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Status: Stock

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Laurence Gibson, Kirbaji (Dugong)

Kirbaji (Dugong) is an Ancestral Spirit Being (Totem) that I inherited it from my mother’s side.  It is my Totem. The dugong was also an important food source for my ancestors. Only men were allowed to hunt them, and only men had the right to cook and distribute the meat to all the families. My uncles and cousins showed me how to hunt dugongs and they passed down to me the cultural knowledge about them.

My ancestors used to wrap the dugong meat in ginger leaves for flavour, close the wraps with a vine and cook them in the ground oven. Dugongs were only hunted on special occasions such as births, weddings and funerals to provide food for large family gatherings. Dugong fat was also melted to make oil which was used as a medicine for skin and hair ailments or as ointment to treat an upset stomach.

Screen printed by hand in Sydney, by master printers on 100% cotton linen. Sold by the metre in 132 cm width.

Care Instructions: Gentle machine or hand wash only in cool water, using mild detergent. Do Not Soak, Bleach, Rub, Wring, Tumble. Line Dry Only in Shade.  Warm Iron on Reverse. Do Not Dry Clean.