Gelam
In Meriam tradition, the three Murray islands were formed by mythical ancestors; sea creatures who travelled across Torres Strait.
The islands were shaped by Gelam, who travelled in the form of a dugong from Mua in western Torres Strait.
Gelam moved rich, red soil from Mua hill to Mer and also brought coconut palms, many varieties of yam and other food plants to the island.
He spat out two red bean seeds and these became the two smaller islands of Dauar and Waier.
Belonging To Country
Topic
aborigines, Australia, dreamtime, indigenous Australians, land ownership, land rights, sacred
A Sacred Landscape
Topic
aboriginal property ownership, anthropology, Australia, clans, dispossession, kinship, land ownership, religion, sacred
Las
Topic
Las, Las, Mabo, Edward Koiki, Malo, Mer, Meriam culture, Meriam history, Murray Island, Piadaram, Zogo le
