Slide+1+-+Identity+of+Torres+Straight+Islander

Slide 1 planning page

The Islands of the Torres Strait is situated between the tip of Queensland, Australia and Papua New Guinea. The area which is classed as the Torres Straits covers an area of approximately 40,000 sq km which 2.6 per cent is land; 6.2 per cent is inundated reef flats and 91.2 per cent is open ocean (Lui, 1996).

Torres Strait Islanders are part of the Aboriginal culture but identify themselves as Torres Strait Islanders instead of Aboriginal Australians whom come from the mainland. As Maximillian (2001, p.1) points out the Torres Strait Islanders are not mainland Aboriginal people who inhabit theislands of Torres Strait they are a separate people in origin, history and wayof life.

Torres strait islanders class themselves into three main groups which is based on similarities and differences within their culture on how they obtain food, perform ritual practices and the geographical features of the islands (Lui, 1996). . . __**Contribution from Joanna**__ The Torres Strait Islander Flag was created as a symbol of unity and identity for Torres Strait Islander peoples

Each part of the flag is designed to represent something about Torres Strait Islandculture. according to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission "The dhari (headdress) represents Torres Strait Island people and the five pointed starrepresents the 5 major Island groups. The star also represents navigation, as a symbolof the seafaring culture of the Torres Strait. The Island Co-ordinating Council also chose the design as its simplicity would alloweach Torres Strait community to incorporate their own emblem into the design forlocal identification".
 * Green: Represents the land
 * Blue: Represents the sea
 * White: Represents peace
 * Black: Represents the Indigenous peoples

--- References

Lui, L., (1996) //Cultural Identity and Development in the Torres Strait Islands // in Sarawasti, B. (Ed) (1996) Interface of Cultural Development []  03009 html (retrieved 05/1203)

Brandle, Maximilian (ed.) Multilcutlural Queensland 2001: 100 years, 100 communities, A century of contributions, Brisbane, The State of Queensland (Department of Premier and Cabinet), 2001.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission(2000) retrieved []