“Bejay (water) is our sister”: Wearable speculations to entangle collectively.

Abstract

Inspired by the feeling-thinking-making of the tšombiach, a traditional belt or sash woven by the Kamëntŝa people (authors 2023) this paper explores the potential of a collection of wearable speculations to entangle collectively in matters of care (Puig de la Bella Casa 2017) relating to water in a territory. Through five speculative, hand-woven garments we (2 Kamëntŝa and 2 sn̈ená/foreign women) open dialogues on how wrapping/involving, in a tšombiach logic, can be a practice of care: of the body and of the territory. The pieces are speculative in the sense that they are not actual garments, nor are they tšombiachs, instead they are pieces woven to feel-think-make with. Through them we invite each other, and other people, to physically engage with situated stories of bejay -water- our sister; to wear these pieces as a call to care, but also to be involved and entangled in the stories.