Bathi- Basket

Yolŋu view bathi as significant objects in their culture. In Gapuwiyak, women make many types of bathi, with different forms, functions, and meanings — some ceremonial, some functional, and some created as art.

For the women in Gapuwiyak, weaving is a practice that connects deeply to the djälkirri, the foundation of Yolŋu knowledge.

The age-old practice of weaving from pandanus leaves continues today. Making fibre works is highly labour-intensive, and gathering materials can be physically demanding. The spiky pandanus leaves are difficult to harvest, followed by the careful tasks of flaying, splitting, and drying them. Only the few central leaves of the plant — those growing from the core that are still soft and young, and not yet bent — are used. These can grow ten to twenty feet high, so a special hooked tool known as a Galpuŋaniny is used to pry them from the tree. The pandanus (Gunga — Pandanus spirals) recovers completely after harvesting, though it cannot be collected from again for several months.

The dyes used are derived from the bulbs, roots, or seeds of various woodland plants, each of which grows only in specific locations. Once the material is collected, split, dried, and dyed, the weaving begins — almost always done by women in groups. Some of the plants used for dyeing include Yiriŋaniny, a small grass-like plant with a red bulb beneath the ground, and Djunum, whose roots produce a yellow dye. These and other plants are combined with catalysts — such as ash from particular species — to alter the pH of the dye pot and create endless variations of colour seen in traditional fibre work.

Women in Gapuwiyak also experiment with modern materials, using synthetic dyes, hair dye, party streamers, and even cleaning products to achieve vibrant contemporary colours such as fluorescent greens, pinks, and purples.