Warraber: 10th IKC in Torres Strait
By Indigenous Services | 25 February 2022
Back on 25 February 2012, the Torres Strait Island Regional Council (TSIRC) opened its 10th IKC at Warraber. The opening was celebrated by the entire community and included a Welcome to Country and blessings along with traditional songs.
“More than just a library”
The IKC was opened by former TSIRC Mayor, Mr Fred Gela. The event was MC’d by former Warraber Councillor Willie Lui and a Welcome to Country conducted by Mr Samuel Tamu, Chairperson of the Warraberalgal Native Title Corporation. Pastor Nelson Billy, Assembly of God, Warraber Island gave the opening prayer and blessed the building.
Fred Gela, “IKC more than just the library”.
Interview with Janette Wright, former State Librarian and CEO
Exploring the collection
If you’d like to explore some of State Library’s collection items relating to Warraber, we have a few suggestions in the links below:
- Coconut, Warraber and Yorke : central islands, island of Torres Strait / photography & coordination Travis Teske ; information Elda Mosby, Beka Bowie, Gibson Pearson. Elda Mosby ; Beka Bowie ; Gibson Pearson ; Travis Teske 1945- ; Queensland. Far Northern Schools Development Unit ; Thursday Island, Qld : Far Northern Schools Development Unit ; 1991
- TR 1791 Margaret Lawrie Collection of Torres Strait Islands Material 1964-1998 Material relating to Margaret Lawrie and the Torres Strait Islands, including the book, Myths and Legends of the Torres Strait, which includes a section on Boigu Island.
The Warraber IKC is one of ten IKCs operated by the Torres Strait Island Regional Council (TSIRC) in partnership with the State Library of Queensland. The other IKCs are located at Badu, Boigu, Dauan, Erub, Hammond Island, Iama, Kubin Village, Mabuiag and Poruma.
Celebrating 20 years of IKCs
In 2002, the first Indigenous Knowledge Centres (IKCs) were developed in partnership with then Aboriginal Community and Island Councils across Queensland. Seven IKCs were opened in 2002 with many more to follow over the years.
This year thirteen Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Shire and Regional Councils will celebrate the role their IKC/s play in their communities, as libraries, meeting places, hubs and keeping places.
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