Exploring Indigenous activism through the creation of a possum skin cloak
On a chilly July morning in the school grounds of New South Wale's Newcastle High School, a bucket fire is burning. Thirty-six possum skins are arranged on a decorated table. Long before the school bell rang, teachers had climbed up ladders to gather eucalyptus leaves for a traditional fire smoking ceremony. Now the whole school of about 250 students drift in, they are both wary and curious about the possum skins ...
This project is part of a larger University of Newcastle project, Ngukurr to Newcastle, a collaboration with the Ngukurr community in Southeast Arnhem Land which celebrates the unexpected linkages between Ngukurr and Newcastle through the legacy of a largely forgotten Aboriginal activist, Dexter Daniels.
In 2022, as part of the project, Cooks Hill Campus' Big Picture students stitched together and decorated a possum skin cloak. As they created this cloak, they listened to stories of Indigenous activism, advocacy, networks and influence.
They also learnt anthropological skills of being participant observers. When the cloak was pieced together, each student was wrapped in it and photographed.
Inspired by the stories they had heard and reflecting on their own stories and research of advocacy and activism, the students created artworks and shared the resulting exhibition with the Newcastle community during Social Science Week.
Students gave a public presentation about their experiences and told the Dexter Daniels’ story and his connection to the town at the café opposite the old Trades Hall where Dexter met with the unions in the 1960s and 70s.
The cloak along with their images, art works and stories have all became part of a living archive.
Students from the Cooks Hill Campus at Newcastle High School gather together for a smoking ceremony marking the beginning of the possum skin cloak cloak-making project
Smoking ceremony at Cooks Hill Campus thanking the possums for their sacrifice.
Local Elder, Uncle Jimmy Wilson Miler, performs a smoking ceremony at Cooks Hill Campus thanking the possums for their sacrifice.
Cooks Hill Campus students sorting through possum pelts
Laying out the possum skin cloak
Cook Hill Campus students cutting & stitching
Partly stitched possum skin
Burning designs into the skin
Designing the artwork for future exhibition
Cooks Hill students deliver their presentation for Social Science Week
Artwork created for the Social Science Week: Leelani Taranawiwai
Wrapping a Cook Hill Campus students in possum skin cloak
Cooks Hill Campus student proudly wears a possum skin cloak
Cooks Hill Campus student proudly wearing the completed cloak
Cooks Hill Campus student tries on possum skin cloak.
Contact
- Jacqueline Wright
- Phone: +61 2 4055 1082
- Email: jacqui.wright@newcastle.edu.au
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The University of Newcastle acknowledges the traditional custodians of the lands within our footprint areas: Awabakal, Darkinjung, Biripai, Worimi, Wonnarua, and Eora Nations. We also pay respect to the wisdom of our Elders past and present.