Kaapay & Kuyan (Two Moieties, Land and Sea)

KAAPAY & KUYAN (MOIETY SYSTEM)

This sculpture embodies the universal principles of Kaapay & Kuyan (Two Moieties; Land & Sea). The two moieties are the foundations of tribal law for First Nations and many other cultures across the world. They are equal opposites, integral to our universal social structures and show that balance is created through listening and acknowledging a contrary perspective.  For Ungkum people (Rosella’s tribe) these two moieties are Kaapay and Kuyan. Through her choice of colour and composition, Rosella explores the broader, universal dualities of life; the macro (lore & culture) and the micro (family & self), the traditional and the modern, and even the land and sea.

Across many Aboriginal cultures moiety systems, referring to the two equally balanced social and ritual groupings, are used to organise social structures and kin relationships, thus dictating marriage customs and the appropriate family entitlements and the responsibilities that come with this. For Ungkum people (Rosella’s clan) these are Kaapay and Kuyan. Where these customs were once strongly ingrained, they no longer hold the same importance for some younger community members.

Back home, we’ve got really strong culture from the old people. There are about six tribal lands back at home, like different clan groups. So you can’t marry your own, you have to marry someone from a different tribal clan otherwise the old people, they get really upset and it’s not how they grew up. But now most of the old people have passed on, and it’s all a bit of a mix up now, so it’s not really good. The young people are making the old people, the ones that are left, really shame – they get upset about it. Kaapay and Kuyan, have to be together, you have to be different… Has to be from a different clan.