Santiago being shaved by his Uncle Justin Tapim.
A special ceremony was held last weekend at Canowindra Bowling Club by the Tapim family. It was the Murray Island Torres Strait cultural initiation first shave for Canowindra local resident and former Canowindra High School Captain Santiago Tapim.
Torres Strait Islanders practise “a first shave” and so Santiago had his beard shaven for the first time on Saturday, with this practise only to be performed by his Uncles. This process, for Santiago, is to show that he is no longer a child or adolescent but that he is now a man. Santiago’s Uncle, Justin Tapim and his family travelled from Tamworth to officiate and to perform the shave ceremony. Guests were treated to traditional island food and dancing performed by Santiago’s three little cousins.
Santiago and his family.