Yunupingu death

2023 - 4 - 3

Yunupingu

Post cover — Image courtesy of "ABC News"

Aboriginal land rights champion Yunupingu dies in Arnhem Land in ... (ABC News)

One of Australia's most influential Aboriginal leaders, the trailblazing land rights fighter Yunupingu, has died in the Northern Territory aged 74.

"A giant of the nation whose contribution to public life spanned seven decades, he was first and foremost a leader of his people, whose welfare was his most pressing concern and responsibility. "He starts his journey now to be reunited with his fathers and his kin, who await him in the hearth of his sacred Gumatj country," the foundation said. "He sought this future for his people, and he guided 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 for a future that is theirs. In 2015, Yunupingu received the University of Melbourne's highest academic honour, an Honorary Doctor of Laws, in recognition of his "relentless struggle for land rights and advocacy for the agency of his people". Yunupingu was also a long-term chairman of the Northern Land Council, which represents traditional owners in the Northern Territory's Top End. The Gumatj clan leader, who passed away in north-east Arnhem Land, was a powerful advocate for the interests of the Yolngu people and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people across the country.

'A giant of the nation': Indigenous leader Yunupingu dies, aged 74 (The Sydney Morning Herald)

Senior Yolngu lore man and Gumatj clan leader Yunupingu has died after a long illness. The keeper of songlines was one of the most influential Indigenous ...

We ask you to mourn his passing in your own way, but we as a family encourage you to rejoice in the gift of his life and leadership. He was born on our land, he lived all his life on our land and he died on our land secure in the knowledge that his life’s work was secure,” she said. That was his sort of humour, but he was also genuinely frustrated with successive prime ministers who had failed to deliver on constitutional recognition and many other matters that had remained unresolved.” “He had friendship and loyalty to so many people, at all levels, from all places. “He was a colossus as a leader. Let us have an honest answer from the Australian people to an honest question.” That case, along with the barks, contributed to the establishment of the Whitlam government’s Woodward royal commission in 1973. Before the decade ended, he also founded the Garma Festival with his brother, Dr M Yunupingu. In 1993, Yunupingu established the Yothu Yindi Foundation alongside other Yolngu leaders from five regional clan groups. In 1975, Yunupingu worked with then-prime minister Malcolm Fraser on what would become the Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act 1976. Three years later, the statement was officially welcomed into Parliament House with an unveiling that included Yunupingu giving a speech alongside Hawke. The official event was Hawke’s last as prime minister.

Yunupingu, Yolŋu leader and campaigner for Indigenous rights, dies ... (The Guardian)

Elder spent a lifetime fighting for the rights of his people, from the Yirrkala bark petitions of 1963 to the voice to parliament.

[He] worked with no less than 10 prime ministers of Australia on the struggle for recognition, and has lived the many disappointments and broken promises. [He] explains “we seek that moment in the ceremonial cycle where all is equal and in balance. The Barunga statement was a profound call for self-determination, land rights, compensation for dispossession, the protection of sacred sites, the return of remains, and human rights afforded by international law. He was a formidable negotiator in talks with mining companies, politicians and governments to protect the rights of Aboriginal people. It sought a national, elected Aboriginal body, national land rights, recognition of customary law and the negotiation of a treaty. In 2006 Yunupingu, frustrated by decades of broken promises, demanded the Barunga statement be returned. We will dig a hole and bury it,” [Yolngu](https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/yolngu) people,” the Yothu Yindi Foundation said. He was named Australian of the Year in 1978 and made a member of the Order of Australia for his services to the Aboriginal community in 1985. “Yunupingu was a master of the ceremonies and a keeper of the songlines of the “He held the deep backbone names of the country and the sacred knowledge of his people. The revered Yolŋu elder Yunupingu has died in his homelands after a lifetime fighting for the rights of his Gumatj clan, his country and all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Aboriginal 'giant of a nation' Yunupingu dies aged 74 (BBC News)

One of Australia's best-known Indigenous leaders "now walks in another place", PM Anthony Albanese says.

He was born on our land… Yunupingu rose to prominence in the land rights movement in the 1960s, and was part of the first Australian legal case which tested the native title rights of First Nations people. Yunupingu was a trailblazer in the fight for land rights and the constitutional recognition of Indigenous people in Australia.

Tributes flow for trailblazer Yunupingu (NEWS.com.au)

Heartfelt tributes all across the country have poured in for trailblazing Aboriginal rights campaigner Yunupingu, following his death aged at age 74.

It’s what makes our great country even greater to have had titans of Australian society contribute so much. “He has added so much to Australian culture, particularly for Indigenous Australians. He said Yunupingu was a “leader” and a “statesman,” and a “remarkable member of a remarkable family.” “He lived by our laws always. Yunupingu was a member of the referendum working group, reminding Australians in his final months that “the future is our responsibility”, and that we all have a responsibility to show leadership on “reconciliation, recognition, and the referendum”. “He was born on our land, he lived all his life on our land, and he died on our land secure in the knowledge that his life’s work was secure

'Great sadness' settles after indigenous leader's death | Canberra ... (Canberra CityNews)

Tributes following the death of Indigenous leader Yunupingu remember him as a great Australian whose legacy will live on for generations to come.

to set goals such as constitutional recognition and find a way to achieve it.” “He was a man of strength, conviction and determination, a true moral voice in our country,” he told the National Press Club. “We acknowledge the life and legacy of not just a great Indigenous Australian, but one of our greatest Australians,” he said in a statement. He encouraged Aboriginal leaders… Yunupingu was a pioneer for land rights throughout Australia and assisted in the drafting of the first Yirrkala bark petition presented to the Australian parliament in 1963. “It is hard to imagine the next Garma festival without Yunupingu and it is hard to imagine going forward for many people, but his legacy (and) his inspiration will live on.”

Yunupingu dead at 74: Indigenous land rights campaigner dies in ... (The Australian Financial Review)

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has paid tribute to the chairman of the Yothu Yindi Foundation and former Australian of the Year.

He was a pioneer and a forefather for the cause. “As a young man, he became an advocate for advancing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander land rights. “The loss to our family and community is profound. Mr Albanese said the pair spoke just over a week ago. Connect with Tom on [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected]) He helped draft the 1963 Yirrkala Bark Petitions to parliament, alongside his father and uncle. A statesman.” A leader. The Gumatj clan leader was 74. Yunupingu died after a long illness. “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. “The holder of our sacred fire, the leader of our clan and the path-maker to our future,” she said.