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'Torres Strait Islanders' are the indigenous people of the Torres Strait Islands, part of Queensland, Australia. They are Melanesians culturally akin to the coastal peoples of Papua New Guinea. They are regarded as being distinct from other Aboriginal peoples of the rest of Australia, and are generally referred to separately. There are also two Torres Strait Islander communities on the nearby coast of the mainland at Bamaga and Seisia.

Contents

Population

Culture

Languages

Notable Islanders

See also

References

External links

Population

There are 6,800 Torres Strait Islanders who live in the area of the Torres Strait, and 42,000 others who live outside of this area, mostly in the north of Queensland, particularly in Townsville and Cairns. ^[1]

Culture

The indigenous people of the Torres Strait have a distinct culture which has slight variants on the different islands where they live. They are a sea-faring people, and engaged in trade with peoples of Papua New Guinea. The culture is complex, with some Australian elements, some papuan elements, and some Austronesian elements, just like the languages. The Islanders seem to have been the dominant culture for many centuries, and neighbouring Aboriginal and Papuan cultures show some Island influence in religious ceremonies and the like. Archaeological, Linguistic and Folk History evidence suggests that the core of Island culture is Austronesian. Unlike the indigenous peoples of mainland Australia, the islanders were traditionally agriculturalists although they supplemented their food supplies through hunting and gathering.

Languages

Main articles: Torres Strait Island languages

Kalaw Lagaw Ya, Kalau Kawau Ya, Kulkalgau Ya and Kawalgau Ya, which are all dialects of the Western-central Torres Strait Language (Kala Lagaw Ya, are spoken on the southwestern, western, northern and central islands. These are related to Aboriginal languages. Meriam Mir, related to Papuan languages, is spoken on the eastern islands. ^[2]

Notable Islanders

Famous Torres Strait Islanders include

★ Eddie Mabo

★ Christine Anu

★ Seaman Dan

★ Wendell Sailor

★ Sam Thaiday - Brisbane Broncos second rower

★ Brent Webb - New Zealand Warriors and Kiwis fullback

★ The Mills Sisters

★ Martin Nakata [1]

See also

★ Indigenous Australians

★ Papua New Guinea

★ Torres Strait Islander Flag

★ Torres Strait Island languages

References

1. Australia's Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
2. Torres Strait Islanders

External links

★ Torres Strait Regional Authority

★ Church of Torres Strait