Damon Mcknight
In Australia, the term 'Islander' is used to refer to two distinct groups: Torres Strait Islanders and Australian South Sea Islanders. Torres Strait Islanders are the Indigenous Melanesian people of the Torres Strait Islands, which are part of the state of Queensland, Australia. They are one of Australia's two distinct Indigenous cultural groups, the other being the Aboriginal peoples. Australian South Sea Islanders, on the other hand, are the Australian-born direct descendants of people who were brought to Australia between 1863 and 1904, primarily from the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu, to work as indentured labourers. Today, both groups are recognised as distinct cultural groups within Australia, with their own unique histories, languages, beliefs, and contributions to the country's economic and cultural development.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Indigenous cultural groups in Australia | Aboriginal peoples and Torres Strait Islander peoples |
| Number of distinct languages spoken by Torres Strait Islanders | 2 |
| Number of distinct language groups | 2 |
| Languages spoken on the Eastern Islands | Meriam Mir |
| Languages spoken on the Western, Central, and Inner Islands | Kalaw Lagaw Ya or Kala Kawa Ya |
| Number of people living in the Torres Strait region | 6,000 |
| Number of people living outside the Torres Strait region | 37,000 |
| Number of Australian South Sea Islanders in the 1992 census | 10,000 |
| Number of Australian South Sea Islanders in the 2001 census | 3,500 |
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What You'll Learn
Australian South Sea Islanders
Despite the hardships and discrimination faced by the community, Australian South Sea Islanders have contributed significantly to the social, cultural, and economic development of Queensland. They have excelled in sports, especially rugby league, with players like Sam Backo, Mal Meninga, Gorden Tallis, and Wendell Sailor representing the Australian South Sea Islander community on the international stage.
The Australian South Sea Islanders United Council (ASSIUC) was formed in 1975 as the first national body to represent Australian South Sea Islanders, advocating for national recognition and promoting cultural awareness. The ASSI-PJ is the national secretariat representing the interests of all Australian South Sea Islanders.
In 1992, a census of South Sea Islanders reported around 10,000 descendants living in Queensland, with fewer than 3,500 reported in the 2001 Australian census. In 1994, the Commonwealth Government recognized Australian South Sea Islanders as a distinct cultural group. The Queensland Government followed suit in 2025, marking the 25th anniversary of this formal recognition.
The Queensland Museum’s Say Our Name: Australian South Sea Islanders exhibition highlights the community’s tumultuous history and the birth of a new community. The State Library of Queensland also holds several collections pertaining to the history of Australian South Sea Islanders, including photographs, interviews, and historical records.
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Torres Strait Islander peoples
The Torres Strait Islander peoples have their own cultural practices, languages, and beliefs that are distinct from those of Aboriginal peoples. Their spirituality and customs reflect their dependence on the natural world of their home islands and the surrounding waterways. They believe that the land, sea, skies, and other natural features, including all living things, were created by ancestral beings. Torres Strait Islander culture and spirituality are closely linked to the stars and the stories of Tagai, a great fisherman and spirit being whom the Torres Strait Islander peoples believe created the world.
The Torres Strait Islander peoples speak two distinct languages. The traditional language spoken in the Eastern Islands is Meriam Mir, and in the Western, Central, and Inner Islands, the language spoken is Kala Lagaw Ya or Kala Kawa Ya, which are dialects of the same language. Torres Strait Creole, an English-based creole language, is also widely spoken as a language of trade and commerce.
The Torres Strait Islander people have a strong artistic culture, particularly in sculpture, printmaking, and mask-making. They are the only culture in the world to make turtleshell masks, known as krar (turtleshell) in the Western Islands and le-op (human face) in the Eastern Islands.
Historically, the Torres Strait Islanders have had to fight for the recognition of their ethnic and cultural heritage by the Australian government. In 1937, they petitioned the Queensland Government for improved services, the curtailment of regulations over Islanders’ lives, and greater regional autonomy. In 1971, the distinct category of "Torres Strait Islander" was included in the Australian census. In 2010, the Federal Court of Australia officially recognized the rights of the Torres Strait Islanders over the entire Torres Strait region.
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Indigenous Australians
The Aboriginal Australians are the Indigenous people of the Australian mainland and its islands, including Tasmania. They have a close connection with their traditional lands and waterways, and with nature. They have developed a variety of regional cultures and languages, and invented distinct artistic and religious traditions. Aboriginal people today mostly speak English, with Aboriginal phrases and words being added to create Australian Aboriginal English.
The Torres Strait Islanders are the Indigenous Melanesian people of the Torres Strait Islands, which are part of the state of Queensland, Australia. They are ethnically distinct from the Aboriginal peoples of the rest of Australia, though they are often grouped together as Indigenous Australians. The core of their culture is Papuan, and they are traditionally a seafaring nation. They exhibit a strong artistic culture, particularly in sculpture, printmaking, and mask-making. The Torres Strait Islanders speak two distinct languages: Kalaw Lagaw Ya and Meriam Mir, with Torres Strait Creole also widely spoken as a language of trade and commerce.
The Australian South Sea Islanders are not Indigenous, but they are a distinct cultural group with a unique history and position in Australian society. They are the descendants of people who were brought to Queensland from 1863 to 1904 to work as indentured labourers in the primary industries, particularly on cotton and sugar plantations.
The term "Indigenous Australians" has grown in popularity since the 1980s, but many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples dislike it as they feel it is too generic and removes their distinct identities. More specific terms, such as naming the language group or using a demonym relating to a geographic area, are preferred by some.
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Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander history
The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are Australia's two distinct Indigenous cultural groups. The Aboriginal people have referred to themselves as Koori, Murri or Nunga, depending on the region they are connected to. Their identities can also be linked to their language groups and traditional country (a specific geographic location). For example, the Yawuru people are the traditional custodians of Broome in Western Australia.
The Torres Strait Islanders are the Indigenous Melanesian people of the Torres Strait Islands, which are part of the state of Queensland, Australia. They are ethnically distinct from the Aboriginal peoples of the rest of Australia, but are often grouped with them as Indigenous Australians. The core of their culture is Papuan, and they are traditionally a seafaring nation. The Torres Strait Islanders exhibit a strong artistic culture, particularly in sculpture, printmaking, and mask-making. They speak two distinct languages: Meriam Mir, which is spoken on the Eastern Islands, and Kala Lagaw Ya or Kala Kawa Ya, which are spoken on the Western, Central, and Inner Islands. Torres Strait Creole, an English-based creole language, is also widely spoken as a language of trade and commerce.
The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have their own laws and customs to determine the membership of their groups. Many people prefer to be called Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, rather than the generic term Indigenous Australian. The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples were the first human inhabitants of Australia, and they have a close connection with their traditional lands and waterways, as well as with nature. They believe that the land, sea, skies, and other natural features, including all living things, were created by ancestral beings. Torres Strait Islander culture and spirituality are closely linked to the stars and the stories of Tagai, a great fisherman and spirit being whom they believe created the world.
The history of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples has been marked by discrimination and hardship. In the 19th century, many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples were subjected to missionary activity that prohibited the use of traditional sacred objects and sought to obliterate their religious traditions and ceremonies. In the 20th century, researchers tried to salvage what was left of traditional knowledge from surviving elders, influencing a revival of interest in the old ways of life. Today, the Australian government has established various initiatives to address the historical social, health, and educational disadvantages faced by Indigenous peoples, including specific grants, scholarships, university courses, and government programs.
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Islander languages and culture
Australia's Indigenous peoples are two distinct cultural groups: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander. There are over 250 different Indigenous language groups spread across the nation, with around 800 dialects. Each language is specific to a particular place and people. In some areas, like Arnhem Land, many different languages are spoken over a small area. In other areas, like the huge Western Desert, dialects of one language are spoken.
The three main languages spoken in the Torres Strait are Kala Lagaw Ya, Meriam Mir, and Yumplatok (Torres Strait Creole). As of 2006, there were just over 200 speakers of Meriam Mir. In the 2021 Census, 76,978 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people reported speaking an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander language at home, up from 63,754 people in 2016. This number is expected to increase further by 2031, according to the National Agreement on Closing the Gap. However, the proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who spoke a native language at home decreased from 12.1% in 2001 to 9.5% in 2021.
Language is deeply connected to the culture and identity of Indigenous Australians. It is a means of passing on cultural knowledge and heritage, and it provides a sense of belonging and empowerment. As Bua Benjamin Mabo, a Meriam linguist, said, "The land actually gave birth to our language. Language and culture are inseparable."
There are currently 22 Indigenous language centres around Australia for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities to maintain, preserve, and promote the diversity of their languages.
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Frequently asked questions
The Torres Strait Islanders are the Indigenous Melanesian people of the Torres Strait Islands, which are part of the state of Queensland, Australia. They are culturally and ethnically distinct from the Aboriginal peoples of the rest of Australia, but are often grouped with them as Indigenous Australians.
The Torres Strait Islanders were the first human inhabitants of Australia, along with the Aboriginal peoples. They have a strong sense of attachment to their homeland and those who live on the mainland return regularly for social and family occasions. The Islanders have a long history of seafaring and trading with other islands and villages on the Papuan coast. They also have a rich artistic and spiritual culture, with a strong connection to the natural world and the surrounding waterways.
The Torres Strait Islanders speak two distinct languages: Meriam Mir, which is spoken on the Eastern Islands, and Kalaw Lagaw Ya or Kala Kawa Ya, which are spoken on the Western, Central, and Northern Islands. Since European colonisation, a third language, Torres Strait Creole (or Kriol), has developed as a mixture of English and traditional languages.
Australian South Sea Islanders are the descendants of people who were brought to Australia between 1863 and 1904 to work as indentured labourers, primarily in the sugarcane fields of Queensland. They were mostly "blackbirded" or deceived into coming and faced harsh treatment and discrimination. Today, they are recognised as a distinct cultural group within Australia, with their own unique history and contributions to Australian society.
