the project.

This article appeared in Denmark Bulletin, 26 June 2025.