'Wrapped in a Possum Skin Cloak by the Lake: an Aboriginal cultural revival project'

Lake Macquarie City Council

Project artist, Doug Archibald, wearing the finished 'Lake Cloak'

Aboriginal Cultural Development - Award Winner Division C

The Aboriginal Reference Group [ARG], in collaboration with Lake Macquarie City Art Gallery [LMCAG] and Lake Macquarie Library, hosted a series of workshops between October 2010 and January 2011 through which the Aboriginal community made a possum skin cloak.
The cloak came to represent many things for the group – the revival of a cultural practice, education of the Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal community and school students and working together with ownership over the process. In addition, it represented the coming together of many people from all over the eastern part of Australia as one community as depicted in the stories on the cloak.
The impact was both personal and public. Many involved noted it had reconnected them to their own cultural heritage, while the resulting exhibition was well received by all that visited. The quality of the project is supported by the Australian Museum hosting it during mid-2011.

  • Cultural Officer

    Debbie Abraham ()

  • Award Category

    Aboriginal Cultural Development – Division C

Photos

    • Project artist, Doug Archibald, wearing the finished 'Lake Cloak'

      Project artist, Doug Archibald, wearing the finished 'Lake Cloak'

    • Dawn burning her design on apelt

      Dawn burning her design on apelt

    • School students in armband workshop

      School students in armband workshop

    • Selena Archibal sewing the pelts together

      Selena Archibal sewing the pelts together

Supporting Web Links

Cultural Awards 2011 Award Winner

Other Projects

Summertime Stories at Blacktown Arts Centre Previous The Photos scenes are stills taken from the DVD and demonstrate the scenarios and target groups addressed on the DVD. Photo number one is “The Youth & the Law” scenario and depicts a group of young people ‘hanging out’ at a local park when they are approached by police who have received a report that one of them maybe carrying drugs. When asked to produce ID the young people become defensive, their bags a checked and subsequently 2 are arrested one for possession of marijuana and the other for carrying a knife. On further investigation Police confirm that one young person is infact in possession of marijuana and charge him, however they also are made aware that the knife is part of the second young persons study tools as he is studying to become a chef. The scenario depicts that while police may take you in for questioning you will be treated fairly and according to the law. Photo number two “The Traffic offence” scenario depicts an African male, driving to a destination, he is stopped and asked for this license, upon producing his license the officer is alerted to the fact that he does not have a current NSW drivers license and has to fine the driver. Unsure and afraid he answers the questions honestly and is told that his license had expired 7 months before. The driver is summoned to court. As all the characters stories unfold we see this driver attend court and subsequently at the RTA practicing for this learners permit. Photo number three depicts The "Domestic Violence” scenario and follows the story of a woman and her journey through the court system, the support services available and the understanding that Domestic Violence is a crime. Next

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