IDNO

DG.167263.RPT

Description

A group of Tiwi men standing in a semicircle whilst three men dance in the middle as part of a Pukamani ceremony to honour a deceased person at Snake Bay on Melville Island. They are wearing face and body paint as well as feathers on their heads, wrists, and around their necks. [KK 04/08/2023]

Place

Oceania Australasia; Australia; Northern Territory; Tiwi Islands; Melville Island; Snake Bay

Cultural Affliation

First Nations Australian; Tiwi [historically Aboriginal]

Named Person

Photographer

Poignant, Axel

Collector / Expedition

Date

October 1948

Collection Name

Poignant Collection

Source

Poignant, Roslyn

Format

Digital File

Primary Documentation

Other Information

DG.167113.RPT - DG.167351.RPT were located on a blue 'Seagate backup plus' hard drive in a box now numbered C1035/.

DG.167255.RPT - DG.167274.RPT were located in a digital folder named "Melville Island Scans."


Related image: A similar image is in the care of the National Library of Australia with the number 5080676 and the following information: "Alie performing preliminary ritual in dancing cirlce [sic 'circle'] during Pukamuni ceremony, Snake Bay, Melville Island, Northern Territory, October 1948 [picture] / Axel Poignant.
"Snake Bay, Melville Island, Oct. 1948. The ground has been carefully prepared; all sticks and stones removed from the Milimika or dancing circle. Preliminary ritual or Ilanias; men dance sea eagle totemic dance."--Label on verso; "Copyright Axel Poignant"--Stamped on verso." [source: https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/catalog/5080676 KK 04/08/2023]