Skin group from my father’s mother’s side, 2018

“This is my grandmother from my father, Nambin (black-head snake). This is my aunty (father’s sister) Nyawana (white-chested kangaroo). This is my father’s niece, Nagarra (yellow flowers of the snappy gum tree). This is my great-grandmother (father’s grandmother), Naminjili (curlew bird).”

Shirley has painted the four skin names of her paternal grandmother’s side. These skin totems are different to her mother’s side. For Gija people, there are a total of 16 different skins for men and women combined: eight skins for women that come from paternal and maternal sides, and eight skins for men. Each skin here refers to an animal or plant, and helps Gija people understand their place in society and their relationships between each other, particularly for marriage, and marrying one’s ‘straight-skin.’

Looking at the correct straight skin relationships, Nyawurru (the emu) can marry Nambin, the black-headed snake’s son. Nangari (the crow) can marry Naminjili, the curlew bird’s son, or Nambin’s brother. Nangala (the brolga) can marry Nagarra, the snappy gum flower’s son. Nyajari (the turkey) can marry Nagarra’s brother.