To celebrate SA Youth Week 2023, Northern Sound System (NSS) in collaboration with Carclew, hosted Indigenous weaving workshops, sharing skills, culture and fun across generations.

Under the guidance of Boandik weavers and Carclew artists Sonya, Sarah and Suzy, about 130 young people were involved in weaving small mats, using traditional methods of First Nations people of the southeast region of SA.

Each individual weaving mat was then incorporated into a large collaborative piece – a dream catcher which will stay on display at NSS.

Sonya, Suzy and Sarah said the practice of weaving is healing, and the workshops have increased confidence among participants, sparked conversation and importantly, enabled the sharing of cultural knowledge.

“When students first start weaving, they are shy and worried and think they can’t do it,” the artists said. “But then their confidence starts to grow, and the kids start asking lots of questions about us and our culture. Some were calling us ‘aunty’.

“We are handing down our cultural knowledge. We love weaving and running these workshops and get just as much out of it as the kids do. It’s keeping our culture alive.”

City of Playford Mayor Glenn Docherty welcomed the opportunity to celebrate Youth Week and is honoured to have artists share their knowledge and traditional weaving practices with young people.

“One in five people in Playford are aged 12-24 years, so Council whole-heartedly supports Youth Week,” said Mayor Docherty. “Sharing culture and knowledge from generation to generation is a way to ensure young people have the tools they need to keep important traditions alive into the future.

“I hope that every young person who took part had a wonderful cultural experience, learnt something new and feels proud to contribute to the final piece on display at Playford’s dedicated creative youth hub.”

Students from schools across Playford had the opportunity to participate, including students from Kaurna Plains, Edmund Rice Northern Flexi and Playford International College.

SA Youth Week is South Australia’s biggest celebration of young people aged 12 to 24 and recognises the ideas, talent and contributions of young people in South Australia.

For more information on creative opportunities for young people at Northern Sound System please contact 8255 5560 or follow them on Facebook and Instagram. To find out more about Carclew’s Nunga Days program, please visit Carclew Nunga Days.