Meriam people facts for kids
A map of the Torres Strait Islands showing Mer in the north-eastern waters of Torres Strait (Kelisi, 2006)
|
|
| Total population | |
|---|---|
| 875 (ABS, 2016) 450 (Mer Island) 85 (Ugar Island) 328 (Erub Island) |
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| Regions with significant populations | |
| Mer (Murray) Island · Ugar (Stephen) Island · Erub (Darnley Island) | |
| Languages | |
| Meriam Mir Language · Language family (Trans-Fly) | |
| Religion | |
| Christianity (predominantly Pentecostal and Anglican (ABS, 2016) |
The Meriam people are an Indigenous Australian group from the Torres Strait Islands. They are known for their shared language, strong family connections, and traditional way of life. They live as skilled hunters, fishers, and gatherers in family groups or clans. Their homes are on several eastern Torres Strait Islands, including Mer (also called Murray Island), Ugar (also called Stephen Island), and Erub (also called Darnley Island).
The Meriam people are especially famous for their part in the High Court of Australia's Mabo decision. This important legal case changed land law in Australia. It officially recognized the native title rights of Indigenous Australians to their traditional lands.
Even though gardening is very important to them, each Meriam family also has rights to the sea. They build their homes mostly above the beach. In the reefs in front of their houses, they have stone fish-weirs (traps for fish) and special holes for crayfish.
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Who Are the Meriam People?
Most Meriam people live on a small volcanic island called Mer (Murray) Island. This island is at the eastern end of the Torres Strait. The Murray group also includes two other islands: Erub (Darnley) and Ugar (Stephen) Islands. Traditional laws guide how land and ownership are organized on these islands. These three islands together are known as the Meriam cluster.
While these islands are mainly home to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders who identify as Meriam people, each island has a different population. Mer Island is home to eight main tribes of the Meriam people. These tribes have existed for thousands of years. They include:
- Komet
- Zagareb
- Meauram
- Magaram
- Geuram
- Peibre
- Meriam-samsep
- Piadram
- Dauer Meriam
Mer and Erub Islands have larger populations. Because of this, the ABS (which collects data about people) has more information about them. Ugar Island has a smaller population of only 85 people. The 2016 census showed that Ugar Island had 60.7% males and 39.3% females, with a median age of 19.
Meriam Culture
The Meriam people have a unique culture that sets them apart from other Torres Strait Islander groups. Many Indigenous cultural groups have rituals and practices based on their beliefs in the Dreamtime and mythologies. The Meriam people are different because many of their traditions are connected to farming and growing food.
Meriam people focus a lot on making their gardens productive. Like all Indigenous groups, younger generations learn from their elders. Meriam fathers teach their sons how to cultivate gardens. This knowledge is then passed down through many generations. During special ceremonies, like those for deaths, marriages, or adoptions, extra food is shared. This helps support everyone taking part in the cultural rituals.
Important Totems
Totems are very important in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture. They are often like a family or clan symbol. Totems help people stay connected to their Indigenous land, the Dreamtime, and their ancestors. These totems are significant from the moment an Indigenous child is born. A child is given a totem at birth to connect them to their family and physical surroundings. Each Indigenous clan has different totems that are special to them.
One totem shared by all eight Meriam tribes is the shark. This totem comes from a story about a father and son who got lost while hunting. They waited for sharks to rescue them. Because of this story, sharks are seen as protector animals for the Meriam people. It is forbidden for men to hunt sharks, as they are believed not to harm the Meriam people.
While individual clan totems come from stories, some of these stories have been lost over time. This happened because elders were sometimes unable to share them with younger generations. This was due to past policies that separated Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people from their families. However, here are some known totems for the tribes of Mer Island:
- Komet: sardine and mangrove
- Zagareb: seagull and Torres Strait pigeon
- Meauram: turtle
- Magaram: whale and snake
- Geuram: whale, snake, and dove
- Peibrem: mantaray
- Meriam-samsep: tiger shark, Torres Strait pigeon, and driftwood
- Piadram: tiger shark, Torres Strait pigeon, driftwood, and whale
- Dauer Meriam: Tagai constellation (a group of stars)
Creation Stories
Elders tell stories to younger generations. These stories help pass down the Meriam culture. Some stories explain why certain rituals or practices are important in Indigenous clans.
Torres Strait Islanders, especially the Mer people, are seafarers. The sea is important for gardening, hunting, fishing, ceremonies, art, music, dance, and storytelling. The story of Nageg (Nar-gegg) and Geigi (Gay-gee) explains why the sea is so important. It is a creation story from the Tig Dowareb Clan of Murray Island. It tells how Nageg, a mother, and her son Geigi became a triggerfish and a trevally.
The story begins with Geigi, the son. He disguised himself as a kingfish among many sardines to trick an old man who hunted sardines. When the old man realized he was being tricked, he took Geigi (disguised as the kingfish) home for dinner and ate him. The old man then fell asleep under a tree. Nageg, the mother, cut open the old man and took Geigi out. She told him to live in the ocean and break the spears of anyone who tried to spear him. He eventually became a trevally. Geigi then told Nageg to live in a rock cave on the reef. He said she should pierce anyone with her fin if they tried to catch her, and she became a triggerfish.
The Gelam story explains how the three islands of the Murray group – Mer, Waier, and Dauar – were created. This happened because of Gelam's mother's trick and Gelam's lies. Gelam was a boy from Moa Island in the Torres Strait. He was known for being a very skilled hunter. The story starts with Gelam purposely keeping the fat birds he hunted for himself and giving his mother the lean ones. When his mother noticed this, she decided to scare him one day while he was hunting. She dressed up as a "dogai" (a spirit) by covering herself in mud. This worked, and Gelam ran home scared.
However, Gelam soon realized his mother had tricked him. He saw mud residue under her eyes when he got home. This made Gelam decide to leave his home. He gathered fruits, seeds, and soil, and set off in a canoe he had carved himself. Gelam reached the Great Barrier Reef. It is said that today, if you fly over the Torres Strait near the Central Islands, some of the reefs look like Gelam's tears from when he was crying as he left home. This journey eventually led to the creation of the three islands: Mer, Waier, and Dauar.
Religion and Beliefs
Christianity is the most common religion on Murray, Ugar, and Erub Islands. Anglicanism and Pentecostalism are the most followed Christian groups. Christianity has influenced Indigenous spirituality because of past policies. These policies, like those that separated Indigenous people from their families, sometimes restricted them from practicing their traditional spiritual beliefs. Instead, they were raised with Christian values. As a result, many Indigenous Australians are Christian today. However, Indigenous spirituality and Christian spirituality can exist peacefully together in the lives of Indigenous people, especially for the Meriam people.
An elder from Murray Island once said, "culture is very important…culture is identity" and "religion is very important…God taught spirit and wisdom." Meriam people express their cultural identity through their dreamtime stories and rituals, while also valuing their Christian faith. Christianity was also accepted by the Meriam people because, before its arrival, the Mer people followed the rule of Malo. This had principles and a structure similar to Christianity.
Important Traditions
One important tradition of the Meriam people that is still significant today is their death rites. This is true despite the influence of European colonization. In the death rituals and customs of Meriam people on Murray Island, bright meteors play a special role. They are connected to the spiritual parts of death rites.
Maier, the name given to bright meteors, is symbolic. It not only tells observers about someone passing away in their community, but it also allows the spirits of the dead to communicate with the living. Maier can tell people about their life and social status. It also serves as a warning to follow traditional customs. It represents the spirit of the dead or dying person. The brightness, color, and path of the Maier give more information about the person and their life. The knowledge and meaning behind Maier are passed down through oral tradition, like storytelling, and through cultural objects. This is important for keeping their culture alive.
The Mabo Case
The Meriam people are widely known for their important role in establishing Native Title. This legal recognition gave them rights to their traditional lands. It also overturned the idea of terra nullius (meaning "nobody's land") as it applied to Australian law. The five Meriam people who led this effort were Eddie Koiki Mabo, Reverend David Passi, Sam Passi, James Rice, and Celuia Mapo Sale.
The Mabo case began on May 20, 1982. It was mainly led by Eddie Mabo and the four other Meriam people mentioned. On June 3, 1992, the High Court overturned the idea of terra nullius and recognized native title. This meant the Meriam people were entitled to all rights and use of the Murray Islands.
The return of Murray Island to its traditional owners (the Meriam people) was very important. Before European contact, the Meriam people had a strong connection to their islands, the sea, and the reefs around them. Losing this connection meant losing traditions and family ties.
The efforts of Mabo and the four other Meriam people were crucial in bringing back their connection to the land. As a result, the Meriam people celebrate the High Court's ruling on Native Title every year on June 3. They pay tribute to Mabo by gathering, performing dances, prayers, and feasting to honor the achievements of those who fought for their rights.
Famous Meriam People
Artists
Wasie Tardent and Clinton Naina are Meriam artists. They share their storytelling traditions through their artwork.
Important Leaders
These five Meriam people were key to the Mabo Case:
- Eddie Koiki Mabo, a campaigner for land rights.
- Reverend David Passi, an Anglican priest, traditional landowner, and land rights campaigner.
- Sam Passi, a school teacher and linguist.
- James Rice
- Celuia Mapo Sale
Professionals and Academics
- Dr Vanessa Lee – a senior lecturer at the University of Sydney. She teaches about behavioural and social sciences.
- Thelma Weston – named Female Elder of the Year. She was recognized for her lifelong work as a nurse and health worker.
See also
