The rhythm and repetition involved in basket weaving is known to calm the mind and release stress from the body. Fibre Artist Aly de Groot, along with co- facilitators Menah Mckenzie and Noni Eather from Mayala- Bol,will deliver wholistic wellness and weaving workshop at the Cove, which is Mayala-Bol's workshop facilitation space in the Breezeway next door to the Darwin Entertainment Centre.

The art of Basketry brings forth bountiful benefits , including mental well being and social connectivity . The rhythm and repetition involved in basket weaving is known to calm the mind and release stress from the body. These workshops will invite connections, curiosity and happiness. Slow crafts such as basket making, give us a well needed break from the digital world, allowing us to relax, create and converse. Mayala-Bol will provide a culturally safe and fun space for international students.

These workshop will focus on:

Mind, Body, Spirit wellness

Self Reflection

Knowledge Sharing/ Story telling

Safe yarning circles

Healing through creative expression

Guided meditation and breath

Self regulating tips

Coping with stress

building self-esteem and confidence

ABOUT THE FACILITATORS

Menah Mckenzie is from the community of Maningrida of West Arnhem Land. Following her fathers side she belongs to the Anbarra Diyama clan groups and speaks the Burarra language.Her mothers lineage tracks to central Australia and to the Kimberley's in Western Australia. Menah proudly holds bloodlines from saltwater to Desert. Menah has worked in community services, Youth work, suicide prevention and event work for many years, delivering a vast arrange of workshops to youth and diverse audiences across Arnhem Land & the Darwin region including social and emotional wellbeing, women's Empowerment, youth re-engagement, Leadership workshops, & music and song writing.

Through her Family line and kinship system, Noni is recognised as Njawamud of Yirridja Moiety and speaks the Ndjebbana language through her mothers tongue. Whilst Growing up Noni has been learning to manoeuvre between different worlds sharing her time between her Mothers Home in Maningrida soaking up what she could of her Indigenous Cultural heritage as well as her Fathers home in QLD taking advantage of the opportunities in western mainstream Education.Noni has worked in several areas in her Community including Education, Community Services, Child Safety, Media and the Arts.

With over 20 years experience of facilitating contemporary fibre art workshops across the NT as well as Nationally in Schools, universities, hospitals, conferences and festivals, some of the highlights of Aly de Groot's creative career include: - teaching weaving and plant dying with cancer ward patients at the Alan Ward Cancer Centre as a part of a CDU PHD research project, by Gretchen Ingis, titled Heart , investigating the remedial impacts of textile arts on the mental health of cancer patients

- Weaving and plant dying workshops with Demntia Patients at Palmerston Hospital community.

-weaving with International students in a series of weaving wellness workshops across Darwin in Semester 1 and at CDU in Semester 2.