KOWANYAMA PROJECT NEWS
CAIRNS MUSEUM COLLECTIONS A visit to the Cairns Museum has revealed a very special object that is similar to a funeral object (worn down the wearers back) known in Kokoberra as man kumpan. A similar possum wool piece was worn around the waist mostly by the women called ma’ monporm by the Yir Yoront people. The spinning of the belly wool of possums was a widespread Cape York practice only represented by at least two historic cultural collections.
Spun possum wool object Cairns Museum
The Cairns example is unidentified. Kowanyama Collection has the remnants of a spun blue possum wool armlet made by The Late Doris Lawrence in the 1970’s. The Late Raymond George was also one of the last known people who had the skill. Walter Roth, the Queensland Chief Protector of Aborigines, documented the use of the simple lap spindle in one of his published bulletins (1901, Walter E Roth, Bulletin no 1, Plate one). Possum wool objects are very difficult to keep. When first spun the wool is like elastic but over time it loses the essential oils that keep the spun wool together and so often falls apart. The Kowanyama example is not in good condition. The woollen tassel in the Cairns Museum is still in good condition for its age and is a valuable example of this lost art. Museum visits are a good way to get an idea of what cultural objects from our region are held in their collections. Some work has been done in Cairns identifying and describing objects from our area.
Bark bound agile wallaby bone hand awl Made by The Late Patrick Eric. Kowanyama 1980’s. Original notes and drawings on provenance in the Kowanyama Collection Archive Cairns Museum Collection 2019
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