A small contingent of serving First Nations Navy personnel recently visited Erub Island (Darnley Island) in the Torres Strait to celebrate The Coming of the Light festival with the local community.
Each year on July 1, The Coming of the Light, or 'Keriba Lagaw Biyu' in traditional language, is a day of celebration, performance, oral tradition and reverence.
The day is of great cultural significance for all Torres Strait Islanders.
It was a special honour for the Navy personnel to attend the festival, and a unique opportunity for them to acknowledge Navy's shared use of the same sea country in which traditional custodians have lived for thousands of years.
The culture of Torres Strait Islander communities is heavily influenced by their maritime environment.
Located among the 270 islands between Papua New Guinea and the Australian mainland, they made cultural and trade connections that relied heavily on seafaring.
The unique skill sets and knowledge of Australia's First Nations people, including Torres Strait Islanders, have long contributed to the defence of Australia - protecting Country - and Defence capability for well over a century.
When the Japanese military advanced through south-east Asia towards Australia in World War 2, Torres Strait Islanders found themselves on the frontline against the attackers, and supported Australia's defence.
The Torres Strait Islands were used as a forward operating base by the Royal Australian Air Force during World War 2.
Four self-identified First Nation Navy personnel spent six days on Erub Island immersing themselves in traditional island culture.
Navy Indigenous adviser Commander Michael Henry explained Navy's involvement.
"The Navy recognises how important it is for our First Nations members to stay connected to country and culture, especially as they may be posted anywhere in the country for their work," Commander Henry said.
"The Navy is very proud to provide this dedicated opportunity for some of our serving members to return to Country and participate in this year's The Coming of the Light festival."
The festival originated from the arrival of representatives from the London Missionary Society, accompanied by South Sea Islander evangelists and teachers, on Erub Island on July 1, 1871.
The First Nations people were gifted a Bible, which the recipients interpreted as 'the light', representing the arrival of Christianity to the Torres Strait Islands.
The people of the Torres Strait Islands adopted the Christian rituals and ceremonies and continued to uphold their connection to the land, sea and sky, practising their traditional customs and cultural identity referred to as 'Ailan Kastom'.
