Traditional song, dance and a community march recently marked the launch of Saibai Island's first seasonal calendar, Saibailgaw Mura Zugubaw Thonaral.
The Torres Strait Island community celebrated the milestone from day to night, recognising a cultural project years in the making.
The calendar brings together traditional ecological knowledge, Kala Kawaw Ya language and western science to record how Saibailgal people understand seasonal change through Country, sea and sky.
TSRA Chair George Nona said the project was a major step for cultural preservation.
"United by a shared vision over many years, the project brought together community members in a best-practice approach combining traditional knowledge and western science to protect and preserve Saibailgal culture," Mr Nona said.
"This calendar is more than a resource, it is a living testament to the identity, resilience and cultural strength of Saibai, its people, land and sea.
"It will ensure that local cultural knowledge held safely for thousands of years is cherished and passed on to future generations."
The First Nations-led project was developed with Elders, Traditional Owners and community members and officially endorsed by the Saibai Mura Buway Registered Native Title Body Corporate.
It was supported by the TSRA Environmental Management Program Land and Sea Management Unit, including the Mura Buway Rangers and the Traditional Ecological Knowledge team.
Mr Nona said the calendar would support families, children, rangers and Torres Strait communities living on the island.
"The calendar can serve as a long-term cultural learning tool for Saibai families, children, rangers and Torres Strait communities from the island to the mainland," he said.
The launch also recognised botanist Dave Fell, who was part of the original co-design process with the community and TSRA project team.
The project included a virtual link-up with astronomer Duane Hamacher to verify star constellation and moon phase information, connecting ancient knowledge with global science.
Saibai Mura Buway RNTBC Kuyku Mabayg PBC chair, Kerry Akiba, said the calendar respected the community's past, present and future.
"The calendar captures the way Saibailgal ancestors read the winds, tides, stars, plants, animals, and sea life to understand the seasons," he said.
"The calendar ensures that traditional ecological knowledge continues to be passed down, protecting language, identity, and cultural practice.
"We acknowledge the Elders, Traditional Owners and language speakers who generously shared their knowledge, stories and cultural authority."
Mr Akiba also paid tribute to knowledge holders who had passed away and to the families continuing that responsibility.
"We also pay tribute to those who are no longer with us, including respected knowledge holders, whose wisdom lives on through this calendar and the contributions of families who will carry this cultural responsibility and legacy forward," he said.
The calendar has been designed as a large, easy-to-read poster for families, communities and schools.
It will be managed and distributed by the Saibai Mura Buway RNTBC Kuyku Mabayg PBC.
Saibailgaw Mura Zugubaw Thonaral is the fourth seasonal calendar supported through TSRA's region-wide work, following calendars for Masig, Mer and Erub.
The TSRA TEK team works across the 14 island communities of the Torres Strait to support communities to document, preserve and celebrate traditional knowledge.
