The healing power of traditional crafts can bridge the gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians, Geraldine (Gerri) Colless believes.

This is her motivation behind the Circle of Understanding Weaving Workshop being supported by Orange City Council. 

Having worked as a missionary in Papua New Guinea, Ethiopia, Vanuatu, and Nepal, Gerri said that her interest in Aboriginal culture goes back to a school mentor while she was still only a teenager growing up in Sydney.

“I’ve always had a passion for Indigenous inclusion,” she said.

“I remember a high school teacher, English, who taught us Dreamtime stories while I was at Forest High,” she recalled.

Moving to Orange in recent years, she felt that she had the opportunity to put her beliefs in true reconciliation into practice.

“Anni Gallagher and the Migrant and Refugee Support Services, were very supportive. They came on board and are helping organise the event,” she said.

“It’s about re-engaging traditional skills, many of which have been lost over the years.”

The two workshops run on Friday, November 18 between 10–3pm at the Winhanganha Aboriginal Learning Centre at Orange TAFE with both Indigenous and non-Indigenous locals invited to attend.

“We’ll be having both a morning and afternoon session, and there are limited places available.

“Anyone interested in the morning session would be great, we see it as a step forward in interracial understanding.”

Technical aspects of the classes will involve the three-stage fabric-making techniques that are commonly used by the Naga people of north-east India and Myanmar (Nepal).

“The weaving technique is a traditional method that will be taught by Lanny Mackenzie,” she said.

“She’s a well-known Naga Weaver and fibre artist, these are traditional skills that, in many places, have been lost,” Gerri explained.

While learning weaving skills is the craft, reconciliation, she said, is the aim.

“It’s about bringing together Indigenous and multicultural community members to share story and culture.”

“Friendship is the whole thing, we can be friends and learn so much from each other,” she said of the Newcrest Mines at Cadia-supported event.

Co-founder of the Orange Women’s Forum, she said that the event is generally aimed at a female audience, with some local Indigenous representatives also expected to attend.

“We’re limited to 15-people for both sessions; from 10–12 noon and from 1–3, with the morning group free,” Geri explained.

“We are hoping that some Aboriginal Elders can also come, and they can discuss areas of Indigenous culture that are often overlooked,” she added.

For more information, call Orange Migrant and Refugee Support Service on 6393 8600, or Geri on 0402 437 319.

To book a place in one of the classes, go to: www.trybooking.com/events/ landing/965754