Torres Strait Islander People

The Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander people are Australia’s first people. They’re the Indigenous and traditional owners of our beautiful land. However, until the last few decades, this hasn’t always been recognised. The Indigenous people of Australia have faced colonization, oppression, the Stolen Generation, and all kinds of disrespect to their cultural heritage.

The Australian Indigenous community hold extremely significant corrections to the land of Australia, of which they refer to as ‘Country.’ Indigenous people acquire deep meaning from the land, sea and the countless resources derived from them. This special relationship has formed for many centuries. To them ‘Country’ is paramount for overall wellbeing; the strong, significant, spiritual bonds embody their entire existence. Knowledge is continually passed down to create an unbroken connection of past,

The injustice of stereotypes begins with depictions of diverse groups as uniform. For Indigenous Australian stereotypes, there are prevailing negative views of laziness, welfare abuse, substance abuse, and criminality (Perkins, 2014). Initial negative stereotypes of Indigenous Australians were based on social-Darwinist theories (Harrison & Sellwood, 2016). However, contemporary stereotypes might be attributed to ignorance of Australia’s past paternalistic colonialism on contemporary Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders. Stereotypes negatively impact the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. This is clear in constructing identity, and the expectations others have of Indigenous Australians.

There is recurrent tension between the maintenance of Indigenous culture and essentially assimilating to the rules and regulations of the predominantly white society in Australia (Dockrey, 2010). Australia’s Aboriginal culture represented the oldest surviving culture in the world (Aboriginal culture, 2017). The traditions include having at least 270 different language groups and 500 dialects in the indigenous community (Shareourpride.org.au, n.d). The vast amount of languages and dialects were present to represent the intellect of Indigenous Australians. Language is a strong aspect of Indigenous culture as it connects and influences many Indigenous tribes as it is their form of communication. The environment also connects aboriginal people spiritually to their land and provides them with a sense of identity (Jackson 1999). Although there were many different groups and clans in the past, the tribes fighting over the land was a rare occurrence (Treatyrepublic.net 1996). This showcases the connection and respect they exhibited for the land and maintaining structure was their main priority. Additionally common law was a way that Indigenous Australians could preserve the ecosystem and cultural integrity, through their spiritual and emotional connection with the land (Langton 1996, p.10). However due to the colonization, there was less formal acknowledgement for Indigenous

To begin with, a clarification must be made. Although for the purposes of this assessment I will be using the term Indigenous Australians, it is not the most appropriate term to be using, as the technical definition of indigenous is ‘originating or occurring naturally in a particular place; native’ (‘Indigenous’, 1987). The more correct term would be Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander.

For most of their (over) 45,000 years history, Torres Strait Islanders have established their own unique identity as a group and within their respective collectives, partially due to limited contact between the Torres Strait Islands and Europeans, until Britain’s colonisation in 1788; Therefore, the last two centuries as a result of colonisation have undoubtedly effectuated the alienation of the Torres Strait Islanders, and ergo had pernicious influences on their identity. As argued by Mua Makereta business exploitations in the 1860s by pearl shells particularly changed the Torres Strait Islands as the Queensland Government “formally annexed the islands”, and made a centre for the marine industry on Thursday Island as the Europeans viewed the islanders as a ‘lesser breed’ who had no right in deciding what would happen to the Islands. Usually contact between the Europeans and the Islanders was often transient and socially distanced, but the arrival of the London Missionary Society in 1871 on the Islands resulted in their attempt to impose Christian discipline on the Islanders, therefore manipulating their identity. Although they typically didn’t allow music, when they did the ‘teachers’ from the London Missionary Society were especially suspicious of the islanders’ traditional dances and songs, but tolerated South Sea dance. Cambridge scientist W.H.R. Rivers who at the time observed that the Torres Strait Islanders would often come in contact with South Sea Islanders as many

Indigenous populations have been the carers and custodians of Australia and the Torres Strait for a period in excess of 60,000 years before being

Throughout the early 20th century, the Australian public was led to believe that Aboriginal children were disadvantaged in their communities, and that there was a high risk of physical and sexual abuse. Aboriginal children were being removed in order to be exposed to ‘Anglo values’ and ‘work habits’ with a view to them being employed by colonial settlers, and to stop their parents, families and communities from passing on their culture, language and identity

The important relationship building teachers must conduct with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students is another key issue teachers must keep in mind for working successfully with Indigenous students. Price (2012) argues that teachers hold a special place in the Indigenous community, especially with parents and caregivers. She states that by “mastering the craft” of teaching, you will be rewarded both personally and professionally over the years of your career (Price, 2012). Over the last 30 years, a number of prepositions have been put forward that will assist Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students to become emotionally healthy, so they can live out their entitlement to becoming a dignified citizen of Australia and the world (Price, 2012).

I would like to begin this speech by recognising the owners of this land, the true ancestors of the country we call ‘ours’. To the Indigenous peoples of Australia, I acknowledge you, I thank you and most of all I apologise to you for the deep suffering and remorse you are put through. I am ashamed of this country’s treatment towards you. Past and Present.

As a future educator, it will be my job to continue acknowledging, valuing and teaching Indigenous origins, histories and cultures using the Australian Institute for Teaching and School (AITSL) standard 2.4 and the Australian Curriculum. This will give my future students a better understanding that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people were the first custodians of our Australian land and of their origins. They lived in Australia 60,000 years before the British settled in 1788. I will teach an Australian historical time line prior to 1788.

the false stereotypical views towards Australian Indigenous people. It is evident that this topic is one to have a vast majority of individuals have strong opinions and valid concerns about, but please have a positive outlook throughout the following words. Be aware that personal opinions and views on this topic are logical and valid but reassess where you stand at the end of the following letter. Since the European colonisation of Australia in the year of 1788, Indigenous people have been tormented in a world that is seen as unnatural to their existence prior to these changes occurring. Although it is believed that Aboriginal people have lived throughout Australia for up to 60,000 years (Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet, 2017) it is still

I aim to focus on the historical and contemporary situation of Torres Strait Islander and how the Edward Koiki Mabo (Eddie Mabo) decision has affected them.

Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people can be respectfully referred to by the following terms:

Australian South Sea Islanders’ experience during the 19th and early 20th centuries in Queensland.  Captured through the lens of time, we see the cultural diversity and contribution to heritage made by Islanders who were brought to Queensland as indentured labourers from 1863 through 1904.