Torres Strait Islander History I would like to acknowledge that I am here today on the land of the Koobenpul people. The Koobenpul people are the Traditional Custodians of this land and form part of the wider Aboriginal nation known as the Yuggera Nation. I would also like to acknowledge the present Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who now reside within this area. (Australian Geographic, 2011) By Cindie Cropper

Overview of the history of the Torres Strait people First European settlement: 1863 The Islanders were agriculturalists, fishermen, hunters and “fearless defenders of their territories (Shnukal, 2001)” Arrival of Christian missionaries and teachers: 1871 First Torres Strait school on Darnley Island 1873 Christianity brought big changes to the culture of Torres Strait ( Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Prints, 2013)

Queensland's protection act Multicultural history Travel to the mainland Fight for land rights (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Prints, 2013)

First school taught by Pacific Islanders Education prior to world war 2 Education post 1985 Problems due to lack of linguistic and cultural awareness (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Prints, 2013)

“Learning from the past, learning in the present, and learning for the future” (Au Zageth Ginar Yumi Education, 2012) Music and drama: an integral part of Island culture Today’s education for children in Torres Strait (ABC, 2013) “Replicate the rhythms and sound patterns in stories, rhymes, songs and poems from a range of cultures” (ACELT1579) (Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority, 2013)

Learning through real life experiences Technology based learning ‘Learning through the Arts’ successful on Darnley Island State School as a whole school approach (Darnley Island State School, 2012) Positive school to community relationships vitally important “Linking solid traditions to future freedom” (Dauan Island State School, (2012) (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Prints, 2013) “Use ICT effectively and appropriately to access, create and communicate information and ideas, solve problems and work collaboratively in all learning areas at school, and in their lives beyond school” (ACARA, 2013).

-_Lower_Primary.pdf Best practice:  Relevant learning  Music, dance and art  Linking traditions  Community relationships  Linguistic and cultural factors reflected in practice Links: Teaching and learning experiences: Educational websites: Best practice for Indigenous education in Torres Strait “EAL/D students may require adjustments in relation to curriculum, instruction, and/or environment to ensure equity of access to the Australian Curriculum” (ACARA, 2013). “Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples’ ways of life are uniquely expressed through ways of being, knowing, thinking and doing” (ACARA, 2013).

References ABC. (2013). Keeping Torres Strait Island traditions alive [Image]. Retrieved from traditions-alive/ http:// traditions-alive/ Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Prints. (2013). Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Prints [Images]. Retrieved from Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority. (2013). Australian Curriculum. Retrieved from Au Zageth Ginar Yumi Education. (2012). Creating Positive Futures for our Students, Families and Community. Retrieved from Chamarette, C. (2000). Terra Nullius Then and Now: Mabo, Native Title and Reconciliation in Australian Psychologist, 35(2), Retrieved from Dauan Island State School. (2012). A Torres Strait IDEAS school: Exploring our community vision ‘linking solid traditions to future freedoms. Retrieved from Darnley Island State School. (2012). A Torres Strait IDEAS school: Learning through the arts makes ‘catching a future’ easier. Retrieved from Haslem, D. (Producer), & Graham, T. (Director & Co-producer). (1997). Mabo, Life of an Island Man [Video]. Retrieved from Lewis, R., & Baker, J. (2012). Beachmere State School. Retrieved from Lui, L., (1996) Cultural Identity and Development in the Torres Strait Islands. In B. Sarawasti (Ed.), Interface of Cultural Development. Retrieved from ABC. (2004). Message club. Retrieved from Price-Robertson, R., & McDonald, M. (2013). Working with Indigenous children, families and communities: Lessons from practice. Retrieved from Queensland Government. (2012). Mythical creatures from the Torres Strait. Retrieved from Queensland Government. (2012). Strait home: lower primary pre-visit activities. Retrieved from _Lower_Primary.pdfhttp:// _Lower_Primary.pdf Shnukal, A. (2001). Torres Strait Islanders. In M. Brandle, Maximilian (Ed.), Multicultural Queensland 2001:100 years, 100 Communities, A century of contributions. Retrieved from