ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF COUNTRY

The Australian Government acknowledges the Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia and acknowledges their continuing connection to land, waters and community. We pay our respects to the people, the cultures and the Elders past and present.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people should be aware that this website may contain images, voices and names of deceased persons.

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Saibai Island

Community profile

Saibai Island is a small island located in the northwestern Torres Strait, around 140 kilometres from the northern tip of Cape York, Queensland.

For more information, see:

 

Saibai Island is a small island located in the northwestern Torres Strait, around 140 kilometres from the northern tip of Cape York, Queensland.

For more information, see:

 

Traditional owners

Koeybuway and Moegibuway

The original inhabitants of Saibai are the Koeybuway (Ker-bu-y) and Moegibuway (Migi-bu-y) peoples and they are acknowledged as the Traditional Owners of Saibai.

Languages

Kalaw Kawaw Ya

Torres Strait Creole and English are also spoken

Population

340

85.5% Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (ABS 2021 Census)

Stories from Saibai Island

At right, an elderly man wearing a yellow and blue shirt and kaki hat salutes a blue flag on a flagpole. At left, the same man stands next to a memorial with names engraved on it.

ANZAC Day – Mebai Warusam and the Torres Strait Light Infantry Battalion

27 April 2021

In World War 2, Mebai Warusam from the Torres Strait served in the Torres Strait Light Infantry Battalion, a unit formed to protect his home and his people.