Flames of Culture: First Nations Jewellery Unveiled will showcase a collection of contemporary Indigenous inspired jewellery pieces that can be worn by anyone, with each piece telling a unique cultural story. The unveiling of the new jewellery collection designed and curated by local Jeweller, Thomas Coen Bonson, will be hosted at the ANCA Gallery in Canberra during NAIDOC Week. Embracing this year's theme, ‘Keep the Fire Burning! Blak, Loud and Proud’, we celebrate Indigenous heritage with passion and pride.

The exhibition is open 12–5pm from Wednesday 10 July to Friday 12 July.

Mantiyupwi is a creation that combines cultural significance with wearable art, in the form of an 18ct yellow gold necklace with vibrant natural gemstones.

According to the artist: ‘The Aboriginal fish trap is a cultural practice that spans over 20,000 years and provides healthy and fresh fish for communities in a sustainable and ecofriendly way. My father has dedicated his whole life to re-designing the traditional Aboriginal fish trap into a contemporary form, combining cultural ancient techniques with modern practices to ensure the continuation of this ancestral tradition which has been passed through our family and culture for generations.

Mantiyupwi honours my culture, my father and the fish traps he has built. Mantiyupwi is inspired by the fish trap my father and I built together on the Tiwi Islands in the Northern Territory. Over the first three days of building it, it caught over 1500kgs of fish, feeding the whole community.

The fish trap is built on Wurrumiyanga, an Aboriginal community on the Tiwi Islands. The Traditional Owners of Wurrumiyanga are the Mantiyupwi Clan. I have dedicated the name of the piece to them.

Mantiyupwi carries profound symbolism. It represents the essential role of family and community in Aboriginal culture, where the fish trap is not only a tool for sustenance but also a symbol of unity, cooperation, and intergenerational knowledge transfer.

I am proud to honour the true skill and craftmanship of handmade jewellery making. Just like my father, I have intertwined two powerful heritage narratives, uniting the traditions of the ancient Aboriginal fish trap and our culture through contemporary handmade jewellery.’

Thomas Coen Bonson