Cultural Values and Connections

The Indigenous communities that inhabit the Torres Strait region have strong cultural, social and spiritual connections with their land and sea country, and maintain their distinct Ailan Kastom and Aboriginal Lore/Law.

There are complex systems of rules, rights, customs and traditional knowledge that govern Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ interactions with each other and their land and sea estates. These relationships, rights and responsibilities are now formally recognised under Australian law through native title determinations on most islands throughout the region, and under the Torres Strait Regional Sea Claim determination.