What’s in an “I”.  Peris/Peiris …. !!

I read with interest the exchange among Victor, Kyle and yourself regarding the question of whether Nova Peris is of Sri Lankan heritage, albeit ever so minor.  A few years ago, an article I had written titled … (From Ceylon to Australia: Migrant Journeys, 1860ies to 2010… was published in your excellent Thuppahi Blog.  In summary, some of the content of that article establishedv THAT:-

&  In 1882 some 500 Ceylonese entered Queensland as indentured labourers.

&  The development of the Pearl Fisheries and later jewellery trade, brought several Ceylonese to Thursday Island as skin divers, boatman, traders and utility workers.

Although these early Arrivals were predominantly to the East Coast and North Queensland, things changed in the 20th and early 21^st century.  Even before pearl industry resources were discovered in the Torres Strait region, they were found to exist in Northwest Australia, in and around the Broome area.  Because of their expertise as divers and boatman (age old pearl fisheries of Mannar) persons from Ceylon were recruited to work the Broome pearling resources.  There is evidence of workers from Japan, China, Philippines, Ceylon and Malaysia being collectively referred to as ‘Malays.’ working in the Broome pearl industry.

Looking at more recent events, the Ceylonese population on Thursday Island dispersed after the outbreak of the Second World War (reasons not to be discussed here).  Most of these Ceylonese moved to Darwin. Brisbane and small numbers to other locations like Broome.  In their excellent study of Ceylonese on Thursday Island, Stanley Sparkes and Anna Shnukal state;

‘All of them have left……………………..…..Not only did they provide goods and services not available elsewhere, but, through their acts of generosity and willingness to share their heritage with the entire community, they formed enduring relationships with their fellow residents, regardless of ethnic origin or religious affiliation’.

Nova Peris is from North Western Australia.  From the narrative above it can be deduced that some number of Ceylonese had settled in the region.  As Sparkes and Shnukal note, Ceylonese settlers were excellent mixers with other communities.

Also, the family of Nova were not protected through domestication in Aboriginal Settlements.  Nova’s Grandmother was said to be a victim of the ‘stolen generation’. Nova’s mother was at least for some years also regarded as one of the’ stolen generation’.

As Victor has pointed out there is no evidence to suggest Nova has Ceylonese ancestry.  However,  I have provided some circumstantial evidence for your consideration and interest.

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Hi Michael, From the day I saw her I was convinced that Nova had Sri Lankan ancestry,

C = While a quick check of the Indexes in my book People Inbetween (1989) and that on