Journey of the stars: Torres Strait celebrates 20 years of cultural sovereignty through art

Over twenty years ago, a group of Elders from the Torres Strait sent a delegation to the South Pacific to see how their Melanesian brothers and sisters showcased and preserved their cultural heritage.

Karem Beizam Dance Group was one traditional performance that attendees of the cultural festival would witness. Credit: Carli Willis

Chairman of the Torres Strait Regional Authority, Pedro Stephen AM, said the journey of the Elders would eventually lead to the establishment of one of the nations leading arts and cultural centres on the islands – GAB Titui.

Gab Titui recently celebrated its 20^th birthday, marking 20 years of cultural sovereignty.

Mr Stephen said he was one of the centres first committee members.

“[The Elders] wanted a holding place, a place where everyone can come together and sit on a mat and talk about cultural maintenance, talk about showcasing the unique cultures of the Torres Strait,” he said.

Mr Stephen said the Elders had a place in mind called ‘The Four Winds’.

“The resident administrator used to reside here and administer the Native Affairs services throughout our region from this particular location."

“It holds very significant history for the region.”

The Department of Native Affairs administered and enforced racist laws and policies upon Indigenous people until 1966 on Waiben (Thursday Island), when the department was abolished.

Mr Stephen said the Elders were determined to turn the place into a positive.

TSRA Chair, Pedro Stephen AM would share the history with the crowd. Credit: Carli Willis

Our journey of the stars

Elder and cultural advisor, the late Ephraim Bani, would gift a name that would change the course of arts and culture in the Torres Strait forever.

“‘Gab is a journey in the Miriam Mer language and ‘Titui’ in Kala Lagaw Ya, means stars,” said Mr Stephen.

“When you join them together, it means ‘Journey of the Stars’.

“It's depicting the heart desire and the aspiration of us displaying our journey through the stars.

“We always navigate by the stars, as our ancestors did.”

Torres Strait Islanders from the 15 different island communities flew in for the celebrations.

At the celebrations, Wagadagam tribal Elder from Mabuyag Island, Gabriel Bani – son to the late Ephraim Bani – told families before anything could be built at the site the Elders needed to turn the soil.

He said his father would turn a portion of sand from each outer island community into the soil on Waiben, which is Kaurareg Country.

The late Ephraim Bani sprinkles sand in the soil on Waiben where the cultural centre would be built. Credit: Supplied by Gabriel Bani

“It has the spiritual significance, but also it’s the symbol of progress and the start of a brand new story,” he said.

Mr Bani said at the opening of the centre in 2004, the Kuarareg People would receive a formal acknowledgement, which was extraordinary at the time.

“We’d come through that time when [the rest of the country] weren't really aware of, [our] culture, our connection,” he said.

“Everybody was kind of was in survival mode, due to the history of the country.”

At the 20th celebration, Gabriel Bani spoke while holding the shovel his late father used to turn the soil. Credit: Carli Willis

The fire continues to burn

Mr Stephen said the building of Gab Titui would spark a movement in the Torres Strait that would see three art centres start up on the regions most remote outer islands.

“That spark has caused that fire, on Badu, on Erub and Kubin,” he said.

“It's beautiful, because when you see fire burning in our region, it's put out the doubt and fear of out of sight, out of mind."

“It put out the fear of this is a no man's land, it is land blong to mepla (belonging to us)."

“It’s those owners and custodians of this land, that are standing up and showcasing one of the unique cultures of this world.”

Leitha Assan has worked at GAB Titui for 18 years, ascending the ranks. Credit: Carli Willis

Gab Titui Exhibitions and Public Programs Manager, Leitha Assan, said the centre played a big part in cultural maintenance.

Ms Assan said it was also vital to the economy, generating an estimated 400 million dollars during its lifetime, as well as travelling art from the Torres Strait all over the world.

She said the centre helped bring home exhibitions like the late Billy Missi’s – an internationally celebrated artist.

The Missi family led a procession into the Billy Missi Wakain Thamai exhibition. Credit: Carli Willis

“It's very, very important building that has been operated by our people, for our people, keeping our stories alive,” she said.

“Twenty years on, twenty years proud of arts and cultural sovereignty.”

Mr Stephen said Gab Titui had also returned some artifacts from overseas back to the Torres Strait, but there was more work to be done.

“There is a committee that's been formed, under GBK [the native title body]."

“That are [looking at] artifacts that international partners have agreed that they can send back,” he said.

He said they owed it all to the Elders.

“They might be absent from us in the body, but they're very much present in the spirit with us.”

Traditional dance was shared throughout the 20 year celebrations. Credit: Carli Willis