#Millowl #PhillipIsland #MitchMahoney #Bunurong
Thousands years ago, Aboriginal artist Mitch Mahoney's ancestors used canoes made of fibrous trees to navigate the waters Victoria's Bass Coast. Highlights First Nations artist Mitch Mahoney creates a traditional canoe as part of a week-long public event First Nations artist Mitch Mahoney created a traditional canoe as part of a week-long public event Community members are invited to participate and help build the canoe Community members were invited to participate and help build the canoe. The ship will form part of an exhibition marking the opening of a new cultural centre. The Burunong and Barkindji artist built a canoe using the same traditional methods as part of a public event held near Berrys Beach on Millowl last week. “These are great sea kayaks…the perfect type of kayak for areas where the water will not be completely flat,” Mr. Mahoney said. He said fibrous bark canoes, made from a species of eucalyptus known for its fibrous bark that grows on trunk of the tree, were "iconic" among Aboriginal communities along Bass Coast. He said there were many strong traditions of canoe building throughout Victoria and other materials such as river reeds and red gum could also be used to build the boats. While Mitch Mahoney was building the canoe, he often stopped to chat with the community. Mr Mahoney said canoes were used at Millowl "for everything from traveling to fishing". “Everything from traveling long distances in the bays to spending your afternoons and especially your nights fishing by firelight,” he said. Mr. Mahoney said he learned to make fibrous bark canoes from family members by reading books about the art and chatting with different communities. “This is a process removing bark layer in appropriate season, heating bending bark…then using most inner cambium layer bark to use ropes and all binding pieces to shape shape canoe.” "said. Community members went to a secluded spot to watch the canoe and help build it. Clay and mud are then used to fill gaps in fibrous bark and line the canoe for fire pit inside. In the past, canoe fire pits were used for warmth and cooking on long journeys. Information sharing Mr Mahoney said community members had shown great interest in the project. "We've really built relationships with people; we haven't had a moment where hundreds of people are coming, instead we're seeing small groups of families coming... it's been amazing," he said. Mr. Mahoney said passing on cultural knowledge is extremely important and is something he aims to do through his art. “It helps Indigenous kids see that the community is doing something there and that this is something they can do too and be involved in their culture,” he said. “As well as that, non-Indigenous kids need to see Aboriginal people are here, still here, still doing what they do, and that there is a lot of great knowledge can be shared.” Lochie, Esme and Lucia Bradfield managed to get invo