Kaapay and Kuyan today

‘Everything is divided two ways . . . “kaapay” or “kuyan”’

– Rosella Namok

Rosella Namok, a member of the highly successful Lockhart River Art Gang, often paints with her fingers — a technique that relates to the tradition of sand drawing and body painting she learned from her elders. Namok used this technique to paint Kaapay and Kuyan today, with the canvas positioned as a horizontal surface. This painting depicts the two halves, or moieties, into which Ungkum society is traditionally divided. The two moieties are represented by the two ellipses that dominate the canvas. The continued importance and implications of these kinship relationships are described by Namok:

The old people tell how before time there were two ways . . . ‘kaapay’ and ‘kuyan’ . . . before time it was very strong . . . Anthropologists say ‘moiety’. The elders know about all these things. They can tell you what is ‘kaapay’ and what is ‘kuyan’. The old people can look at things or animals and tell you which way they belong . . . they know for people too. They know for everyone in the community.

Which one you are . . . ‘kaapay’ or ‘kuyan’ depends on your father . . . We young ones don't know so much about this. I have to ask the old girls . . . my grandmothers . . . they know all about the traditional ways . . . my Nanna Sue, we sit down and yarn . . . she tells me some, but then I have to go back another day and she tells me some more . . . later maybe I'll be old and have to sit with those young girls and tell them . . . Everything is divided two ways . . . people, lands, story places, plants and animals . . . they belong one way or other way . . . it's important you know which way . . . ‘kaapay’ or ‘kuyan’.

‘Kaapay’ goes with ‘kuyan’ from before time. ‘Kaapay’ and ‘kaapay’ together or ‘kuyan’ and ‘kuyan’ together is wrong . . . very wrong. Elders are sad today because lots of young people don't know and stay with their own. Today, now, ‘kaapay’ and ‘kaapay’ are together sometimes and that's not right . . . makes trouble. I asked the old people if I was right . . . if my partner and I were right . . . they say yes, we're right. They talked about my father's side . . . I follow my father's side, he was ‘kuyan’ . . . my partner is ‘kaapay’. I was worried I might be wrong . . . I'm right . . . makes me happy.

 All stories
 

See also . . .

Learn about the artist Rosella Namok.
Learn about the community of Lockhart River.