Body Painting

Totems play an integral role in Aboriginal identity within the Kamilaroi nation. At birth, each child is associated with a totem which remains with the person for life. A totem holds significant importance for each individual, as he/she holds the important responsibility of supporting the identifies species for generations to come. Links between the spiritual world, creation time and the living world (land and creatures) are associated with totems which are passed down from mother or father, given by a spiritual sign linked to the ancestral spirit that the totem represents. In 2008, the Queensland Studies Authority, a division of the Queensland Government, released a detailed report explaining the rites and customs of indigenous populations. The document uses the following example of a totem birth rite: ‘A goanna may cross the mother’s path during her pregnancy. He future child is then seen to be linked to the goanna dreaming or the ancestor Uudinaddalli and as such has a special relationship with the goanna and with the physical location where the mother saw the sign.’ A totem can be either an animal, a component of a natural landscape, a plant or even a weather pattern. Knowing one’s totem allows an individual to understand one’s relationship within a language group or to other Aboriginal people, giving them a connection with one’s sacred country. Individuals having the same totem share a special bond “Kamilaroi totems include Dilby the Crow and Kaputhin the Eagle. Kaputhin the Eagle associates itself with the following spiritual concepts: - Celebration of the blue skies. - Upperworld Messenger. - Soaring over obstacles. - The value of the Ego and Transcending the Ego - Heat and wind wisdom - Flight of the Spirit Within the totems subtotem groupings exist. These are derived as a social class system from matriarchal lines of descent allowing marriage and relationships to take place from other parts of the Kamilaroi nation. The subtotem groupings are aligned with animal totems (examples stated below) within the Kamilaroi nation. These are represented as followed: Kaputhin Moiety-Yibaay/Gambuu (Ringtail possum, red kangaroo, quoll, wallaroo, platypus, quail, barking owl, emu, brolga and death adder) Dilby Moiety- Marrii/Gabbi (Brush-tailed possum, bandicoot, echidna, pademelon, eastern grey kangaroo, pelican, white cockatoo and kookaburra) in

Totem totem (ma) marries Totem (F) producing Children

Two examples of a union of two Gamilaraay people from the Kamilaroi nation 1.Blacksnake Yibaay clan– Emu Yibaadha - blacksnake Gambuu (m) Buudhaa (f) 2.Goanna Marri clan - Kangaroo Maadha clan – Goanna Gabii (m) Gabuudha (f)

Your totem determines whom you can marry and whom you cannot marry.

Aboriginal body painting or art and personal ornamentation is an ancient tradition which carries deep spiritual significance for the Australian Indigenous People. Their cultural rituals including body painting differ between Aboriginal Tribes and topographic location. It is related to spiritual matters and is very creative in character. The specific designs and motifs used by the Aboriginals reveal their relationships to their family group, social position, tribe, precise ancestors, totemic fauna and tracts of land. There are very strict guidelines to how the body painting and adornment is carried out and an Aboriginal person is not allowed to just use any motives or adornment in their transformation. They must follow traditional, respected patterns. The person adorned with the body paint often takes on the spiritual part of their ancestor dancing, immersed in their character.

In Arnhem Land the people decorate the bodies of young boys for initiation ceremonies. They are painted in tribe/clan totems to the upper body and thighs. In Eastern Arnhem Land (Yolngu) the men are painted according to their Moiety (Clan/blood line) either Dhuwa or Yirritia. Women of the desert painted their upper chest, shoulders and breasts for communal women’s ceremonies. Moiety is a form of social organisation in which most people and, indeed, most natural phenomena are divided into two classes or categories for intermarrying so as to ensure that a person does not marry within his/her own family. In art, moiety can play an important role in determining the subjects (Dreamings) which an artist may paint.

Colour varies between different regions of Australia and tribes. Clay is often used as a colour source, as is as ochre, when at hand. Many tribes use precise colour pairing such as pink and red or yellow and white. Feathers, leaves and plant materials are also used to add colour to arm and leg ornaments. Animal fat is often mixed with paint so that they stay longer on the body because most ceremonies last for days. Ceremonies include storytelling, singing and dancing.