Inside & Outside
By the 1960's, the Torres Strait appeared to the outsider to be a fragmented, dispirited place.
Yet despite high levels of emigration to the mainland, the Meriam revived and strengthened their customs.
In 1967, Marou Mimi wrote down the ten laws of Malo and exhorted the Meriam to follow Malo's example; turtle ceremonies continued, and fish traps were maintained.
The Islanders also kept up their political campaigning.
They overwhelmingly rejected not only a proposal to divide the Torres Strait between Australia and Papua New Guinea, but also a Queensland plan to offer them 50-year leases to their land.
"How can we lease back what is already ours?" said Anglican priest, Rev Dave Passi in 1981.
Within a year, he became a plaintiff in the Mabo case.
Yet despite high levels of emigration to the mainland, the Meriam revived and strengthened their customs.
In 1967, Marou Mimi wrote down the ten laws of Malo and exhorted the Meriam to follow Malo's example; turtle ceremonies continued, and fish traps were maintained.
The Islanders also kept up their political campaigning.
They overwhelmingly rejected not only a proposal to divide the Torres Strait between Australia and Papua New Guinea, but also a Queensland plan to offer them 50-year leases to their land.
"How can we lease back what is already ours?" said Anglican priest, Rev Dave Passi in 1981.
Within a year, he became a plaintiff in the Mabo case.
The islander migration
Text
1945-
employment, James Cook University, language, Mabo, Edward Koiki, migration, pearling industry, Queensland, Torres Strait Islanders, World War 2
...the fastest railway line builders in the world...
Text
1973
James Cook University, Mabo, Edward Koiki, migration, Queensland, railways
The Border Problem
Text
international border, politics, Queensland, Singe, John, Torres Strait, Torres Strait Islanders, treaties
The Laws Of Malo
Topic
indigenous law, Malo's laws, Malo-Bomai, Meriam culture, Meriam history, Murray Island, religion, sacred, sacred
Malo's Law
Topic
Malo's laws, Malo-Bomai, Meriam culture, Meriam history, Murray Island, religion, sacred
