Simply exceptional! Very important read! 💙💚🤍

The authors in this book paint a beautiful picture of the Torres Strait Islands, culture, languages and people. I came to this book wanting to understand more about Torres Strait cultures and peoples and I feel like I got a good introduction. I’ll be looking up the authors to keep reading more.

I first listened to this in the middle of 2024 but realized pretty quickly I was not really absorbing what it actually contained? That entire week is a blur, so I just decided to try again and see if my opinon changed.

Its synopsis very much tells what this anthology is all about.
23 authors were included and it feautures both pieces written for this book and excerpts from other titles. It does an excellent job of painting you a picture what it was/is like growing up Torres Strait when few Australians, let alone the rest of world, even know where that is or what that means.

Most of the pieces are very short, only a few pages/minutes. I often felt they could have done a little more if they had a big more space [there does not seem to be a limit as other pieces are significantly longer] – it’s not that the stories were exactly the same but ultimately very similar and neither style of content were distinct enough to keep them apart.
I am also not a big of excerpt of larger works; the books mentioned piqued my interest but I ultimately felt incomplete and not made to be part of an essay anthology. But just like with the Disability anthology of this series, I liked that they included older voices.
Ultimately, this was just an okay experience. I enjoyed a few pieces but not enough to give it higher rating – but now I have starting point of where to look for more Torres Strait writers.


And sadly, this was lacking in my intersectional voices. Food is a big theme in several of the stories but fat bodies are not discussed. Family, legacy and children are another common refrain, yet queer identities and non-heteronormative family units are not discussed. Disability is not mentioned. No Torres Strait Islanders not living in Australia anymore.
I loved that a few people talked about their faith, though, both Christian and Indigenous beliefs.


The strongest pieces for me were:
Together, Our Differences Make Us Strong by Thomas Mayo | ★★★★✩
A personal account of his work and personal life, and the importance of activism work, from unionizing to strikes, generally standing up for your rights.

The Smell of Sugar Cane by Aaron Fa’Aoso with Michelle Scott Tucker | ★★★★✩
A personal account of his childhood – heavily features physical punishment and was hard to listen to it at times but aso powerful.

One Culture by Rhett Loban | ★★★★✩
Growing up on the mainland and Malay Archipelago influences in death and mourning practices. Beautiful.

The Ties That Bind by Adam C. Lees | ★★★★✩
A “bad” Torres Strait islander – a different take on perceptions and the problem with stereotypes. But also about his family and migration history.


A few others were interesting even if they didn’t not stand out otherwise:
Q&A with Jimi Bani
An interview with actor Bani about his work and how it connects with with Torres Strait identity. Loved the different medium and media but wanted even more details.

Edward Koiki Mabo: His Life and Struggle for Land Rights by Noel Loos and Eddie Koiki Mabo
A poem with commentary at the end and an excerpt of the autobiography at the end. The poem itself was fine but on audio, it was harder to follow as you could not look up the meaning of all the untranslated words immediately – again bringing questions to mind as to who is the intended audience and the constant struggle of biliigualism in terms of translation.
I don’t really feel the exercpt was was a good pick; it gave a little insight into Mabo’s childhood but it was missing something.

My Father, Francis ‘The Hatman’ Wapau – Master Weaver by Lockeah Wapau
About being raised in the culture, the creating of weaving and wears, cultural jobs, hiding (illegal) hunting from the locals. The life and death of his father, it reads like a love letter, both about his memories and what else is left behind.

Eded Mer (My Life) by Thomas Lowah (excerpt formerly published in 1988)
A lot of discussion about family and community dynamics surrounding marriage, celebration and party games.

Complexion by Sorren Thomas
A longer piece about racism, adversity, as well as the nonexistent knowlegde other people have about your life and culture. Makes some interesting points how people first seem to only have negative assumptions



The rest were all three stars for me and cover a variety of themes but generally sound the same. From what shapes your identity (practice, physical looks, family, childhood home, food) over rituals to to social and political activism. Perceptions (self and outsider) also was a recurring theme. Having knowledge and practices passed on and passing them on yourself in the changing contemporary landscape.
Coconut-Oil Chronicles by Lenora Thaker
Ina’s Story: The Memoir of a Torres Strait Islander Woman Ina Titasey as told to Catherine Titasey (excerpt, formerly published in 2012)
The Other Indigenous Australians by Donisha Duff
A Torres Strait Islander Mainland Story by John Doolah
My Link to the Torres Strait by Velma Gara
Cultured Pearl by Jillian Boyd-Bowie
My Island Home and Away by Ellen Armstrong
Lessons from My Grandmother: A Window to the World by Leilani Bin-Juda (excerpt)
Duality by Aaliyah-Jade Bradbury
Do Your Best, Never Give Up by Tetei Bakic-Tapim
The Learning Time by Ellie Gaffney
Two Different Worlds by Tahlia Bowie 
The Big Wongai Tree by Daniella Williams 
Thriving Spaces by Jaqui Hughes 

This was a really interesting read and taught me a lot. I think we can live in our own bubble of what we know, so it’s nice to hear different people’s experiences and stories. It’s also heartbreaking to hear the way some people are treated by others. 

I chose the audio version and I felt this added something really special. 

Affirming, heartfelt and powerful. 

I wish there was a book like this when I was growing up. 

A beautiful insantjology of short stories from some of the diverse experiences of Torres Strait Islanders growing up in Australia.