Possum Skin CLoak

Colonisation has deeply impacted the continuation of cultural practice for First Nations Peoples. Colonisation is continuous, rippling through systems. Countering its impact is the reclaiming of First Nations languages, land, spirituality, cultural practices and ways of being by community and for community.

Once integral in traditional ceremony and ritual on the South East coast, Possum Skin Cloaks were/are sewn by Women on Yuin lands. This one has been created by Kirli Saunders with the generous mentorship and consultation of Aunty Loretta Parsley, a proud Yuin Elder and Artist. Aunty Loretta was taught by Aunty Vikki Couzens, Keerray Woorroong Gunditjmara multi-media artist who has been driving cultural reclamation through the creation of Cloaks with her Community in Victoria.

Traditionally, cloaks grew with the person they were gifted to, with some cloaks comprising up to 50 pelts. The skins held stories, etched with ochre, burns, sinew, and incisions.

Kirli’s pelts were gifted to her for her 30th birthday by friends and family, they were ethically sourced from Aotearoa. Her story is yet to be marked into her pelt. Hanging an ‘unfinished work’ in this collection is intentional, challenging norms of perfectionism that are held by white society.

For Saunders, her Cloak symbolises matriarchal strength, continuation and returning.

She wishes to thank her family, and Aunty Loretta, Aunty Vicki and the Ancestors for their deep time and wisdom.