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Background Information
Background Information
18 inhabited islands, around 100 uninhabited islands and two mainland communities located off the northern tip of Australia.
The phrase ‘Ailan Kastom’ refers to the customs, traditions and beliefs of the Torres Strait Islander people.
Torres Strait Islanders have a distinct culture from Aboriginal Australia with small variations within each island community. One difference is that many Islanders traditionally grew food in family-owned gardens on the Islands as well as hunting and gathering.
The Flag
The Flag
The Torres Strait Island flag was designed in 1992 by Bernard Namok Snr of Thursday Island and became an official Australian flag in 1995.
Every element of the flag has a unique meaning: the green strips represent the land with the blue representing the water of the Torres Strait. The black lines represent the Torres Strait Islander people, the white star represents the five major island groups and symbolises peace and well as the use of the stars for navigation and the white dhari represents the culture and people of the Torres Strait.
Calendrical Ritual: Coming of the Light
Calendrical Ritual: Coming of the Light
Torres Strait Islanders’ calendrical rituals include the Coming of the Light festival on 1st July each year. The Coming of the Light festival celebrates the acceptance of Christianity by the local Indigenous population during the time of the Christian missionaries.
Origins
Origins
The London Missionary Society set out to convert people of the Southwest Pacific to Christianity from the 1840s. In July 1871, the Reverend Samuel MacFarlane, a member of the Society anchored at Erub (Darnley Island) in the Torres Strait. He was accompanied by South Sea Islander evangelists and teachers.
In defiance of tribal law Dabad, a Warrior Clan Elder on Erub welcomed the London Missionary Society clergy and teachers.
Effect
Effect
The acceptance of the missionaries and Christianity into the Torres Strait Islands is often credited with ending conflict between different island groups. However, Christian principles were already somewhat compatible with Islander religion. The missionaries offered a more practical advantage. Torres Strait Islanders had been grossly exploited in the maritime industry. The missionaries provided some protection and assistance to Islanders who negotiated with outsiders in the maritime industry.
The acceptance of missionaries and Christianity into Torres Strait led to profound changes that affected every aspect of life from that time onwards.
Annual Celebrations
Annual Celebrations
Torres Strait Islanders living on the islands or on the mainland come together to honour this anniversary every year. Islanders of all faiths celebrate the Coming of the Light in a festival like no other in Australia.
Activities include church services and a re-enactment of the landing at Kemus on Erub. Hymn singing, feasting and Ailan dans strengthen community and family ties.
THINK
THINK
How can we apply Van Gennep’s three phase division of separation, transition, and incorporation to this ritual?
Using your previously collected notes or powerpoints about Van Gennep, outline the key stages of The Coming of the Light and the purpose and key beliefs reinforced to the islanders.
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