1. Traditional Foods
Aborigines Torres Strait
– Nomadic – Agriculturist
– Hunter Gatherer • Why?
– What other food
source?

2. Agriculture
• Grown wild
• Wongai
• Coconut
• In gardens
• Casava
• Yams
– Some would gather grass seeds such as the
kusa seed

3. From the sea.

4. Dugong

5. Sea turtles

8. Housing
• Aborigines often built
temporary shelters
because they were
nomadic and moved
where the food was.
• What is different
about TSI people?

9. Housing
• Because they stayed • Built houses that
in one place TSI lasted several years.
people built houses
and had gardens. • What types of
materials would they
have used?

11. Clans
• The people of the Torres Strait lived in groups
which were known as tribes or clans. The tribes
shared descent, traditions and connections to an
area of land through their heritage. On most
islands several tribes lived together. Each tribe
had its own totem.
– A totem is an animal or other natural object taken by
a family or tribe as its symbol. Totems play a very
special role in the life of Torres Strait Islanders.

12. Activity
• Think of something from nature – an
animal or plant – that you think represents
your family. If you had to create a totem
for your family what would this be?