Join us on Saturday, March 28, for a special workshop introducing participants to the cultural practice of making dadikwakwa-kwa (shell dolls), led by Warnindilyakwa artists Noeleen Lalara and Annabell Amagula from Groote Eylandt, Australia.

Dadikwakwa-kwa (shell dolls) are a wholly unique practice to the Warnindilyakwa women of the Groote Archipelago. Keepers of spirits and ancestors, Dadikwakwa-kwa are considered alive by the women who create and care for them. They hold sacred knowledge and stories safe for future generations. 

During the workshop, Noeleen Lalara and Annabell Amagula will share the stories and cultural meaning behind the dolls while demonstrating the process of making them using shells, textiles, natural fibres and ghost net. Participants will be invited to create their own doll while learning about the role these objects play in cultural education, storytelling, and artistic expression.

More than a making activity, the workshop offers a space for cultural exchange and dialogue, connecting participants with Noeleen and Annabell’s knowledge, creativity, and living cultural traditions.

“Doll shells, they’re not just shells, they've got spirits inside them. We can talk to them; they can answer us back. It’s like a dream, they answer, it is very strong. But you have to believe and trust them. They keep everything for us – knowledge, stories and meaning.” - Danjibana Noeleen Lalara, Lead Art and Culture Officer