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&tDisp=The tradition of basketry practiced by the indigenous people of Western Arnhem Land in Northern Australia is depicted on the walls of cave paintings dating back thousands of years, appearing as woven fibre ochre 'prints' on the rock surface and as subjects in painted compositions. The textile traditions of Aboriginal Australians represent a paragon of sustainable creative practice. Once an essential part of ceremonial and everyday life, woven Pandanus plant fibres now provide income through trading, an activity that began in the 1800's after contact with Europeans and possibly earlier with Macassan traders. Basket weaving makes important contributions to the Gapuwiyak community by invigorating cultural heritage, providing a source of income and maintaining the local environment.

Basket making activities provide both social and kinship connections. People work together collecting materials and sharing ideas about design and pattern. Similarity in basket forms and patterns are connected with family groups working together, the intricate skills and patterns passed on through generations of weavers. In the past Pandanus was part of the food cycle. Seeds were extracted and roasted, and the fibrous root also used for brushes. Although no longer commonly eaten, all parts of the plant are used in the basket making process. After removing the thorns and stripping the leaves into fibre strands, any waste is burnt and the ashes added to dye stocks made from the soft ends of the leaves. The range of red, purple yellow and brown dye colours are all prepared from local plants.
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