Paul Bong, Spiderweb ShieldIntaglio Vinyl 60. 5 x 31 cm The shield is more than a tool of warfare; its significance begins long before it is held by a young man. Its creation is a sacred process. Two Elders carve the shield from the blue fig tree near the buttress pillar, imbuing it with their knowledge, authority, and care. This act connects the shield to the country, law, and the ancestors who hold the stories. Only after this process is complete is the shield presented to