Your Guide to Living in the Torres Strait TAGAI STATE COLLEGE 2021 Edition Your Guide to Living in the Torres Strait – 2021 Edition 2 Copyright © 2020 Tagai State College. All rights reserved. Section 1: Maiem; Sew Ngapa: Welcome to the Torres Strait Contents Maiem; Sew Ngapa: Welcome to the Torres Strait . 5 About Island Life: Living in the Torres Strait . 17 Your New Home: Living in Staff Accommodation . 31 3 Your Guide to Living in the Torres Strait – 2021 Edition 4 Section 1: Maiem; Sew Ngapa: Welcome to the Torres Strait MAIEM SEW NGAPA WELCOME TO THE TORRES STRAIT 5 Your Guide to Living in the Torres Strait – 2021 Edition DEMOGRAPHICS GEOGRAPHY The Torres Strait Nation supports an estimated The Torres Strait is an archipelago of islands population of 8,000 people. In the 2016 and accompanying coral atolls. ABS census, 82% of residents in the local The region’s islands are scattered over a government areas of Torres Shire Council geographic area of 48,000 square kilometres, and Torres Strait Islands Regional Council from the tip of Cape York, north towards the identified as being of Aboriginal and/or Torres borders of Papua New Guinea and Indonesia. Strait Island descent. There are five Nations (traditional It is estimated that the Torres Strait groupings) of islands in the Torres Strait. Nation represents approximately 4% These are shown in yellow on the map below. Queensland’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Note that the traditional names of islands Islander population, and 11.8% of Far North and campuses are used by the College. Staff Queensland’s Indigenous population. can assist you with pronunciation if required. According to the ABS Census in 2011, almost two thirds (62.6%) of Australia’s 52,616 Torres Strait Islanders live in Queensland. Papua New Guinea Malu Kiyay Ngurpay Lag Kadhego Ngurpay Lag Dauan Ngurpay Lag Ugar Eruer Uteb Erub Erwer Uteb Masig Muysaw Ngurpay Lag Mabuygiw Ngurpay Lag Iama Ngurpay Lag Mer Eruer Uteb Poruma Ngurpay Lag Badhulgaw St Paul’s Ngurpay Lag Ngurpay Lag Warraber Ngurpay Lag Kubin Ngurpay Lag Waybeni Buway Ngurpay Mudh Waybeni Koey Ngurpay Mudh Narupay Ngurpay Mudh Cape York 6 Section 1: Maiem; Sew Ngapa: Welcome to the Torres Strait Communities Schooling Tagai State Traditional Commonly Traditional Number of Cluster College Name Used Name Campus Name Students Campus Ugar Stephen Stephen Ugar Eruer Uteb 10-20 Kemer Kemer Island Island Campus Meriam Erub Darnley Island Darnley Island Erub Erwer Uteb 50-70 Campus Eastern Islands Mer Murray Island Mer Campus Mer Eruer Uteb 30-50 Iama Yam Island Yam Island Iama 50-70 Campus Ngurpay Lag Kulkalgal Warraber Sue Island Warraber Warraber 50-65 Island Campus Ngurpay Lag Central Poruma Coconut Poruma Poruma 30-45 Islands Island Campus Ngurpay Lag Masig Yorke Island Yorke Island Masig Muysaw 50-65 Campus Ngurpay Lag Malu Kiyay Boigu or Malu Kiwai Malu Kiyay 45-65 Guda Talbot Island Campus Ngurpay Lag Maluyilgal Dauan Island Mt Cornwallis Dauan Island Dauan 20-40 Island Campus Ngurpay Lag Top Western Islands Kadhego Saibai Island Saibai Island Kadhego 90-120 Campus Ngurpay Lag Mabuygiw or Mabuiag or Mabuiag Mabuygiw 45-65 Mabuyag Jervis Island Island Campus Ngurpay Lag Maluyilgal Badhulgaw Badu or Badu Island Badhulgaw 150-200 Mulgrave Campus Ngurpay Lag Lower or Island Near Western Moa Island Banks Island St Pauls St Pauls 45-65 Islands Campus Ngurpay Lag Kubin Campus Kubin 20-40 Ngurpay Lag Kirriri Hammond N/A N/A N/A Island Waybeni, Thursday Thursday Waybeni Buway 350-400 Waiben Island (T.I.) Island Primary Ngurpay Mudh Campus Kaywalagal Thursday Waybeni Koey 350-400 Island Ngurpay Mudh Inner Islands Secondary Campus Narupay Horn Island Horn Island Narupay 50-70 Campus Ngurpay Mudh Muralag Prince of N/A N/A N/A Wales Island 7 Your Guide to Living in the Torres Strait – 2021 Edition TRADITIONAL LANGUAGES Standard Australian English is not the first (or Meriam Mir (Eastern Islands) dialects: sometimes even the second) language for • Mer Mir and Torres Strait Islanders. The common language • Erub Mir. spoken across the region is Yumplatok, an Kala Lagaw Ya (Western & Central Islands) English-based creole. dialect: Traditional Languages are also spoken and • Kala Kawaw Ya (Top Western Islands) are an important part of the contemporary • Mabuyag (Near Western Islands) Torres Strait culture. • Kulkalgaw Ya (Central Islands) and There are two main Traditional Languages • Kawrareg (Inner Islands or Kaywalagal of the Torres Strait: Meriam Mir and Kala and Kubin). Lagaw Ya. Each of the traditional languages has a number of dialects. Kala Lagaw Ya Kala Lagaw Ya Kala Lagaw Ya Kala Lagaw Ya English Meriam Mir (Kalaw Kawaw (Mabuyag Ya) (Kulkalgaw Ya) (Kawrareg Ya) Ya) Welcome Maiem Sew Ngapa Sew Ngapa Sew Ngapa Sew Ngapa Kapu Bayludh or Kapu Moegi Kapu Moegi Good Morning Debe Idim Kapu Moegi Kapu Boethaynga Bathaynga Bathaynga Bathaynga Good Day Debe Gerger Kapu Goeyga Kapu Goeyga Kapu Goeyga Kapu Goeyga Good Debe Kikem Kapu Kuuta Kapu Kut Kapu Kut Kapu Kut Afternoon Good Night Debe Ki Kapu Kubil Kapu Kubil Kapu Kubil Kapu Kubil (Evening) How are you? Nako Ma Nali? Ni Midhikidh? Ni Midhikidh? Ni Midhikidh? Ngi Midh? Ngay Matha Ngay Matha Ngay Matha Ngay I am well Sikak Ka Nali Mamuy Mamuy Mamuy Balbayginga See you later Le iako uadawer Lak Kayne Lak Kayne Lak Kayne Lak Kay Goodbye Le iako uadawer Kapu Yawo Kapu Yawo Yawo Yawa Yes Uau Wa Wa Wa Wa No Nole Lawnga Lawnga Lawnga Lawnga Thank you Esoau Eso Eso Eso Eso Big Thank You Au Esoau Koeyma Eso Koeyma Eso Koeyma Eso Koeyma Eso 8 Section 1: Maiem; Sew Ngapa: Welcome to the Torres Strait CULTURE Key Cultural Events Torres Strait Islanders are a distinct group of Feasts and ceremonies are an important peoples with their own traditions and beliefs component of the Torres Strait Island Culture. which have developed over thousands of Key events in the Torres Strait calendar include: years. They have an intricate system of laws • The Coming of the Light – celebrated practiced and observed within an overarching on 1 July each year, commemorating lore framework. The Torres Strait is a the arrival of London Missionary Society conglomerate of families, clans, tribes, islands (LMS). and sub regions with respective boundaries • Tombstone Openings – the unveiling of and jurisdiction. a grave headstone, usually on the two or Island culture, expressed through Ailan three-year anniversary of the funeral Kustom, is particularly aligned to a sense of • Winds of Zenadth Cultural Festival – a stable, long established society – characterised week showcasing the rich and diverse by extended kinship, close knit family ties traditional singing, dancing, arts and craft and social obligation. Whilst the majority of exhibitions, feasting and tradition. The Torres Strait Islander population in Australia festival is held biennially in September on live outside the Torres Strait (80%), many Thursday Island. maintain a strong sense of attachment to their • Mabo Day – celebrates the historic homeland, regularly returning for social and judgment delivered in the High Court on family celebrations. 3 June, 1992, accepting the claim from Eddie Koiki Mabo and the other claimants Protocols that the people had occupied the island • Learn the basic greetings in languages. of Mer before the arrival of the British. • Ask permission from traditional owners • Native Title Determination – people on before visiting new areas. each island celebrate the day Native Title • Look but don’t touch things that are was granted to them. sacred. • NAIDOC Day is commemorated annually • If there is a death in the community – during a week-long celebration to do not initiate discussion about it with recognise Indigenous Australians, their students or community members. distinct and rich cultures and their • Family relations across communities are contribution to Australia. extensive. Avoid speaking negatively of • First Torres Strait Councillors Meeting anyone to other community members. – celebrates the anniversary of the first • Participate in community events and councillors meeting held on Masig Island, celebrations, but avoid “island politics”. marking the historic day in 1937 that • Respect cultural practices such as island leaders call for a greater role in managing adoption, turtle and dugong hunting. the Torres Strait affairs. • Have respect for Elders and seek their advice on cultural issues. 9 Your Guide to Living in the Torres Strait – 2021 Edition COMMUNITIES The islands of the Torres Strait vary greatly • Weekly barge services – especially in terms of their geologic • General utilities (power, sewerage, water, formation, geographic location, population landline telephones, garbage collection) and the services that are available. Generally • Hotel or canteen facilities speaking, most communities offer the • EFTPOS following services: As outlined below, services such as motel • Grocery store accommodation, mobile phone coverage, • Health Centre childcare and Queensland Library services are • Community Police only available in certain communities. • Boat ramp Badu Population: 1000 Services: Art Centre, airstrip, Regional Council Badu Island is one of the larger islands and is Office, Health Centre with permanent doctor, two partly covered with mounds of basaltic rocks and grocery stores, Indigenous Knowledge Centre, lightly vegetated open areas. The island is fringed post office, Centrelink Agency, sporting facilities by both mangroves and white sandy beaches. (multipurpose courts, outdoor sports field), Running creeks and seasonal waterholes are hotel,