WICKERY WATERCRAFT IN TASMANIA

From Rex Greeno presented a paper on his canoes the nawi Conference – 30 May - 1 June 2012 ... "Rex Greeno was born on Flinders Island, the largest island in the Furneaux Islands, a group of islands off the north east coast of Tasmania. He grew up at Lady Barron, a small fishing village on the southern end of the island. Rex has explored the making of his cultural heritage through the making of the watercraft used by the Tasmania's Aboriginal people before European contact. ... It is through my maternal grandfather that I have my Aboriginal heritage. So it was inevitable that I would pursue my interest in the early water craft of my Ancestors. I read a book called Friendly Mission. This was George Augustus Robinson's journals of his dealings with the Aboriginal people. He mentioned his experiences of observing the local Aboriginal people building canoes out of certain types of barks."" ... Click here to read Rex's presentation to the CONFERENCE Nawi –  Exploring Australia’s Indigenous watercraft

 A sketch of the canoe found by Peron. Image courtesy of the Museum of Natural History, Le Havre.

Rex Greeno's canoe commissioned by National Museum of Australia
Click here to watch a video and read more 

.Image courtesy of Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery.

“We are people of this time and this place. The ningher canoe project was never simply about making a canoe. It has always been about journeys. Journeys of acknowledging deep and profound loss. Journeys about recovery, relationships, healing and struggling to regain control. Of what it takes to make a journey in the hope of becoming whole once more.

Tasmanian Aboriginal people are honoured to feel the love of the broader community as we have undertaken this poignant and important cultural step in recovering our precious culture. There is no failure. A journey is a journey, regardless of its outcome. I see you all here with us on this journey, and I know that this small step we have taken has been successful beyond our wildest dreams, as you are here with us, believing in our commitment to our culture, to this place, and the possibility that we can do important things together.

We built and launched a ningher, a canoe, and for a short time it graced the waters of the Derwent River. For a short time, you saw the passion in our hearts for practicing our culture: right here, right now."  .... Click here to read more