Life on the border oral history project
Collection
Accession number
28930
Date
2012.
Abstract
Oral history interviews with four residents of the Torres Strait, three from Saibai Island and one from Thursday Island. Interviewees are Mebai Warusam, Ciccie ("Sisi") Lala Aragu and Suzannah Akiba from Sabai Island, and Manan Samai from Thursday Island. The interviewees discuss their Papua New Guinean and Australian heritage, life before and after PNG independence and the establishment of the border between the two countries. Photographs accompany all interviews. The Saibai Island interviews and photographs are available digitally, the interview with Manan Samai and accompanying photographs are not. Saibai is located just over three kilometres from Papua New Guinea's southern coastline and is one of the Torres Strait's northernmost islands. The island is home to around 350 people whose social, economic and cultural heritage spans both sides of the Australian-PNG border. PNG gained independence from Australia in 1975.
System of arrangement
Arranged into 4 series.
Description
1 oral history;
Administrative / Biographical history
This collection is the result of research by Heidi Gibson's 2011 John Oxley Fellowship project "Border Ties" that looked at the impact of Papua New Guinea's independence on the traditional, familial and social networks of the Saibai and Boigu island communities.The project explores whether there have been changes in the perception and roles of PNG nationals within the Saibai and Boigu island communities since independence; and how any such changes may have impacted upon relationships within families and other social networks that span the border divide.
Access restrictions
Restricted to onsite users only.
Copyright status
In copyright.
Conditions of use
You are free to use for personal research and study. For other uses see https://www.slq.qld.gov.au/understanding-copyright
Notes
This material contains traditional knowledge or cultural expression which is Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property (ICIP).
Preferred citation
28930, Life on the border oral history project, John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland.