Australia’s Malay historical past & heritage: Cocos (Keeling) Islands

Australia’s “Historical past Wars” of the Nineties have been marked by a public debate between proponents of contrasting methods of understanding Australia’s previous. However our figuring of historical past shouldn’t be restricted to 2 opposing positions. Specializing in centuries of numerous cultural interactions in our coastal North provides a broader view. It allows us to recognise Australia’s multicultural historical past, a historical past that predates the voyages of Prepare dinner and the settlement at Sydney Cove.

In what follows, we are going to undertake a multicultural view to grasp the Cocos Malays of the Cocos (Keeling) Islands. This small island neighborhood needs to keep up their conventional practices and has made claims for Indigenous standing. Their historic cemetery accommodates some Christian tombstones of the previous ruling household in addition to graves of their very own Muslim ancestors. Certainly, they proceed to make use of this cemetery to today, the place they keep their uniquely Southeast Asian and Muslim traditions. They collect at this graveyard to carry out essential rituals. We see these practices as a lens via which to raised perceive Australia’s broader multicultural historical past and heritage.

Determine 2. Praying on the grave of a person

Turning Australia’s map the other way up

Previous to the Nineties, public consciousness of Australia’s historical past had largely centered on the exploits of European explorers and settlers. However due to the efforts of various historians, Australians grew to become more and more conscious of the destruction and struggling, in addition to the wrestle and resistance, of Indigenous Australians. This worthwhile new course sparked a public debate generally known as Australia’s “Historical past Wars”. The subject of Australia’s previous now grew to become a urgent social and political matter.

Sadly, the general public debate within the ensuing three a long time has, at instances, fallen into simplistic dichotomies of Black and White and who was “good” or “unhealthy”. To create a greater understanding of Australia’s multicultural historical past, we have to go previous these dichotomies. One clear method ahead is to concentrate on our Asian and Pacific histories of our coastal north.

This new vista on Australia’s previous has been neatly described as “turning the map the other way up”—in doing so finding the start of Australia’s human historical past within the north. This started with the arrival of Indigenous Australians greater than 60,000 years in the past, once they got here from the north to inhabit what was then a bigger Australian landmass. However as historian Regina Ganter explains, much less well-known are our Asian and Pacific histories.

These histories started with groundbreaking publications of the Nineteen Seventies. The edited quantity Bridge and Barrier (1972) centered on island peoples within the Torres Strait, displaying how they offered an important hyperlink in an in depth commerce community incorporating northern Australia and New Guinea. This hyperlink belies the concept Australia was an remoted continent earlier than

European arrival. Then, in his 1976 Voyage to Marege, Campbell McKnight described our historic connections with Indonesian fishermen. Constructing on earlier visits, these fishermen made annual journeys, from the 1750s, to Australia’s north coast. Over the subsequent two centuries, the Indonesian fishermen interacted with northern Indigenous coastal peoples, together with the Yolngu, creating deep intercultural hyperlinks that influenced each societies.

On the outbreak of WWII, from the Cocos (Keeling) Islands to Christmas Island, Broome, Derby, Wyndham, Darwin, Cooktown, and on to Cairns, numerous communities may very well be discovered with Indigenous, Asian, and/or European individuals. These resulted from a historical past of blended relations within the coastal north. However our multicultural historical past has been partly obscured whereas the general public has debated over the roles of Indigenous versus European.

What’s most enjoyable about our multicultural historical past is that we will level to a wealthy, ongoing heritage. “Heritage” historically refers to one thing we inherit from our previous and need to maintain for future generations. However as we present, heritage might be much more than that. It may be one thing that’s related for native communities, and likewise for all Australians, as a result of heritage pertains to who we’re. It will also be about our practices which join us to the locations round us.

Determine 3. A girl’s grave adorned with sandals and flowers.

Our analysis website: Dwelling Island

The Cocos (Keeling) Islands are a part of Australia’s Indian Ocean territories. They encompass two atolls as island teams. North Keeling Island is an uninhabited designated nationwide park. 27 kms to the south lie the Cocos Islands. They’re comprised of 27 or so islands on the primary atoll, solely two of that are inhabited. On West Island reside round 200 “expatriate” Australians, principally academics, technicians, different authorities workers, and their households.

Round 400 Cocos Malays reside on Dwelling Island. They may very well be thought-about Australia’s oldest steady Muslim neighborhood—certainly, they not too long ago pushed for Indigenous standing. And though they’re Australian residents, their early historical past is carefully tied up with Southeast Asia’s previous. It appears their ancestors first got here collectively in Singapore, Borneo, and Java within the early 1800s. They have been the slaves of a dealer named Alexander Hare, who took them, by way of South Africa, to the Cocos Islands in 1826. (For context, that was previous to the formation of European settlements in Melbourne, Adelaide, and Perth.)

Hare was promptly ousted by one other adventurer, John Clunies-Ross. In 1831, Clunies-Ross took over the islands and their Malay inhabitants for himself and 4 succeeding generations of his household. In 1955, the Cocos Islands grew to become an Australian territory. After this, the Australian authorities purchased out a lot of the Clunies-Ross land in 1978. Below a UN-supervised vote of self-determination in 1984, the Cocos Malays voted to completely combine with Australia. Since that point, the Cocos Malays have adopted and tailored their Muslim and Malay traditions, customs, and heritage as a part of a various Australia. And, as we are going to present right here, their cemetery not solely performs an important function in modern non secular life but in addition pays testomony to their lengthy multicultural historical past.

Pulu Gangsa cemetery

Cemeteries in Australia, being the ultimate resting locations for individuals of many backgrounds, function distinctive areas the place we will observe an array of cultural rituals and beliefs. A putting instance of this cultural tapestry might be discovered within the historical past of the cemetery on Dwelling Island, generally known as Pulu Gangsa. Its origins hint again to round 1900, when this small island to the north of Dwelling Island was established as a burial floor. Following the turmoil of World Warfare II, resourceful locals joined Pulu Gangsa to Dwelling Island with a land bridge that has withstood seven a long time of swells, tides, and even cyclones. So, strictly talking, it’s now not a separate island, however as an alternative may very well be thought-about as a peninsula of Dwelling Island.

Determine 4. Pulu Gangsa is a peninsula on the north facet of Dwelling Island.

Pulu Gangsa cemetery is concerning the dimension of a soccer subject. As you stroll in, you’re feeling immersed in tranquillity. Apart out of your footsteps, the one issues you may hear are the rustling of commerce winds via the leaves and the distant sound of waves crashing on the reefs. The air carries the candy perfume of flowers from the Frangipani timber planted among the many graves. Coconut palms line the perimeters of the grounds, offering shade. Between the palms you may catch glimpses of each the highly effective breakers on one facet and the serene lagoon on the opposite.

Throughout the cemetery, you encounter a set of picket and stone grave markers belonging to the Muslim Cocos Malays. These markers with pointed tops resemble spoons. They’re the resting locations of males. In distinction, these with flatter or extra rounded tops are designated for girls. The newer graves are adorned with scarves and are sheltered beneath protecting umbrellas. The bereaved usually go away choices, reminiscent of bottled water, flowers, and sandals, as tokens of respect for the departed spirits. In instances passed by, it was additionally a convention to supply the deceased with cigarettes or their favorite meals, if that was what they loved in life.

Determine 5. Picture of assorted graves. On the again left, a white umbrella sits over what seems to be a current grave. Picture due to Marcie Connelly-Lynn.

Adjoining to those markers lie Christian gravestones, the ultimate resting locations of sure members of the Clunies-Ross household. You may come across the headstone for John Sidney Clunies-Ross, the fourth within the lineage of the Clunies-Ross rulers. There may be additionally a memorial for Inin, the primary spouse of the third Clunies-Ross ruler.

Determine 6. Christian graves of John Sidney and Inin. Picture due to Marcie Connelly-Lynn.

With each Muslim and historic Christian graves, the cemetery is a part of the Cocos (Keeling) Islands’ cultural heritage. Certainly, it’s listed within the Western Australian and Australian Heritage Database. Preserving it’s a concern. With rising sea ranges, locals are anxious that the graves can be washed away. However the graveyard is not only a historic remnant to be safeguarded. It nonetheless performs a task in three completely different sorts of Cocos Malay ritual.

Funerals

The primary ritual of Pulu Gangsa cemetery we want to contemplate is funerals. When an area Cocos Malay passes away, a devoted committee assumes the solemn duty of conducting the funeral rites. These rites adhere to Islamic and native customs, with one step being the purification of the deceased via a sacred cleaning ceremony generally known as wudhu. Following this, a payung (“shade” or “umbrella”) is created. That is additionally sprinkled with water.

Determine 7. White payung held over the deceased.

The physique is then transported to the cemetery. Mourner used to stroll the physique over; serving to to hold it present non secular benefit. These days, the physique is transported by van and the mourners use the native type of transport, four-wheelers and golf buggies, to take themselves and the physique to the cemetery. On the graveside, the mourners recite a prayer for the spirit of the lifeless. The physique, wrapped in a white shroud, is positioned within the grave after which lined with soil, in accordance with Islamic apply. So Islamic customs of washing and burying the physique are mixed with Malay customs just like the white umbrella and frangipani timber in addition to with native practices such because the choices on the graves. These present a poignant tribute to the cultural richness discovered throughout the cemetery’s sacred grounds.

Determine 8. Males, wearing white, and shading from the warmth with umbrellas, carry out prayers graveside.

Finish of the fasting month

One other notable ritual related to the cemetery happens on the end result of the Islamic fasting month, generally known as Hari Raya Idul Fitri. This sequence of ceremonies signifies the joyous conclusion of fasting and devotion. The time period “Hari Raya” interprets to “Days of Celebration”, reflecting the festive nature of the occasion. Nonetheless, it additionally serves as a time for contemplation of sombre non secular duties and obligations. On the primary morning of Hari Raya, the Cocos Malays partake within the custom generally known as melawat tanah kubur, which interprets to “touring to go to the graveyard.” Households, in matching outfits, go to the graveyard collectively to pay respects to the deceased. In 2014, two of the authors (Herriman and Winarnita) noticed this ritual, discerning two main facets.

Determine 10. A spouse asks forgiveness of one other spouse, whereas their husbands do the identical.

First is tending to the graves of deceased family members. Members of the family clear the graves, unfold flowers and water, after which carry out prayers. As Radal Feyrel explains:

we ask forgiveness for the lifeless and want that they’re put in the best place, which is hopefully heaven [not one of the other worlds between hell and heaven, where] in the event you’re not a very good particular person, you’ll be caught. We ask God to forgive them for what they’ve executed. Most individuals learn the Koran. Some individuals simply pray. They bring about flowers to embellish the graveyards and water to chill the place. Once we have been children, we believed they wore the flowers, drank the water, some individuals introduced cigarettes and lollies, however now there’s not that perception anymore. Now we consider that if you find yourself lifeless you’re gone. Some households nonetheless consider that. On the kenduri (ritual meal) they offer Coca-Cola in the event that they [the deceased] appreciated to drink that.

The opposite main side is asking forgiveness. Hari Raya is a time when the wrongdoings to different individuals of the previous yr might be forgiven. You are able to do this at an individual’s residence however, seeing as they usually run into different households tending graves right now, Cocos Malays additionally do that on the cemetery. Males greet different women and men different ladies. This intensely emotional ritual includes pretty formulaic Cocos Malay expressions. One of many authors, Radal Feyrel, as an example, greets male household heads saying one thing like:

Hari Raya Greetings. Please forgive any of my unsuitable doings or ideas. Could the foods and drinks we’ve shared be acceptable. Please forgive any of my phrases that have been in error or boastful, harsh, or inappropriate. Hopefully, we are going to meet once more sooner or later. I hope that God retains you effectively and safe. Till we meet once more within the coming yr. (Selamat Hari Raya, ma’af zahir dan batin. Makan dan minum minta dihalalkan. Kata yang tersilap atau tersalah, atau yang tertinggi, bahasa yang kasar yang tidak enak minta diampunkan. Mudah-mudahan dapat dijumpa lagi lain tahun. Semoga tuhan beri kesehetan dan keselamatan. Sampai jumpa lagi di tahun yang akan datang.)

Whereas making this speech, the theme carry out salam which is a form mild handshake. Eye contact is proscribed. Whereas one particular person speaks, the opposite nods silently.

Determine 11. Asking forgiveness.

It’s troublesome to do justice to the emotional significance of the graveyard rituals. So, as an alternative, we want to draw consideration to a number of issues. The Hari Raya rituals might be present in comparable type in most elements of Muslim Southeast Asia. The distinction right here is that it happens in Australia, and the graveyard it takes place on factors to the Cocos Islands’ wealthy multicultural historical past. This multicultural component can also be multifaith, as Muslim and Christian graves share the identical graveyard. And, lastly, ritual is undertaken at what is perhaps thought-about a sacred heritage website. So it is rather a lot a lived and carried out heritage. These are some fundamental observations that may be gleaned from the Hari Raya graveyard ritual.

Marriage ceremony rituals

The ultimate ritual utilization of Pulu Gangsa graveyard which we contact upon happens simply earlier than the end result of marriage ceremony ceremonies. Weddings can contain years of planning and months of preparation. As an illustration, the bride and groom’s households individually placed on meals each night. This all culminates on the Friday and the Saturday of the marriage.

As Radal Feyrel explains, on the Friday, the bride and groom are notably busy. Within the morning, an imam washes off the turmeric that has been utilized to whiten the bride and groom’s faces. Then the couple placed on ceremonial gown and, accompanied by their household, head over to the graveyard. That is the primary time the couple meet one another after being separated for every week. They sit by the graves of relations who’ve not too long ago handed away. Historically, the Cocos Malays requested the spirits to be able to have good luck on their marriage ceremony day and of their marriage. That is now not the assumption nowadays. Now Cocos Malays pray for the blessings of Allah to forgive the deceased. Additionally they want to pay their respects to the deceased as a result of deceased will be unable to attend the marriage. After about half an hour, the bride, groom and their households return to the village. On that night time is the nikah, the non secular marriage. The next day, Saturday, the festivities start; these contain a wealthy number of music and dance.

Determine 12. Bride and groom sitting by a grave.

Conclusion

We’ve got noticed how the Cocos Malays utilise Pulu Gangsa graveyard in three important ceremonies: funerals, Hari Raya, and weddings. This graveyard isn’t merely a relic or a bit of historical past; it’s an everlasting side of significance for the Cocos Malays, representing what we outline as “heritage”. Furthermore, it holds significance for all Australians, serving as a tribute to our ongoing multicultural story. The time period “multicultural” is topic to debate, however on this context, it’s an acknowledgment of cultural range past the scope of White Australia.

Specifically, the concept of “turning the map the other way up” offers a radical new vista on coastal places in our North. The wealthy heritage related to the Pulu Gangsa graveyard on Dwelling Island is an instance of this. Attending to those sorts of locations and practices will allow us to raised recognise our multicultural previous.