Today, we pay our respects to First Nations communities across the continent that are mourning today.
We honour the resistance of First Nations communities that has been ongoing since invasion.
Today is not a date to celebrate.
This year, at the 90th anniversary, we pay tribute to the strength and resistance of the Torres Strait Pearlers' strikes.
The Pearling industry was significant in the Torres Strait at this time, with “master boats” owned by European and Japanese companies, and “company boats” controlled by the Queensland Government. The company boats were built, operated and owned by Torres Strait Islanders, but run by the Protector, the representative of the government.
The Protector, J.D. McLean imposed a series of racist restrictions, including curfews, controlling who would crew each boat, and when people could travel to and from islands to see family and pay rates. In many cases, workers didn’t receive cash, only credit for designated government stores. Many of these workers from the Asia-Pacific were indentured.
The bu shell, which Uncle Pabai and Uncle Paul talk about as a cultural symbol of the voice of the people, was used, in an act of cultural violation and oppression by the Protector, to enforce curfews and force workers inside.
In January 1936, 90 years ago this year, Torres Strait and South East Asia workers went on strike.
When McLean went around trying to sign up workers for the company boats, Torres Strait Islanders refused, jumping out of meeting hall windows in protest. The police started to arrest Torres Strait Islander workers who refused to work on company boats – at least 30 striking workers were imprisoned.
Pay increases were offered to the striking workers in late February to try and tempt them back to work. But this was rejected.
This was because the strike was not just about the appalling wages and conditions Torres Strait Islander people working in the trade experienced.
The strike was about the right for Torres Strait Islander people to be treated with respect, equality, and to have the right to self-determination and control over their own lives.
After several months of a sustained strike, McLean was forced to leave the Islands.
In September, the nightly curfew was abolished, wages were increased and Torres Strait Islanders could choose their own crews, control their own boats and got more freedom to travel between islands without the need for permission.
Importantly, some of the powers the government had exerted over Torres Strait Islander people were invested in the local community through the Island Councils
First Nations Peoples have always led resistance across this continent for their communities and others impacted by systemic inequality and injustice.
From the tent embassy - the longest running protest in the world, to the rally last week demanding justice and accountability for Dunghutti man, Mr Dungay Jr’s death in custody. We honor the resistance, history of peaceful protest and activism of First Nations communities.
Today is a day of mourning, and a day of protest. It is the continuation of resistance.