A group of students from NAISDA Dance College, near Sydney travel to Saibai Island in the Torres Strait which is only 4km from Papua New Guinea. They learn firsthand about the history, culture and, of course, dance of the island.
Sorry, should have added that bit in and I totally agree. The region was and still is a complex mosaic of island and mainland interaction. Thanks for including. Also, I heard Cape York children used to make and play with toy bows, yet they were never adopted for actual hunting by adults. Haven't been to your region but looking forward to it visit the miss’s family one day. Cheers
"The Torres Strait represents a unique culture, influenced by cultural interaction over several millennia from both countries" And from a different perspective, Cape York Aborigines represent a unique culture, being influenced by Western Torres Strait Islanders for over several millennia (Skin Drums, Smoking Pipes, Fishbone Hooks, Having double outriggers attached to their bark canoes).
Don't really care what you guys are saying but my roots are from Saibai island. The decision that made the Torres Strait islands apart of aus was made and there is nothing no1 can do about it. Live with it!! Ya not gonna die for Christs sake!!
I agree somewhat with you, but the simple fact is the Aus government will never relinquish the Torres Strait to PNG and neither will TSI people be given over to PNG. Although we accept that we are of predominately of Papuan stock we fought for the right to be Australians. But you need only go to my dads native tongue 'kala lagaw ya' (western islands) and see the mixing of mainland and PNG languages. How do we affect your rights mate? We can't claim anything that isn't ours just like you can't.
Next time i want to get wood inside australia, i will Give it to a PNG brother so he can get a one day pass and trade it to a T.I Brother and i will drive up to QLD to complete the transaction :)
I can tell majority of you don't realize that their are aboriginal clans that are traditional owners in the Torre Strait Islands that canoed from main land. How ignorant of you mob to make such statements not realizing such history and heritage.
we were always there....we have paintings stories of the island formation, burial and sacred sites from a long time ago. Our ancestors fought hard for this land, and guess what?....We"re still here today on the island now
T.I. People and PNG people share similarities in culture and customs. The T.I. people should have been included in the PNG Independence... T.I. people do not share any cultural customs with Aboriginal people from Australia. Torres Strait people only come from the Torres Strait, not the main land of Aus. As an Aboriginal person my rights are taken away when the TI is included in Aus as Traditional Owners. It's a wrong that needs to be made right!
"4k's from PNG!!!" What a joke! The Torres Strait people are exactly the same as PNG, with looks (features), language, attire (dress code) etc. No debate about it, Saibai should have been included with PNG!
