60-712: Yirrkala is a small community in East Arnhem Region , Northern Territory, Australia, 18 kilometres (11 mi) southeast of the large mining town of Nhulunbuy , on the Gove Peninsula in Arnhem Land . Its population comprises predominantly Aboriginal Australians of the Yolngu people, and it is also home to a number of Mission Aviation Fellowship pilots and engineers based in Arnhem Land, providing air transport services. At
120-578: A "die on the vine" plan that will "slowly but surely" kill indigenous culture. Born in the 1930s, Dr. Gawirrin Gumana AO was a leader of the Dhalwangu clan , renowned for his artwork and knowledge of traditional culture and law. In May 2009, he had the following to say about the significance of the homelands to his people: Despite facing government concerns and policy confusion, a number of people have developed commercial enterprises that have centred on using
180-654: A Miss Proctor. She was not a trained teacher, but had worked at the mission on Goulburn Island for three years. The mission received child endowment for every Aboriginal child there, regardless of attendance at the school. During World War II, a RAAF airbase operated close by. Many mission residents worked there, as boat pilots for the RAAF and the Royal Australia Navy , or assisted the war effort by other means. The school did not operate during this time, and all "white women" were evacuated in 1942. Around 1974, control of
240-500: A location of one of the trial Community Education Centres (CEC) in 1988, students undertake a method of bilingual studies dubbed "both ways", incorporating a cultural curriculum called Galtha Rom, meaning cultural lessons. Despite a 2009 Northern Territory Government order to teach English for the first four hours each day, the school continued to teach in its own way, with the child's first language, Yolngu Matha , taught alongside English. The method has proven effective against reducing
300-594: A painting of the wharf at Darwin, including building and boats, and Europeans with hats and pipes, some apparently without hands (which they have in their trouser pockets). Near the East Alligator River crossing, a figure was painted of a man carrying a gun and wearing his hair in long pigtails down his back, characteristic of the Chinese labourers brought to Darwin in the late 19th century. One Yolngu prehistoric stone arrangement at Maccasans Beach near Yirrkala shows
360-404: A parcel of their land was to be sold to a bauxite mining company. Although the petition itself was unsuccessful in the sense that the bauxite mining at Nhulunbuy went ahead as planned, it alerted non-Indigenous Australians to the need for Indigenous representation in such decisions, and it prompted a government report recommending compensation payments, protection of sacred sites , creation of
420-582: A permanent parliamentary standing committee to scrutinise developments at Yirrkala, and also acknowledgments of the Indigenous people's moral right to their lands. The Bark Petition is on display in the Parliament House in Canberra . The settlement was funded as an outstation during the 1980s. Yirrkala is a small community in East Arnhem Region , Northern Territory, 18 kilometres (11 mi) southeast of
480-658: A vigorous traditional culture, and whose name for this area is Miwatj. In West Arnhem Land, large groups include the Bininj people and the Maung people of the Goulburn Islands . In 2018, Kathy Guthadjaka AM (also known as Gotha) was awarded 'NT Senior Australian of the Year.' Guthadjaka has conducted academic research into Aboriginal languages, knowledge, and culture. In 2013–14, the entire region contributed around A$ 1.3 billion or 7% to
540-611: Is a historical region of the Northern Territory of Australia. It is located in the north-eastern corner of the territory and is around 500 km (310 mi) from the territorial capital, Darwin . In 1623, Dutch East India Company captain Willem Joosten van Colster (or Coolsteerdt) sailed into the Gulf of Carpentaria and Cape Arnhem is named after his ship, the Arnhem , which itself
600-471: Is also notable for Aboriginal rock art , some examples of which can be found at Ubirr Rock , Injalak Hill , and in the Canon Hill area. Some of these record the early years of European explorers and settlers, sometimes in such detail that Martini–Henry rifles can be identified. They also depict axes, and detailed paintings of aircraft and ships. One remote shelter, several hundred kilometres from Darwin, has
660-461: Is highly prized in Chinese cuisine, for folk medicine, and as an aphrodisiac . This Makassan contact with Australia is the first recorded example of interaction between the inhabitants of the Australian continent and their Asian neighbours. This contact had a major effect on local Aboriginal Australians . The Makassans exchanged goods such as cloth , tobacco , knives , rice , and alcohol for
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#1732845043268720-542: Is one member of the famous Marika family of north-east Arnhem Land, and is the daughter of artist Mathaman Marika and the sister of artist, cultural leader and environmentalist Dr B Marika . She was married to former Yothu Yindi lead singer and educator Dr M Yunupingu (1956–2013). She has translated children's books into Yolngu Matha languages, and taught " both ways " bilingual education for her whole career, standing firm against Northern Territory Government policies which dictated that NT schools should teach only in
780-502: Is one of the oldest living cultures on Earth, at around 60,000 years old. DNA studies have confirmed that " Aboriginal Australians are one of the oldest living populations in the world, certainly the oldest outside of Africa"; their descendants left the African continent 75,000 years ago. They may have the oldest continuous culture on earth. Oral histories comprising complex narratives have been passed down through hundreds of generations, and
840-484: The Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act 1976 . At the 2021 census , Yirrkala had a population of 657, of whom 79.8% identified as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people . Yirrkala is home to a number of leading Indigenous artists, whose traditional Aboriginal art , particularly bark painting , can be found in art galleries around the world, and whose work frequently wins awards such as
900-495: The 2021 census , Yirrkala had a population of 657, of whom 79.8% identified as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people . There has been an Aboriginal community at Yirrkala throughout recorded history, but the community increased enormously in size when Yirrkala mission was founded in 1935, with people from 13 different Yolngu clans moving to Yirrkala. Around this time, the Methodist Overseas Mission (MOM)
960-678: The Aboriginal rock art , dated by modern techniques, shows continuity of their culture. Arnhem Land is the location of the oldest-known (as of 2010 ) stone axe of its kind, which scholars believe to be 35,500 years old. Rock art depicting what may be acts of violence between hunter-gatherers in Arnhem land has been tentatively dated to 10,000 years ago. At least since the 18th century (and probably earlier) Muslim traders from Makassar of Sulawesi visited Arnhem Land each year to trade, harvest, and process sea cucumbers or trepang . This marine animal
1020-791: The East Arnhem Regional Council . Situated in the far north-eastern corner of the Northern Territory, the region covers an area of 33,310 square kilometres (12,861.06 sq mi) and had a population of approximately 10,345 in June 2018. East Arnhem Region was created under the Local Government Act (NT) 2008 to provide core local government services. The area comprises nine major remote communities, many homelands and outstations, commercial enterprises such as tourism, two mining leases, and pastoral properties scattered throughout
1080-452: The English language in 1998. This was despite the fact that Yirrkala School had been identified as the first to undergo bilingual accreditation in 1980, and bilingual students outperformed the non-bilingual students. Yunupingu was appointed senior teacher at the school in 2004, and has often been called "mother of the school", and became known for her mentoring of other teachers. She was awarded
1140-507: The Maung speaking Goulburn Islands (Mardbalk Arts & Crafts). Arnhem Land is also known for embracing the homeland movement, sometimes referred to as the outstation movement . For many decades prior to 1970, the East Arnhem Land Yolngu people lived on mission stations , such as Yirrkala. From April 1972, Yolngu families began moving away, back to their traditional clan lands. This was instigated by Yolngu people, before there
1200-806: The Northern Territory Government 's Teaching Excellence Award in the Remote Primary category for her work at Yirrkala, and her artwork has featured in exhibitions in Australia and the US. She has also been an honorary fellow at Charles Darwin University . She retired in early 2023 after 40 years at the school, with family, friends, colleagues and other community members gathering to celebrate her contribution. Since retirement, she has been teaching traditional healing with bush medicines . On 25 January 2024 she
1260-455: The sea cucumbers were traded by the Makassans to Southern China . In 2014, an 18th-century Chinese coin was found in the remote area of Wessel Islands off the coast on a beach on Elcho Island during a historical expedition. The coin was found near previously known Makassan trepanger fishing sites where several other Dutch coins have been discovered nearby, but never a Chinese coin. The coin
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#17328450432681320-670: The 800 people in the Laynhapuy homelands will be forced to move to towns such as Yirrkala on the Gove Peninsula, creating new law and order problems, while those who stay will be severely disadvantaged." In response to changes made by the Northern Territory government surrounding reduced support for the homelands in 2009, the Indigenous leader Patrick Dodson criticised the Northern Territory Government's controversial new policy on remote Aboriginal communities, describing it as
1380-479: The East Arnhem Region was divided during 2007 into bounded areas for the purpose of creating an address for a property. The bounded areas are called "localities" with those localities associated with existing aboriginal communities being called "communities". 12°10′55″S 136°46′55″E / 12.18194°S 136.78194°E / -12.18194; 136.78194 Arnhem Land Arnhem Land
1440-447: The Northern Territory by establishing eight new shires. The East Arnhem Shire was created on 1 July 2008. Elections of shire councillors were held on 25 October 2008. Banambi Wunungmurra was elected unopposed as the inaugural EASC president, with Councillor Keith Hansen of Anindilyakwa Ward serving from 2008 to 2010 as his deputy, then rotating the deputy position to Councillor Kaye Thurlow of Gumurr Marthakal from 2010 to 2012. Wunungmurra
1500-548: The Northern Territory's gross state product, mainly through bauxite mining . In 2019, it was announced that NASA had chosen Arnhem Land as the location for a space launch facility , the Arnhem Space Centre . On 27 June 2022, NASA launched the first rocket there, the first rocket launch from a commercial spaceport outside the US, and two further launches followed within weeks. The Yolŋu culture in East Arnhem Land
1560-400: The Northern Territory's gross state product, mainly through bauxite mining. In 2019, it was announced that NASA had chosen Arnhem Land as the location for a space launch facility. The Arnhem Space Centre was built near Nhulunbuy, employing mostly local labour, and on 27 June 2022, NASA launched the first rocket there, which was the first rocket launch from a commercial spaceport outside
1620-732: The Telstra National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Awards . Their work is visible to the public at the Buku-Larrnggay Mulka Art Centre and Museum and also at the YBE art centre. Pioneer bark painters from this region who the National Museum of Australia consider old masters include Mithinarri Gurruwiwi , Birrikitji Gumana and Mawalan Marika . It is also a traditional home of the Yidaki (didgeridoo), and some of
1680-464: The US. Two further launches followed, the third on 11 July. Other space companies are interested in using the rocket launch pad, and NASA confirmed that it will use the facility again in the future. The 2006 film Ten Canoes captures life in Arnhem Land through a story tapping into the Aboriginal mythic past; it was co-directed by one of the indigenous cast members. The film and the documentary about
1740-527: The Yirritja moiety , including Mungurrawuy Yunupingu , Birrikitji Gumana and Narritjin Maymuru , who painted the other sheet with Yirritja designs. They were discarded by the church in 1974, but were salvaged by Buku-Larrnggay in 1978. As of 2015 it represented more than 300 artists from around the homelands, and exhibitions of work by the artists were being shown across Australia and internationally. As of 2020,
1800-607: The centre comprises two divisions: the Yirrkala Art Centre, which represents the artists exhibiting and selling contemporary art , and The Mulka Project, which incorporates the museum. It is known for its production of bark paintings , weaving in natural fibres, larrakitj (memorial poles), yidaki , and many other forms of art. The centre has been a base for several major artists, including Gulumbu Yunupingu , Banduk Marika , Gunybi Ganambarr , Djambawa Marawili , and Yanggarriny Wunungmurra . Women artists who have worked at
1860-447: The centre include five sisters: Nancy Gaymala Yunupingu , Gulumbu Yunupingu , Barrupu Yunupingu , Nyapanyapa Yunupingu , and Eunice Djerrkngu Yunupingu ; as well as Dhuwarrwarr Marika ; Malaluba Gumana ; Naminapu Maymuru-White ; Nonggirrnga Marawili ; Dhambit Mununggurr ; and Margaret Wirrpanda . At Yirrkala School, formerly Yirrkala Community School, renamed "Yirrkala Community Education Centre" or "Yirrkala CEC" after it became
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1920-579: The coasts of northern Australia. In Arnhem Land, the word is still widely used today to refer to white Australians. The Dutch started settling in Sulawesi Island in the early 17th century. Archaeological remains of Makassar contact, including trepang processing plants (drying, smoking) from the 18th and 19th centuries, are still found at Australian locations such as Port Essington and Groote Eylandt . The Makassans also planted tamarind trees (native to Madagascar and East Africa ). After processing,
1980-498: The council area. Five of the nine communities are located on islands. Six of the communities are recognised Remote Service Delivery Sites by the Commonwealth and another is recognised as a NT Government Territory Growth Town. In October 2006 the Northern Territory Government announced the reform of local government areas. The intention of the reform was to improve and expand the delivery of services to towns and communities across
2040-467: The drop-out rate, and in 2020 eight students were the first in their community to graduate year 12 with scores enabling them to attend university. Yirrkala School and its sister school, Laynhapuy Homelands School, are now being looked to as models for learning in remote traditional communities. Artist and teacher-linguist Yalmay Marika Yunupingu , also known as Yalmay Yunupingu Marika (sometimes hyphenated) or just Yalmay Yunupingu (born c. 1955 ),
2100-478: The dry season (April to September) to daily highs of 33 °C (91 °F) in the wet season (October to March). In 1931, an area of 96,000 km (37,000 sq mi) was proclaimed as an Aboriginal reserve , named Arnhem Land Aboriginal Reserve. As of 2007 the Land Trust held about 100,000 km (39,000 sq mi) as Aboriginal freehold land (with the exception of mining leases); it remains one of
2160-470: The early 1970s as a mining town for bauxite . Other major population centres are Yirrkala (just outside Nhulunbuy), Gunbalanya (formerly Oenpelli), Ramingining , and Maningrida . A substantial proportion of the population, which is mostly Aboriginal , lives on small outstations or homelands. This outstation movement started in the early 1980s. Many Aboriginal groups moved to usually very small settlements on their traditional lands , often to escape
2220-439: The early 21st century, a focus governments about the "viability" of the homelands has caused tensions and uncertainty within the Arnhem Land community. In September 2008, then Darwin correspondent for The Age , Lindsay Murdoch, wrote: "Elders tell of their fears that Yolngu culture and society will not survive if clans cannot continue to live on and access their land through homelands. They warn that if services are cut, many of
2280-439: The far north-east, on the Gove Peninsula. Gove is the site of large-scale bauxite mining with an associated alumina refinery. Its administrative centre is the town of Nhulunbuy, the fourth-largest population centre in the Northern Territory. The climate of Arnhem Land is tropical monsoon with a wet and dry season. The temperature has little seasonal variation; however, it can range from overnight lows of 15 °C (59 °F) in
2340-584: The history and culture of Yolngu people, was filmed in Arnhem land. The Aboriginal community of Yirrkala , just outside Nhulunbuy, is internationally known for bark paintings , promoting the rights of Indigenous Australians , and as the origin of the yidaki , or didgeridoo . The community of Gunbalanya (previously known as Oenpelli ) in Western Arnhem Land is also notable for bark painting. The indigenous inhabitants also create temporary sand sculptures as part of their sacred rituals. Arnhem Land
2400-585: The interaction was on the whole positive in those early days, with a lack of dogmatism by the missionaries, and the Yolngu people accommodating Christianity within a version of their own beliefs. MOM received a government subsidy to run the mission, and school classes operated from 1936, at first outdoors under a tree, and later beneath the Mission House. In 1951, a new school building was built, and, by 1952, it had 47 children regularly attending classes there, taught by
2460-408: The large mining town of Nhulunbuy , on the Gove Peninsula in Arnhem Land . As of 2024 the East Arnhem Regional Council is the local government for Yirrkala, which is in the council's Gumurr Miwatj Ward. It consults with Yirrkala Mala Leaders Association, consisting of 12 elected community members. The Northern Land Council is the land council to the community, responsible for matters under
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2520-422: The largest parcels of Aboriginal-owned land in Australia and is perhaps best known for its isolation, the art of its people, and the strong continuing traditions of its Aboriginal inhabitants. Arnhem Land is composed of many different Aboriginal countries and language groups . North-east Arnhem Land is home to the Yolngu people, one of the largest Indigenous groups in Australia, who have succeeded in maintaining
2580-1078: The layout of the Makassan praus used for trepang (sea cucumber) fishing in the area. This was a legacy of Yolngu trade links with the people on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi . The trading relationship antedated European settlement by some 200 years. Aboriginal artists in Arnhem Land are primarily represented by Aboriginal Art Centres , nonprofit, community-owned organisations. In East Arnhem Land, primarily Yolngu Matha -speaking artists are promoted by Buku-Larrnggay Mulka in Yirrkala, Bula'bula Arts in Ramingining , Elcho Island Arts and Crafts on Elcho Island , Gapuwiyak Culture and Arts in Gapuwiyak and Milingimbi Art and Culture on Milingimbi Island . In Central Arnhem Land, Maningrida Arts & Culture in Maningrida promotes
2640-458: The making of the film, The Balanda and the Bark Canoes , give a remarkable testimony to the indigenous struggle to keep their culture alive – or rather revive it in the wake of considerable relative modernisation and influence of white ( balanda ) cultural imposition. High Ground (2020 film) , a 2020 feature film directed by Stephen Maxwell Johnson , based on historical fact and reflecting
2700-603: The mission was passed to the Yirrkala Dhanbul Community Association, and it was no longer was operated as a mission thereafter. Yirrkala played a pivotal role in the development of the relationship between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians when the document Bark Petition was created at Yirrkala in 1963 and sent to the Federal Government to protest the Prime Minister's announcement that
2760-498: The problems of the larger towns. These population groups have very little Western cultural influence, and Arnhem Land is arguably one of the last areas in Australia that could be seen as a completely separate country. Many of the region's leaders have called and continue to call for a treaty that would allow the Yolŋu to operate under their own traditional laws . In 2013–14, the entire region contributed around A$ 1.3 billion or 7 percent to
2820-545: The property rights of much of Arnhem Land were held by the Eastern and African Cold Storage Supply Company . This Anglo-Australian consortium leased the region under the name of Arafura cattle station and attempted to construct a massive cattle raising and meat production industry. The company employed roving gangs of armed men to shoot the resident Aboriginal population. In 1971, the Gove land rights case ( Milirrpum v Nabalco Pty Ltd )
2880-527: The property, Jim Randell, bolted a swivel cannon to the verandah of the homestead to keep the Indigenous people away, while Jack Watson , the last manager of the property, reportedly "wiped out a lot" of "the blacks" living on the coast at Blue Mud Bay . During the period of Watson's management, another large massacre is recorded to have happened at Mirki on the north coast of Florida Station. The Yolngu people today remember this massacre where many people including children were shot dead. From 1903 to 1908,
2940-415: The right to trepang coastal waters and employ local labour. Makassar pidgin became a lingua franca along the north coast among several indigenous Australian groups who were brought into greater contact with each other by the seafaring Makassan culture. These traders from the southwest corner of Sulawesi also introduced the word balanda for white people, long before western explorers set foot on
3000-630: The work of a diverse range of Kuninjku , Burarra , and Gurrgoni artists, amongst others. In West Arnhem Land, Injalak Arts in Gunbalanya represents mainly Kunwinjku artists. Ngukurr Arts is located on the Roper River in Southern Arnhem Land. Art is also produced on the many islands of Arnhem Land, and there are art centres on the Anindilyakwa speaking Groote Eylandt (Anindilyakwa Art) and
3060-474: The world's finest didgeridoos are still made at Yirrkala. The Buku-Larrnggay Mulka Centre , formerly Buku-Larrŋgay Arts, is a world-renowned art centre , with well-known artists such as Nyapanyapa Yunupingu based there. It is often referred to as Buku for short. There is a stage called the Roy Marika Stage at the centre, which is used for the annual Yarrapay Festival. The festival's June 2021 iteration
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#17328450432683120-417: Was announced as 2024 Senior Australian of the Year and travelled to Canberra to accept the award. Yirrkala has a number of heritage-listed sites, including: 12°15′10″S 136°53′30″E / 12.25278°S 136.89167°E / -12.25278; 136.89167 East Arnhem Region The East Arnhem Region is a local government area of the Northern Territory , Australia, governed by
3180-701: Was directed by Witiyana Marika , and featured the Andrew Gurruwiwi Band, Yothu Yindi , Yirrmal , and East Journey . The centre was established by local artists in the old Mission health centre in 1976, after the missionaries had left and as the Aboriginal land rights and Homeland movements gathered pace. The historic Yirrkala Church Panels were created in 1963 by Yolngu elders of the Dhuwa moiety (including Mawalan Marika , Wandjuk Marika and Mithinarri Gurruwiwi ), who painted one sheet with their major ancestral narratives and clan designs, and eight elders of
3240-478: Was encouraging their senior staff to study anthropology under A. P. Elkin at Sydney University , to learn more about Aboriginal Australian culture, in particular the Yolngu people who lived in East Arnhem. Mission superintendents included founding superintendent Wilbur Chaseling, Harold Thornell, and Edgar Wells, who wrote about their experiences there. The residents were free to come and go as they wished, and
3300-429: Was established to assist the homelands. Homelands are tiny communities where members of related clan groups live on their traditional land, living according to Yolngu rom (law) . There are benefits to the people to be living in these homelands, including: Homelands also reduce pressure on other Indigenous communities, which are already suffering from problems in the housing, health and education services areas. In
3360-480: Was government support for the outstation movement. The people cleared land for airstrips and built their own houses from local timber, with the help of non-Indigenous people from the mission. The elders of the clans aimed to determine their own futures, basing their societies on Yolngu law, while living and raising their children on their lands in a sustainable and self-sufficient way. In 1985, Laynhapuy Homelands Aboriginal Corporation (LHAC), an Aboriginal corporation ,
3420-468: Was named after the city of Arnhem in the Netherlands. The area covers about 97,000 km (37,000 sq mi) and has an estimated population of 16,000, of whom 12,000 are Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people . Two regions are often distinguished as East Arnhem ( Land ) and West Arnhem ( Land ). The region's service hub is Nhulunbuy , 600 km (370 mi) east of Darwin, set up in
3480-565: Was probably made in Beijing around 1735. In 1884, 10,000 square miles of Arnhem Land was sold by the colonial British government to cattle grazier , John Arthur Macartney . The property was called Florida Station and Macartney stocked it with cattle overlanded from Queensland. Monsoonal flooding, disease and strong resistance from the local Aboriginal population resulted in Florida Station being abandoned by Macartney in 1893. The first manager of
3540-616: Was re-elected unopposed in 2012, with Councillor Mavis Danganbarr of Gumurr Marthakal Ward currently serving as his deputy for a two-year term. On 1 January 2014, the shire became a region. Most of the land in the region was previously unincorporated, but the following communities were amalgamated into it: The East Arnhem Regional Council is divided into 6 wards, which is governed by 14 councillors: President Deputy president Anindilyakwa Ward Birr Rawarrang Ward Gumurr Gattjirrk Ward Gumurr Marthakal Ward Gumurr Miwatj Ward Gumurr Miyarrka Ward * Indicates funeral name Land within
3600-666: Was the first litigation on native title in Australia , and the first significant legal case for Aboriginal land rights in Australia . The area is from Port Roper on the Gulf of Carpentaria around the coast to the East Alligator River , where it adjoins Kakadu National Park . The major centres are Jabiru on the Kakadu National Park border, Maningrida at the Liverpool River mouth, and Nhulunbuy (also known as Gove) in
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