South Sea Islander

South Sea Islander

Infobox Ethnic group


South Sea Islander labourers on a Queensland pineapple plantation, 1890s
group = South Sea Islanders in Australia
population = c.200,000
smaller|(1% of Australia's population)
regions = Sydney· Brisbane· Gold Coast· Melbourne
languages = Australian English· Carolinian· Tongan· Maori· Samoan· others
religion = Christianity· others
related = Pacific Islanders

The Australian label South Sea Islanders refers to the Australian descendants of people from the more than 80 islands in the Western Pacificndash including the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu (formerly the New Hebrides) in Melanesia and the Loyalty Islands, Samoa, Kiribati and Tuvalu in Polynesia and Micronesiandash who were recruited between the mid to late 19th century as labour in the sugar cane fields of Queensland. Some were kidnapped or "blackbirded" into long-term indentured service. At its height, the recruiting accounted for over half the adult male population of some islands.

These people were generally referred to as Kanakas, although many Islander descendants now regard the term as pejorative and an insulting reminder of their ancestors' exploitation at the hands of white planters.

With time, owing to intermarriage, many Australian South Sea Islanders also claim a mixed ancestry, including Aboriginals, Torres Strait Islanders and immigrants from the South Pacific Islands.

Of the 62,000 Islanders recruited, the majority were repatriated by the Australian Government in the period between 1906-08 under the Pacific Island Labourers Act 1901 [http://www.foundingdocs.gov.au/item.asp?sdID=86] , a piece of legislation related to the White Australia Policy. Those exempted from repatriation, along with a number of others who escaped deportation, remained in Australia to form the basis of what is today Australia's largest non-indigenous black ethnic group.

The question of how many Islanders were "blackbirded" is unknown and remains controversial. The extent to which Islanders were recruited legally, persuaded, deceived, coerced or forced to leave their homes and travel to Queensland is difficult to evaluate and also controversial. Official documents and accounts from the period often conflict with the oral tradition passed down to the descendants of workers. Stories of blatantly violent kidnapping tend to relate to the first ten or so years of the trade.

In recent generations, facing many similar forms of discrimination in Australia as Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders, Australian South Sea Islanders have been prominent figures in civil rights and politics. Faith Bandler, Evelyn Scott and Bonita Mabo (widow of Eddie Mabo) are prominent Indigenous activists who are also descendants of Pacific Island plantation workers. Another area Australian South Sea Islanders have excelled in is sport, especially the game of rugby league. State of Origin and Australian representatives Mal Meninga, Sam Backo, Gorden Tallis and Wendell Sailor are all members of the Australian South Sea Islander community.

See also

*White Australia Policy

External links

* [http://www.premiers.qld.gov.au/About_the_department/publications/multicultural/Australian_South_Sea_Islander_Training_Package/history/identity/ Background and history of the South Sea Islanders] at the Queensland Department of Premier and Cabinet website.


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужен реферат?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • south sea islander — noun Usage: usually capitalized both Ss&I Etymology: South Sea islands + English er : a native or inhabitant of the tropical islands of the South Pacific : polynesian * * * South Sea Islander, a native or inhabitant of the South Sea Islands …   Useful english dictionary

  • South Sea Islands — islands in temperate or tropical parts of the South Pacific South Sea Islander n …   English World dictionary

  • South Sea Islands — South Sea Islander. the islands in the S Pacific Ocean. Cf. Oceania. * * * …   Universalium

  • South Sea islands — plural noun the islands in the South Pacific Ocean. Compare Oceania. Also, South Sea Islands. –South Sea islander, noun …  

  • South Sea Islands — noun any islands in the southern or southwestern of central parts of the Pacific Ocean • Hypernyms: ↑island * * * South Sea Islander. the islands in the S Pacific Ocean. Cf. Oceania …   Useful english dictionary

  • South Seas Evangelical Church — The South Seas Evangelical Church (SSEC) is an evangelical, Pentecostal church in the Solomon Islands. In total, 17% of the population of the Solomon Islands adheres to the church, making it the third most common religious affiliation in the… …   Wikipedia

  • Pacific Islander — (or Pacific Person, pl: Pacific People , also called Oceanic [s] ), is a geographic term to describe the Austronesian inhabitants of any of the three major sub regions of Oceania: Polynesia, Melanesia and Micronesia. [… …   Wikipedia

  • South Florida metropolitan area — South Florida redirects here. For the university in Tampa, see University of South Florida. For that school s athletic program, see South Florida Bulls. Miami–Fort Lauderdale–Pompano Beach Common name: South Florida Larg …   Wikipedia

  • Sea Isle City, New Jersey — Infobox Settlement official name = Sea Isle City, New Jersey settlement type = City nickname = motto = imagesize = image caption = image imagesize = image caption = image mapsize = 250x200px map caption = Sea Isle City highlighted in Cape May… …   Wikipedia

  • South San Francisco, California — City of South San Francisco   City   South San Francisco as viewed from a nearby ridge Nickname(s) …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”