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ReTold
A re-telling of stories and songs from "Myths and Legends of the Torres Strait"
The State Library of Queensland is the proud home of the Margaret Lawrie Collection of Torres Strait Islands material. This rich collection documents the history, languages and culture of Torres Strait Islander peoples through writings, photographs and artworks. Much of the material was the basis of the books: Myths and Legends of the Torres Strait and Tales of the Torres Strait .
ReTold is a collection of online stories gathered in partnership with Torres Strait Islander language speakers and community members living in mainland Queensland.
Members from Queensland's Torres Strait Islander community remember, reclaim and retell some of the selected stories and songs from the publication Myths and Legends of the Torres Strait by Margaret Lawrie.
Co-ordinated by Leonora Adidi, a linguist of Saibai descent, the stories are retold from the perspective of the story owners. They bring to life the regional, cultural and linguistic diversity of the Torres Strait Islands. ReTold connects Torres Strait Islander communities to their traditional stories as well as making these stories accessible to everyone.
Wawa
Wawa, a creature with supernatural powers, helps a man with his catch of mating turtles. Things go horribly wrong when the man betrays Wawa.
Storyteller: Walter Waria
Translation: Leonora Adidi
Language: Kala Lagaw Ya
Dialect: Mabuiag
Island: Badu
Gelam
A mother's trickery and lies cause Gelam, a skillful hunter, to flee his island in a wooden dugong and travel eastward - a journey that eventuates in creation of the islands of Mer, Waier and Dauar.
The Gelam song is sung by Fr Elimo Tapim and Mrs Renah Tapim, Mer.
Storyteller: Elimo Tapim
Translator: Aicey Day
Language: Meriam Mir
Dialect: Meriam Mir
Island: Mer (Murray)
Biw
Biw, the mangrove pod, and Githalay, the crab trigger, create a chain of events that end in the sea becoming salty.
Storyteller: Harriet Ober
Translation: Leonora Adidi
Language: Kala Lagaw Ya
Dialect: Kalaw Kawaw Ya
Island: Saibai
Doker
A man catches a turtle and travels around the island of Badu. He finds a beautiful waterhole and has an unfortunate accident.
Storyteller: Isaac Charlie
Translator: Leonora Adidi
Language: Kala Lagaw Ya
Dialect: Mabuiag
Island: Badu
Wameyal
Children's love and obsession with playing string games land them into trouble with their parents.
Storyteller: Eric Babia
Translator: Dimple Bani
Language: Kala Lagaw Ya
Dialect: Mabuiag
Island: Mabuiag
Koemuthnab
A dutiful wife and her children become outcasts after a shaving incident with her angry husband.
Storyteller: Matilda Bani
Translator: Dimple Bani
Language: Kala Lagaw Ya
Dialect: Mabuiag
Island: Mabuiag
The collection also includes a digital story about the Culture Love children's workshop held on Mabiuag Island in April 2010.
The digital story Amipuru, retells one of the myths recorded in Margaret Lawrie's work, Myths and Legends of Torres Strait. Children were inspired to retell Amipuru using animation, clay and sculpture in Kalaw Lagaw Ya language.