DKH01-006_aynggwang - Ayŋgwaŋ ‘Flying fox’

This string figure represents a flying fox. There are several types of flying foxes on Awiakay land and all are considered food. They are shot with bow and arrows when spotted in a tree, but men would not go out for flying-fox hunting trips. A flying fox bone used to be sharpened and made into a needle for sowing bilums, but nowadays this is largely done with chicken bones. Flying fox often occurs in Awiakay myths. When the final figure emerges, two strings are held and the rest of the design drops down like a flying fox hanging head-down from a tree. The figure-maker bounces the ‘flying fox’, saying “kisiŋ gauk, gauk, kisiŋ gauk…”, representing flying fox’s calls. Image: 02: Darja Munbaŋgoapik showing the final design ‘flying fox’ . Language as given: Awiakay