Jarli means ‘barn owl’ in the Jiwarli language of Western Australia.
Jarli’s great-great grandmother’s favourite animal was the owl which represents wisdom. Jarli’s name was chosen for this reason by his parents Em and Hayden.
This possum skin is his first, and his family have burnt the story of their family coming together in it and will continue to add to it over time to create a cloak for Jarli.
Possum skin cloaks are very significant in mapping the identity of their owner, holding stories of the clan and country, and are kept for the lifetime of their owner.
I think this is such a wonderful tradition for a family to continue.
