Being invited to photograph repatriation of remains was an interesting experience for to watch an Aboriginal (Wurundjeri) culture sharing culture practices with a Nippon (Japanese) Ainu culture.
At the start the small brief i was given had mostly applied to being around the central fire place and where i could and could move around it which the unless you those members involved in the ceremony. But I was alone in photographing this event and a few media camera operators who had flown in from Nippon for this were there also. Interacting with the Nihonjin (Japanese people) was fun and muster all the words i could remember for the 1 time i travelled to Okinawa which appeared to be much appreciate by the guests with a surprised smile.
The Ainu people are small Indigenous group mostly located around the Hokkaido region and from the small things I could remember when discuss the fire pit and the food that had been placed around it the skewered salmon repesnts the people from the costal region and the small grains you might be able to make out are for those people from the mountains with the grains being symbolically thrown into the fire towards the end of the ceremony and sake be shared by those participating.
I really enjoy the privilege of being able to capture these small moments of cultural sharing by two Indigenous cultures.
Shot for the @museumsvictoria
