Land Disputes

Ongoing claims by family groups to particular pieces of land-sea property has always generated conflict.

Across generations, it becomes a question of "my clan land versus another's".

Even today, "defending the territory" is part of Meriam life and fist fights over disputed land and boundaries are not unknown.

While overt violence has become muted, Murray Islanders do fear the power of hostile magic, sometimes invoked to settle land and other disputes.