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Featuring Garra Gangji artwork by Rona Bin Hitam, this bag charm celebrates the cultural knowledge and traditions of the Baard people. In Baard language and culture, there is an important distinction between the creature that lives within a shell and the shell skeleton left behind. Garra Gangji refers to the shell skeleton that remains after the animal has been eaten or after it has naturally passed and washed ashore.
Inspired by memories of collecting and processing shells on Country, Rona's artwork reflects the deep connection between people, culture, and the coastal environments of Baard Country.
• Features Garra Gangji artwork by Rona Bin Hitam
• Celebrates Baard cultural knowledge and coastal traditions
• Perfect for bags, backpacks, keys, and luggage
• Lightweight and practical accessory
• Showcases contemporary Indigenous Australian art
• Royalties paid to the artist
Artwork Story
In Baard language and culture, Garra Gangji are the shell skeletons left behind after the animal has been eaten or has died naturally. Shellfish are collected for food, while the shell skeletons are kept and admired for their beauty and significance.
Artist
Rona Bin Hitam is a Goolarrgoon Baard woman from Baard Country, north of Broome. Raised near Lombadina, she learnt traditional hunting, fishing, and shell collecting practices from her grandparents. As a teenager, she worked harvesting trochus shells that were exported for button manufacturing. Today, her artwork draws on these experiences, capturing the shell skeletons, native plants, and stories of her Country through vibrant contemporary designs.
Perfect For
• Bags and backpacks
• Keys and luggage
• Gifts and souvenirs
• Collecting Indigenous Australian art and design