Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures

Aboriginal culture is 60,000+ years old and is the oldest living culture in the world. Prior to colonisation, Torres Strait Islanders did not consider themselves a homogeneous or unified group. They are a separate people in origin, history and way of life. The Torres Strait Islander people were fishermen, hunters and agriculturalists. They were part of a broader culture that were linked by warfare, trade and ceremonial exchange with coastal peoples of New Guinea and Cape York. Despite being neighbours they maintained individual cultural and linguistic differences. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have been influenced by the arrival of other people to Australia yet their culture is enduring and resilient.