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Social Justice & Human Rights Issues:
A Global Perspective
Responses and initiativesIndigenous Australian Case Study:
Torres Strait, Mer (Murray Island) and Eddie 'Koiki' Mabo
1. Overview of the Torres Strait
Very few Australians are aware of my people - the Torres Strait Islanders.
Geography
The Torres Strait stretches for 150km between the northern most tip of Australia and the coast of Papua New Guinea. The Strait is dotted with over 100 islands, coral cays, reefs and sandbanks. The Torres Strait was named after the Spanish navigator Luis Vaez de Torres who sailed through the region in 1606.
The population of the Torres Strait is approximately 8000 (6000 Torres Strait Islanders and Aboriginal people). The population is dispersed through 19 remote small island communities. The population of each community varies but are between 70 to 750 people.
People
Torres Strait Islanders are the indigenous people of Australia but their culture is often overshadowed by Aboriginal Australia. Their culture and history is often lumped in with Aboriginal culture and history. Eddie Mabo is often described as an Aboriginal activist despite the fact that he was a Torres Strait islander. The culture of the Torres Strait is Melanesian and has strong links to Papua New Guinea rather than Aboriginal Australia.
The traditional lifestyle of each island was dependent on the resources available to them. The people of the western islands were hunter gathers because of their reliance on the land. The people of the central and eastern islands (including Mer) relied on the sea and trade with other islands. This traditional lifestyle has influenced contemporary life and culture.
Language
There are two traditional languages spoken in the Torres Strait:
i. Kalaw Lagaw Ya - This is similar to Aboriginal languages and is spoken on western, central and northern islands. Individual dialects are also found on each of the islands.
ii. Meriam Mir - This is the language of the eastern islands (including Mer) and is derived from Papuan languages. Individual dialects are also found on each of the islands.
A third language has also developed over time. This is Torres Strait creole (Yumiplatok) which is a mixture of the two traditional languages and English. This is now the regions most common language.
The Future
Two thirds of all Torres Strait Islanders now live on the mainland of Australia. The majority of these people live in Townsville, Cairns and Darwin. Many of the Mabo family live in Townsville but also in Robina, Brisbane and Rockhampton.
The migration of Torres Strait Islanders and their dispossession has emphasised the changing identity and cultural for Torres Strait Islanders. The Torres Strait Islanders living on the mainland have had to adjust to a changing identity and have had to maintain their culture.
Torres Strait Islanders today have a strong cultural identity and no longer have to live on the margins of Australian society. They are free to speak their languages and express their culture. The Islanders are forging a new identity separate from Aboriginal Australia and Australian society.
The identity and future of the Torres Strait people is represented by their flag. The flag was designed by the late Bernard Namok. The flag is a symbol for the unity and identity of all Torres Strait Islanders.
Click on the links below to investigate other topics in this Indigenous Australian Case Study:
2. Overview of Mer (Murray Island)
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