The visionary land rights pioneer Yunupingu is remembered by his people as ‘a giant of the nation’ as they mourn his death in northeastern Arnhem Land.
Surrounded by his family and ceremonial decorations, Yunupingu, 75, passed away peacefully at his home in northeast Arnhem Land on Monday morning, the Youth Yindi Foundation confirmed.
“A giant of the nation whose contribution to public life spanned seven decades, he was first and foremost a leader of his people, whose well-being was his most pressing concern and responsibility,” the Youth Yindi Foundation, which he chaired, said in a statement.
Yunupingu was born on June 30, 1948 in Gunyangara, on the northern tip of the Gulf of Carpentaria in the Northern Territory.
A pioneer of land rights across Australia, in 1963 he helped draft the first Yirrkala Bark Petition to be presented to the Australian Parliament.
Anthony Albanese with Yunupingu, Chairman of the Yothu Yindi Foundation
Yunupingu met former Prime Minister Robert Menzies in the 1960s and personally spoke to every serving Prime Minister of Australia since Gough Whitlam.
“Many promises have been made, none have been fully fulfilled. As a sovereign man of his clan nation, he was disappointed by all of them,” the foundation said.
In 1999 he founded Garma Festival together with his brother.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese revealed details of the indigenous people’s vote to parliament during the festival last year.
He shook hands with Yunupingu, who asked if his commitment was serious.
“He was told it was. This promise has been fulfilled.”
After attending Methodist Bible College in Brisbane, Yunupingu acted as a court interpreter for his father in Australia’s first Indigenous title trial, the Gove Land Rights case.
From 1973 to 1974 he advised the Whitlam Government’s Royal Commission into Land Rights in the NT, and worked with the Fraser Government on the enactment of the Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act 1976.
During this time, he along with other Yolngu leaders also led the revival of the homeland movement.
Yunupingu, a strong advocate for local employment and self-determination, established a local cattle station, lumber mill and nursery in Arnhem Land, and established the first Aboriginal-owned and operated mine in the country, Gumatj’s Gulkula Bauxite Mine.
“He led this company to its present state, building on the wealth of his people’s land, their knowledge of the land and their willingness to work towards a future that is theirs,” the board of Gumatj Aboriginal Corporation said in a statement. declaration.
Yunupingu was also a respected master of ceremonies and a keeper of the vocal lines of the Yolngu people.
His totems were fire, stone and baru (saltwater crocodile).
His daughter Binmila Yunupingu said the family mourned with “deep love and great sadness… the keeper of our sacred fire, the leader of our clan and the pioneer of our future.”
“The loss to our family and community is great. We are hurting, but we honor him and remember with love all he has done for us,” she said in a statement.
“We remember him for his fierce leadership and all-out strength for Yolngu and for Aboriginal people across Australia. He always lived by our laws.’
Ceremonies to return Yunupingu “to his country and to his fathers” would eventually be held in northeastern Arnhem Land, she said.
“Our father was driven by a vision for the future of this nation, his people’s place in the nation and the rightful place for Aboriginal people everywhere.
“By leaving us we know that Dad’s loss will be felt in many hearts and minds.
“We ask that you mourn his passing in your own way, but we encourage you as a family to rejoice in the gift of his life and leadership.
“There’ll never be another like him.”