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The Torres Strait is 100’s of small islands between the tip of Cape York & PNG.
This thread is about my ppl & culture, about the impact of climate change to our island homes & the #TorresStrait8’s unprecedented human rights complaint to the UN. #auspol http://ourislandsourhome.com.au/
This thread is about my ppl & culture, about the impact of climate change to our island homes & the #TorresStrait8’s unprecedented human rights complaint to the UN. #auspol http://ourislandsourhome.com.au/
We refer to our collective First Nations in the Straits as: Zenadth Kes. While all Aboriginal & Torres Strait Island First Nations cultures are unique, we Torres Strait Islander’s are distinct, hence our own flag & addition in references to Indigenous people’s of this continent.
My family come from throughout the Torres Strait. My great great grandmother’s were Annie Savage from Erub, and Annie Kebisu from Iama, who married indentured pearling workers from Borneo (Dayak) & the Phillipines. My families are Ahwang and Mayor from my aka & athe.
My father was one of many Zenadth Kes ppl who came to the mainland to work as soon as the White Australia policy ended along with the complete control of their lives.
They are renowned for their work ethic. A world record for rail track laying was set by them in the Pilbara.
They are renowned for their work ethic. A world record for rail track laying was set by them in the Pilbara.
My Dad met my Mum working at Frances Ck Mine. Mum is the daughter of a polish refugee who first worked as an engineer on the Snowy River Dam Project. Her mum died when she was a toddler, their car run off the road by a drunk near Adelaide. Here they are, young days in Pine Creek.
Born and raised in Darwin on Larrakia land, I was able to practice culture in the Islander community & taught hunting on nearby reefs. Darwin is a pearling frontier like my Dad’s home island, Waiben (Thursday Is). We fit in. Photo of our little dance troupe. I’m the lankiest one.
I go back home to Zenadth Kes as much as possible. My families & ancestors are there. My culture & languages are there. & it is all being lost to global warming & rising seas.
Many islands are low lying.
Our ppl are losing everything.
@NITV report:
Many islands are low lying.
Our ppl are losing everything.
@NITV report:
The Federal Government, by ignoring the immediate and imminent threat of climate change to the Torres Strait, & by not taking sufficient action, is negligent & racist. Remember, they joked about this crisis.
They should be taking climate action. https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/video/2015/sep/11/peter-dutton-overheard-joke-rising-sea-levels-tony-abbott-video
They should be taking climate action. https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/video/2015/sep/11/peter-dutton-overheard-joke-rising-sea-levels-tony-abbott-video
Which brings us to the courageous #TorresStrait8 - 8 Islanders from throughout the straits taking an unprecedented complaint to the United Nations, against the Australian Government.
They and all our people need your solidarity - we need you to take action.
Join the campaign.
They and all our people need your solidarity - we need you to take action.
Join the campaign.
Without ppl power for climate action, we may lose a truly beautiful culture -
because our culture can only survive while our ppl are living on the land,
practicing culture,
caring for ancestors.
For our children. #auspol
Sign the petition & share it: https://ourislandsourhome.com.au/#sign
because our culture can only survive while our ppl are living on the land,
practicing culture,
caring for ancestors.
For our children. #auspol
Sign the petition & share it: https://ourislandsourhome.com.au/#sign
This struggle to save #OurIslandsOurHome is another reason I passionately support the #UluruStatement campaign for a constitutionally enshrined First Nations Voice. I’ll explain
(Artwork by my daughter, Shayla Mayor, for my book, Finding the Heart of the Nation @FindingNation)
(Artwork by my daughter, Shayla Mayor, for my book, Finding the Heart of the Nation @FindingNation)
In 2019 during the Winds of Zenadth cultural festival, I took the Uluru Statement canvas to the Torres Strait. The mob there who rep’d their TSI First Nations loved the chance to share it with all the islands gathered for that very special festival #UluruStatement #auspol
#UluruStatement #auspol
One of the proudest moments of my life was at the festival opening, carrying the Uluru Statement at the very front of a procession with elected leaders from my island home.
This photo shows us, ppls of Zenadth Kes - it was spectacular - the colours, the warup (drum), & singing.
This photo shows us, ppls of Zenadth Kes - it was spectacular - the colours, the warup (drum), & singing.
Uncle Pedro Stephen, Chairman of the TSRA, spoke about how the Uluru Statement, & in particular the Voice, is the opportunity for Ab & TSI leaders to come together in strength.
We should ‘take our Voice right into the heart of the people who make the decisions’.
@FindingNation
We should ‘take our Voice right into the heart of the people who make the decisions’.
@FindingNation
Uncle Pedro’s point goes to how a Voice ties in to the climate action movement.
First Nations ppl, as custodians of this country, must have a constitutional right to speak for it.
& imagine if we did - how through us, the lands & waters, flora & fauna would also have a Voice.
First Nations ppl, as custodians of this country, must have a constitutional right to speak for it.
& imagine if we did - how through us, the lands & waters, flora & fauna would also have a Voice.
First Nations have the answers to how to survive the climate crisis.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowledge is key to saving our island home, and our voices must be amplified to hold climate change deniers to account.
Support the #TorresStrait8 and #UluruStatement
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowledge is key to saving our island home, and our voices must be amplified to hold climate change deniers to account.
Support the #TorresStrait8 and #UluruStatement
That’s the end of the thread. Please go follow my personal twitter account: @tommayor11, also @ulurustatement, @fromtheheartau, @350Australia, @teelareid, @mdavisqlder and @SeedMob
