Yolŋu women from across Arnhem Land have woven unity, kinship and cultural knowledge into their finalist work for the Wandjuk Marika Memorial 3D Award at the 2026 Telstra National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Awards (NATSIAA).

Now in its 43rd year, Telstra NATSIAA brings together First Nations artists from across the country, with 64 works selected from 221 entries for this year's exhibition at the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory.

Arnhem Land Collaborative brings together weavers from Milingimbi Art and Culture, Gapuwiyak Culture and Arts, Maningrida Arts and Culture and Bula'bula Arts in Ramingining.

Their work, 'Queen quilt', was made from pandanus, kurrajong bark and natural dyes.

The work was conceptualised by senior artists Ruth Ŋalmakarra and Gwen Warmbirrirr for the Laŋarra Bush Gallery weaving camp as a way of bringing communities, hands and skills into one shared work.

Ms Ŋalmakarra, who lives in Milingimbi and Laŋarra, works across Liya-gawumirr, Gupapuyŋu and Djambarrpuyŋu languages.

Ms Warmbirrirr, a Dhaŋu (Ŋaymil) speaker who lives in Milingimbi, said the work carried the strength of Yolŋu women across east Arnhem Land.

"It's important that this work is recognised because it's about the strength of Yolŋu women and connects women in every east Arnhem Land region," she told National Indigenous Times.

"It's about unity.

"What made it special is that weavers from all the different communities that came to Dhuwal Bush Gallery, we used our strength, effort and ideas and put it into one blanket."

'Queen quilt' reflects old and new ways, recalling a time before blankets when people slept wrapped in paperbark.

It also honours the mothers, aunties, grandmothers and great-grandmothers who have carried weaving knowledge across generations.

Ms Ŋalmakarra said the work belonged to a wider community of weavers.

"What we created is not just for us, it is for all Yolŋu, all weavers, everywhere, all over this Country and overseas," Ms Ŋalmakarra said.

"The work is big, it's big work."

Ms Warmbirrirr said the work was built through shared ideas and many hands.

"It's about working together, one mind, one heart, and many, many extra hands," she said.

"This work is the same, all little squares from different weavers that are joined together.

"Every weaving that's part of the mat is connected, it's like the gurrutu between Yolŋu."

The process reminds her of learning crochet as a young teenager, when small squares were made and stitched together.

She said the work also reflected gurrutu, or kinship, through the way each part of the weaving connects.

"Yolŋu culture is very strong, we are connected to our Ancestors through our Country, and everyone has a strong cultural identity and we tell those stories through meaningful art," Ms Warmbirrirr said.

"Even when we don't know each other, we are still connected."

Ms Ŋalmakarra said the work was also made for future generations.

"We do this for our young people to remember," she said.

"I hope people see how we work together, how we are strong together."

'Queen quilt' was a woman's story that went beyond the object itself.

"Other women can see this work and think of how the work of every woman connects," Ms Warmbirrirr said.

"Women weave from one end of the gunga to the other. It's like a cord, it connects to every newborn child.

"We need to teach the new generation of women to learn those skills and to weave the gunga so they can learn themselves."

The 2026 Telstra NATSIAA exhibition opened at the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory on June 27.

The winners will be announced at the awards ceremony on August 7, with artists sharing in a total prize pool of $190,000, including the $100,000 Telstra Art Award.