Meriam people
Melanesian Meriam people are an Indigenous Australian group of Torres Strait Islander people who are united by a common language, strong ties of kinship and live as skilled hunter–fisher–gatherers in family groups or clans on a number of inner eastern Torres Strait Islands including Mer or Murray Island, Ugar or Stephen Island and Erub or Darnley Island. The Meriam people are perhaps best known for their involvement in the High Court of Australia's Mabo decision which fundamentally changed land law in Australia - recognising native title.
A map of the Torres Strait Islands showing Mer in the north-eastern waters of Torres Strait (Kelisi, 2006) | |
| Total population | |
|---|---|
| 875 (ABS, 2016) 450 (Mer Island) 85 (Ugar Island) 328 (Erub Island) | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
| Mer (Murray) Island · Ugar (Stephen) Island · Erub (Darnley Island) | |
| Languages | |
| Meriam Mir Language · Language family (Trans-Fly) | |
| Religion | |
| Christianity (predominantly Pentecostal and Anglican (ABS, 2016) |
Although gardening takes priority, each Meriam family has sea rights, and on the reefs in front of their houses, which are mainly built above the beach, they maintain stone fish-weirs and crayfish holes.
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