Dandiiri Maiwar
Student Notes
Dandiiri Maiwar is a vibrant and living Cultures Centre showcasing Queensland's Aboriginal
Peoples and Torres Strait Islanders. Learn about Aboriginal cultures and Torres Strait Islander
cultures from long ago through to the present day.
During a visit, students will:
•
•
•
•
Explore a place where the experiences and perspectives of Aboriginal people and
Torres Strait Islanders are facilitated, presented and heard.
Gain an understanding and appreciation of Aboriginal Peoples and cultures, and
Torres Strait Islanders and their cultures in Queensland.
Celebrate the distinctive cultures of Aboriginal Peoples and Torres Strait Islanders.
Engage in unique, enjoyable and memorable learning experiences.
Welcome to Country
Upon arrival at Dandiiri Maiwar view the "Welcome to Country" given by Uncle Bob Anderson
and Aunty Jianna Richardson.
Out of respect for the families and communities who have contributed their stories we
request that there be no photography within the Centre.
Aboriginal people and Torres Strait Islanders
Aboriginal people and Torres Strait Islanders are the Indigenous peoples of Australia.
Do you know?
Who are the Traditional Owners of the area that you live in?
How can you find out?
Aboriginal People
Aboriginal Australians have enjoyed life in all parts of Australia since the beginning of time
when all things were called into being.
Each clan or family group has its own defined country, stories, beliefs, practices and
languages, with obligations to care for land, each other and all living things.
Individuals have special obligations to maintain their connection to and care for particular
animals, birds, or plants.
Non-Aboriginal estimates put the Aboriginal occupation of Australia at about 40 000 years at
least.
Conservative estimates place the Aboriginal population before Invasion and colonisation at
about 750 000 people.
© Queensland Museum 2010
1
Before Invasion people were able to speak a number of Aboriginal languages as
communication with neighbours and other groups, for social and economic activities, was a
regular part of life.
Men traditionally hunt larger creatures depending on the environment, season and resource
availability in their particular country.
Women and children collect smaller animals and harvested fruits, berries and other plants.
If the day's hunting fails to provide the group with a significant catch then the harvested fruits,
plants and small animals can always be relied on to provide a tasty and nutritious meal.
Clothing and shelters vary according to climate, need and availability of resources. In old
times during very cold seasons possum and kangaroo skin cloaks were made by stitching
skins together.
Great care is taken not to use up the resources or food supply of an area. People only take
what is needed, making sure there is plenty for next season. Nothing is wasted.
Torres Strait Islanders
Torres Strait Islanders are of Melanesian origin, proud of their own distinct cultural identity,
traditions, languages and history. Like most island and coastal dwellers the Islanders are
true seafarers, navigating by the stars with a superb knowledge of islands and reefs, weather,
tides and currents.
The size of communities varies according to the ability of the islands to sustain groups of
people. Communities could be as small as twenty and as large as 800 people. Island society
is life based on farming (where soil was fertile), hunting, fishing and gathering food from
the sea.
Three languages are spoken amongst the Islanders: Kala Kawa Ya (Top Western and
Western), Kala Lagau Ya (Central) and Meriam (Eastern) dominate, with Torres Strait
Islander Kriol having emerged after the arrival of the missionaries.
Torres Strait is named after a Spanish captain, Torres, who sailed through the Strait in 1606
on his way to the Philippines. The Torres Strait is located between Cape York and Papua New
Guinea and is made up of about 100 islands of which 15 are inhabited and administered by
Community Councils.
The Torres Strait is divided into five major island clusters, the Top Western Group (Boigu,
Dauan and Saibai), the Near Western Group (Badu, Mabuiag and Moa), the Central Group
(Yam, Warraber, Coconut and Masig), the Eastern Group (Murray, Darnley and Stephen), and
the TI Group (Thursday, Horn, Hammond, Prince of Wales and Friday).
In seagoing canoes they created a network of trade routes between islands and from New
Guinea to Cape York Peninsula to ensure supplies of food, weapons, canoes, cassowary
feathers, ochre, ceremonial and domestic objects. Torres Strait Islanders traded pearl shell,
cone shell, turtle shell and stone.
Archaeological evidence currently indicates that people have lived on Torres Strait islands for
at least 2 500 years.
© Queensland Museum 2010
2
Today an estimated 30 000 Torres Strait Islanders live all over Australia; while about 8 500
live on the Islands.
Although the majority of the Islanders live on the mainland, Torres Strait Islanders are fiercely
proud of their identity wherever they live and maintain links with family, home islands,
languages and culture.
Flags
You may have seen the Aboriginal flag and the Torres Strait Islander flag flying at your
school or in your community.
• What do the colours and symbols on these two flags represent?
• What do the colours and symbols represented on the flags tell you about the things
that Aboriginal people and Torres Strait Islanders value?
• Why do you think it is important for nations to have their own flags?
• If you could design your own flag what kinds of symbols would you use to represent
the things that are important to you and your family?
Aboriginal Flag
Harold Thomas, a Luritja man from Central Australia, designed the Aboriginal flag in 1971 as
a symbol of unity and national identity for Aboriginal people during the Land Rights movement
of the early 1970s.
The flag was first flown on the 12th of July 1971 in Victoria Square, Adelaide, on
National Aborigines Day.
The flag was chosen in 1972 as the official flag for the Aboriginal Tent Embassy. The symbolic
meaning of the flag colours (as stated by Mr Harold Thomas) are:
•
•
•
black representing the Aboriginal people of Australia;
red representing the earth, red ochre and spiritual relationship to land; and
yellow is the sun - the giver of life and protector.
In 1995, the Australian Government proclaimed the flag as an official ‘Flag of Australia’.
Torres Strait Islander Flag
The late Mr Bernard Namok, from Thursday Island, designed the Torres Strait Islander flag in
1992 for a design competition held as part of a Cultural Revival Workshop.
The colours represent:
•
•
•
•
green for the islands (land);
black for the people;
blue for the sea; and
white for peace.
© Queensland Museum 2010
3
The Dhari (head-dress) is unique to the Torres Strait and is a symbol of Torres Strait Islander
identity;
The five-pointed star represents the five Island clusters and also symbolises the navigational
importance of stars to their seafaring culture.
The Torres Strait Islander Flag was recognised as an official ‘Flag of Australia’ in July
1995.
Glossary
Aboriginal English
Refers to the form of English used by Aboriginal people. Aboriginal English uses elements of Standard
Australian English and Aboriginal languages.
Ailan kastom bilong Torres Strait
Torres Strait Islander culture.
Archaeology
The study of the past through material traces.
Artefact
Any product made by humans or caused to be made through human actions.
Assimilation
Assimilation became government policy in the 1930’s with the idea that Indigenous peoples should be
‘improved’ by being “civilised’ and becoming Christians and learning how to work and live just like
Europeans.
Bipo Taim
A Torres Strait Islander term that refers to the time before the arrival of missionaries.
Breastplate
Aboriginal breastplates, also known as king plates, gorgets and brass plates were given by
Europeans to individual Aboriginal people during the 19th and early 20th centuries.
Coming of the Light
Torres Strait Islanders celebrate July the 1st as The Coming of the Light, which commemorates the
arrival of members of the London Missionary Society in 1871.
Country
A term used by Aboriginal people to refer to the land to which they are from/belong to and their place of
Dreaming or Creation Time.
Culture
The usual and traditionally patterned ways of behaviour and a set of familiar values shared by members
of a group or community. Includes land, language, ways of living and working artistic expression,
relationships and identity.
© Queensland Museum 2010
4
Dhari/Dhoeri
The Dhari is the traditional dance and ceremonial headdress of the Torres Strait. It is the central motif
on the region’s flag and symbolises the identity and unity of all Torres Strait Islanders. Dhari is the
Meriam Mir word for ‘headdress’ and is used in the eastern islands. In the central and western islands
where Kala Lagaw Ya is spoken, the headdress is called Dhoeri. Designs vary from island to island.
Dharis/Dhoeris were traditionally made from Frigate Bird and Torres Strait Pigeon feathers, but are now
often made from chicken feathers with cane for the frame.
Diverse
Made up of different things; very different or distinct from one another.
Elders
Leaders, holders of particular knowledge and key persons within a clan group or Aboriginal community.
Goori
A word that Aboriginal people of Southeast Queensland/Northern New South Wales use to describe
themselves simply meaning “people”.
Indigenous
Natural to a place or area. Originating from a particular place. This could include plants, animals, etc.
Indigenous People
The first peoples of a land.
Kinship
Describes the ways that people are connected or relate to each other.
Land Rights
The process by which Aboriginal people and Torres Strait Islanders have attempted to gain rights to
their own lands/country.
Lore
The learning, keeping and passing on of a cultural heritage, which can include wisdom, tradition,
teachings, knowledge and experience.
Macassans
The Macassans were people from Indonesia who had established a trade system with the Aboriginal
people of northern Australia before European contact.
Magil (mogill)
An Aboriginal word from the Brisbane area for the eastern water dragon.
Missions
Indigenous peoples were forcibly removed from their homelands to live in church run communities
called “missions”.
Murri
A word that many Aboriginal people use to describe themselves in Queensland.
Native Title
A form of land title which recognises Aboriginal people and Torres Strait Islanders as rightful owners of
land they are connected to.
Reconciliation
A term used to describe the building of new and positive relationships between non-Indigenous people
and Aboriginal people and Torres Strait Islanders.
© Queensland Museum 2010
5
Reserves
Government established and controlled areas. Indigenous peoples were placed in these areas under
the “protection” of government authorities.
Social Justice
Being free to enjoy the same rights, privileges, responsibilities and services as all other citizens.
Terra Nullius
A term that means “a territory belonging to no-one” or “over which no-one claims ownership”. The High
Court decision of 1992 rejected terra nullius and recognises Indigenous native title.
© Queensland Museum 2010
6