Pearl meat was a prized food source among local people and, ironically, up until Broome’s emergence as a leader in the world’s pearling industry, pearls themselves held little value. Instead, it was the discarded shells that were considered iconic.
Skilled craftsmen shaped them into tear drops, carved lines and geometric patterns into them with the jawbone of a kangaroo, and stained them red with ochre. Known as guwan, or riji, they were worn proudly as symbols of power and traded as currency.
These shimmering status symbols were emblematic of saltwater country and evidence of their allure has been found many thousands of kilometres away in Queensland and South Australia, most likely exchanged for ochre, spearheads and boomerangs.
Now Rosanna Angus, proud Jawi woman and owner/operator of Oolin Sunday Island Tours, has created a very own skincare range that harnesses the skin benefits of the pearl shell when processed into a powder and combined with seaweed extract.
“I feel very proud of Lanje,” explains Rosanna. “The range is inspired by ocean dreaming, born from saltwater stories and the healing power of our ocean. For me, it brings together ancient cultural knowledge, language, and connection to Country in a way that honours our traditions while creating something completely new.”
Click here to shop the range.
