Archaeological, linguistic and
folk history evidence suggests that the core of Island culture is
Papuo-
Austronesian. The people have long been agriculturalists (evidenced, for example, by
tobacco plantations on
Aureed Island) as well as engaging in
hunting and gathering.
Dugong,
turtles,
crayfish, crabs, shellfish, reef fish and wild fruits and vegetables were traditionally hunted and collected and remain an important part of their
subsistence lifestyle. Traditional foods play an important role in ceremonies and celebrations even when they do not live on the islands.
Dugong and
turtle hunting as well as fishing are seen as a way of continuing the Islander tradition of being closely associated with the sea. The islands have long history of trade and interactions with explorers from other parts of the globe, both east and west, which has influenced their lifestyle and culture. The Indigenous people of the Torres Strait have a distinct culture which has slight variants on the different islands where they live. Cultural practices share similarities with
Australian Aboriginal and
Papuan culture. Historically, they have an
oral tradition, with stories handed down and communicated through song, dance and ceremonial performance. As a seafaring people, sea, sky and land feature strongly in their stories and art.
Post-colonisation Post-colonisation history has seen new cultural influences on the people, most notably the place of
Christianity. After the "Coming of Light" (see below),
artefacts previously important to their ceremonies lost their relevance, instead replaced by
crucifixes and other symbols of Christianity. In some cases the missionaries prohibited the use of traditional sacred objects, and eventually production ceased.
Missionaries,
anthropologists and museums "collected" a huge amount of material: all of the pieces collected by missionary Samuel McFarlane, were in
London and then split between three European museums and a number of mainland Australian museums. In 1898–1899, British anthropologist
Alfred Cort Haddon collected about 2,000 objects, convinced that hundreds of art objects collected had to be saved from destruction by the zealous Christian
missionaries intent on obliterating the religious traditions and ceremonies of the native islanders. Film footage of
ceremonial dances was also collected. The collection at
Cambridge University is known as the Haddon Collection and is the most comprehensive collection of Torres Strait Islander artefacts in the world.
Art from a Torres Strait Island (19th century) Mythology and culture, deeply influenced by the ocean and the natural life around the islands, have always informed traditional artforms. Featured strongly are
turtles, fish,
dugongs, sharks, seabirds and
saltwater crocodiles, which are considered
totemic beings. Elaborate
headdresses or
dhari (also spelt
dari), as featured on the
Torres Strait Islander flag, are created for the purposes of ceremonial dances. The Islands have a long tradition of woodcarving, creating masks and drums, and carving decorative features on these and other items for ceremonial use. From the 1970s, young artists were beginning their studies at around the same time that a significant re-connection to traditional myths and legends was happening. Margaret Lawrie's publications,
Myths and Legends of the Torres Strait (1970) and
Tales from the Torres Strait (1972), reviving stories which had all but been forgotten, influenced the artists greatly. While some of these stories had been written down by Haddon after his 1898 expedition to the Torres Strait, many had subsequently fallen out of use or been forgotten., 1931In the 1990s a group of younger artists, including the award-winning
Dennis Nona (b.1973), started translating these skills into the more portable forms of
printmaking,
linocut and
etching, as well as larger scale
bronze sculptures. Other outstanding artists include
Billy Missi (1970–2012), known for his decorated black and white linocuts of the local vegetation and eco-systems, and
Alick Tipoti (b.1975). These and other Torres Strait artists have greatly expanded the forms of Indigenous art within Australia, bringing Melanesian carving skills as well as new stories and subject matter.
Music and dance For Torres Strait Islander people, singing and dancing is their "literature" – "the most important aspect of Torres Strait lifestyle. The Torres Strait Islanders preserve and present their oral history through songs and dances;...the dances act as illustrative material and, of course, the dancer himself is the storyteller" (Ephraim Bani, 1979). There are many songs about the weather; others about the myths and legends; life in the sea and
totemic gods; and about important events. "The dancing and its movements express the songs and acts as the illustrative material". Dance is also major form of creative and competitive expression. "Dance machines" (hand held mechanical moving objects),
clappers and headdresses (dhari/dari) enhance the dance performances.
Christine Anu is an
ARIA Award-winning singer-songwriter of Torres Strait Islander heritage, who first became popular with her
cover version of the song "
My Island Home" (first performed by the
Warumpi Band).
Sports Sports are popular among Torres Strait Islanders and the community has many sporting stars in Australian and international sports. Sporting events bring together people from across the different islands and help to connect the Torres Strait with mainland Australia and Papua New Guinea. Rugby league is especially popular, including the annual 'Island of Origin' tournament between teams from different islands. Basketball is also extremely popular. ==Religion and beliefs==