DKH01-054_temgwayn - Temgwayn ‘Kina shell decoration’

This string figure represents temgwayn - the kina shell decoration which is hung from the neck and used in dancing. Shell decorations are passed down from one generation to another, and used to be valuable gifts given to or received from people from other groups. In past times they were also used as important decorations during the female initiation ritual, which took place at a girl’s first menstruation. The girl was put into a protective enclosure, timbin. When she stopped bleeding, she would come out to be washed and decorated. After her mother’s brother washed her with grass, women would paint her face and decorate her with temgway ‘kina shell decorations’ (Hoenigman 2007: 56). When the final design of this string figure comes up, the string figure-maker usually hangs it on their neck to represent the decoration. Images: 02: Darja Munbaŋgoapik showing the final design of temgwayn ‘kina shell decoration’ 03: temgwayn ‘kina shell decoration’ 04: Didimas Andikay wearing his father’s Aymakan’s temgwayn ‘kina shell decoration’ . Language as given: Awiakay