Yolngu

(yall-en-goo)

Arafura Sea Coast, Australia

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*Content on this page and affiliated posts may contain names, images and words of people who have passed away.

Proven Enduring

“Our old people — our mothers and our fathers — brought us to where we are now. Old people give us everything. We look backwards to get a full story. Through that connection we know many things. Our Yolngu languages include Djinang, Djinba, Djambarrpingu, Ganhalpuyngu, Mandhalpuyngu, Ritharrngu and Wagilak. Our indigenous toolbox holds the knowledge from our ancestors — how to manage country through right way fire, how to live off the land without taking too much, how to read signs that tell us whether country is healthy or sick and, importantly, how to maintain the ceremonies and kinship laws that keep culture and country strong.”

*Taken directly from the ASRAC website

 

What are the beliefs and practices of my people regarding how a human being is meant to exist in relationship with a living earth?

Explore questions for each quote below by clicking the image.

Peoples Blog
“I am an Aboriginal from mud, red mud. I am black, I am red, I am yellow. I will not take my people from here to be in these other places.”
“I am an Aboriginal from mud, red mud. I am black, I am red, I am yellow. I will not take my people from here to be in these other places.”

Gawirrin Gumana (gah-wee-rin goo-mah-nah), Dhalwangu (daw-lay-wah-lah) clan leader

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“My name, the languages of the islands and the seas, were given to us by the ancestors when they made the world.”
“My name, the languages of the islands and the seas, were given to us by the ancestors when they made the world.”

Laurie Baymarrwangga (law-ree bang-or-nah), Senior Traditional Owner of Yan-nhangu (yan-an-new) Islands

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“If we are caring for our country, we’re caring for our people. If people are connected to country… we are healthy, our knowledge is healthy.”
“If we are caring for our country, we’re caring for our people. If people are connected to country… we are healthy, our knowledge is healthy.”

Otto Bulmaniya Campion (oh-toe bull-mahn-yah cam-pee-yon), Senior Traditional Owner at Ramingining (rah-mon-ggin-ning)

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“Our kinship connects us to whatever lies in the sea. It holds our family. And everything in the ocean is related. ”
“Our kinship connects us to whatever lies in the sea. It holds our family. And everything in the ocean is related. ”

Langani Marika (lahn-gahn-ee mah-ree-kah), Senior Traditional Owner for the Rirratjingu (reer-ott-jin-goo) clan

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Proven Resilient

“Over the past 25 years Governments have been cutting back on support for people living on country. Before, we used to get health services, bush schools, shopping services, road maintenance in our homelands. But that support has gone down. We need support where we can enjoy healthy bush tucker food. Many of us don’t feel safe when we leave the bush. Town foods are giving us high blood pressure. Bush life is important to take young people away from the influence of drugs and give them a positive outlook on life. We have been losing too many young people in the big communities. Some run away from the homelands to town and drugs — if there were jobs on the homelands many more would stay and live a clean life.”

*Taken directly from the ASRAC website

 

What are the beliefs and practices required to survive and thrive in the contemporary world?

Explore questions for each quote below by clicking the image.

Additional Resources

Powerpoint

Download the entire Yolngu slide deck for educational purposes