Laura Mooka - Dhibalusi Maluigal - Deep Blue Sea People

As seafaring men our fathers and forefathers travelled these waters, hunting, fishing, trading and fighting.  It was their way of life to provide for their families and to protect their island homes. 

They were navigators and before embarking on any trip out on the ocean they would plan wisely.  Their journey carried out not just randomly but was governed by the elements of nature.  The formation of clouds, wind direction and the direction of the currents.  Seasonal changes would determine when it was the best time to travel. 

There was no weather bureau, no GPS.  Being on with nature was how they plotted their course to their destinations.  No compass, only their traditional knowledge and ancestral maps etched into their minds. 

This connection to land, sea and sky is shown by the fact that there are names for everything on the land and out at sea.  This knowledge passed down from generation to generation through songs, dances and storytelling. 

Listening to my father’s stories of life on the boat and his journeys was never boring as he would describe every detail of their course.   

Going fishing on our boat with my parents to a favourite spot wasn’t as simple as just dropping anchor.  There were landmarks that needed to be lined up to mark the exact spot. 

From our ancestors right down to our parents, we have learned to love and admire the deep blue sea for not only it’s beauty and abundance, but to also respect its majesty and might. 

For the sea gives and the sea takes away.