Price impressed with how Iban heritage preserved
The sublime skills of Iban weavers and how The Tun Jugah Foundation helps promote and preserve Iban heritage have inspired Bess Nunggarrayi Price to do something similar in Australia.
The Minister of Community Services of Australia’s Northern Territory said many aspects of what the Iban weavers were doing were similar to what her people do.
“For instance, the designs here were passed down through generations, and it is the same for my people ( the indigenous people) in the Northern Territory. We do have similar designs, but we paint it on our bodies as we do not have the materials like what are available here,” said Price, also Minister of Parks and Wildlife.
She said this when met by reporters covering her visit to The Tun Jugah Foundation here yesterday.
Price said she was impressed with how Iban women managed to discharge their roles as women and yet managed to hand down their craftsmanship from generation to generation.
“I am impressed that they (weavers) are so creative and could carry out their work based on what is in their heads.
“My people also carry things in their heads as we do not keep record of events.”
After looking at how the weavers were encouraged to practise their art by the foundation, Price said she now intended to start something similar back home.
When the foundation’s textile director, Melia Linggi Melia,
For instance, the designs here were passed down through generations, and it is the same for my people (the indigenous people) in the Northern Territory. We do have similar designs, but we paint it on our bodies as we do not have the materials like what are available here. Bess Nunggarrayi Price, Minister of Community Services of Australia’s Northern Territory
presented Price with a earthcoloured bead necklace and `Pua Kumbu’ ( Iban Textile), she said she felt “spoilt” by her host.
“I will wear it forever. It will remind me of Kuching. I am over the moon,” said Price, adding she planned to visit Kuching, again.
Melia told reporters later that Price was also impressed with the Iban’s `Pua Kumbu’.
“The motifs and colours we used here, she said, have similar features and tones to the ones used by her people.”
To preserve this Iban heritage, Melia urged urban folk, including the men, to learn how to weave.
Assistant Minister of Culture and Heritage Liwan Lagang, Ministry of Land Development permanent secretary Datu Jaul Samion, Tun Jugah Foundation curator Janet Rata Noel, and the Foundation’s Oral History and Oral Literature Division director Dr Robert Menua Saleh were also present.