I was really interested by the lecture/tutorial about the Torres Strait Islanders. Previously I didn't know anything about the Torres Strait Island, all I knew was that their was always a seperate classification or selection in all applications in Australia.
Torres Strait Islanders have a seperate origin, history and way of life. They are more similar to islanders furthur north in PNG.
Before WW2 the TSI's were successful in gaining their rights as a seperate people. After which they were heavily influenced by the Church of England. Since then they have been active at a local state and federal level.
Now, in a contemporary focus, TSI's are struggling with issues of identity, health (currently holding a very high percentage of diabetes victims) and education (keeping the language).
TSI's are very embracing of outsiders, considering them part of the islands, creating connections and oppertunities.
Overall, after learning about all these important attributes to the TSI's, I have come out of it with a new respect for their community. In a way - their openness to cultural influence and outsider (yet keeping their traditional values) could be seen as an inspiration to our culture.
Illustration1 : Torres Strait Islander with the traditional headress
Brandle, Maximilian (ed.) Multilcutlural Queensland 2001: 100 years, 100
communities, A century of contributions, Brisbane, The State of Queensland
(Department of Premier and Cabinet), 2001.
