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A modern twist on traditional shell necklace making

11 December 2023
Culture and Capability
Karena Hughes hard at work with the jewellery made by the women on the island.
June Brown and Annette Peardon stringing shells into beautiful ornaments and keeping traditions alive.

The Truwana Rangers on Cape Barren Island in Tasmania have been working with the community to maintain their culture and traditions through the very significant practice of shell stringing and necklace making.

On windy Truwana country, the Truwana Rangers work with the community to maintain their culture and traditions. Shell stringing is a cultural practice that has survived colonisation and is very significant to the Aboriginal women of Truwana.

Truwana is the Palawa name for Cape Barren Island, which lies off the northeast coast of Tasmania. It is the second-largest island of the Furneaux Group of islands in the Bass Strait.

In September 2023, June Brown, Truwana Ranger and Jacqueline Spotswood, coordinated their first gathering for a modern take on shell necklace making for Aboriginal women on Truwana. The gathering encouraged a contemporary twist to the continuance of the tradition of shell necklace making that has always been carried out on Truwana and would be lost today if Elders had not kept this alive by teaching next generations.

‘For us to have the opportunity to continue this tradition in a culturally safe space created by our Rangers, is keeping this tradition going strong for future generations,’ Jacqueline said.

June mentioned the aim of the gathering was for women to share and explore cultural knowledge and connect on a deeper level to strengthen community connections.

‘To be able to learn from such strong, deadly, grassroots women within our Truwana community is a privilege and an absolute honour for the Rangers to have initiated this women’s gathering program,’ June said.

This culturally guided program is one of many culturally informed projects which the Truwana Rangers are driving in line with community guidance contributing to a range of cultural, environmental, and social outcomes for the community.