ARMED FOR ADULTHOOD
The Tiwi saw the arrival of puberty as a loss of the child
Puberty is seen as an important rite of passage in many cultures but for the Tiwi – a group of indigenous Australians who live in the Bathurst and Melville islands – the arrival of puberty is almost mourned. This armlet, collected in 1917, is made of bark and feathers and was worn during dances of mourning for the dead, known as Pukumani. It was also worn by a mother at the end of her child’s puberty rituals. The child is mourned as they begin their transformation and return to society as an adult. For the Tiwi, leaving childhood means they can be initiated into the culture’s secret rituals and prepare to become a spiritual being.