 |
“People, plants, animals, water, land, the stars, our ceremonies and our creation stories are either Dhuwa or Yirritja. This helps maintain a balance in our culture.”
Nanikiya Mununggiritj, Senior Man of the Yarrwidi Gumatj clan and Senior Ranger with Dhimurru Land Management Aboriginal Corporation.
This vast area covers two adjoining regions:
Arnhem Land includes Kakadu National Park and the stone country of the Arnhem Plateau over to the Gove peninsula including Blue Mud Bay and down to the Roper River region. The islands above and around the mainland, Croker, Goulburn, Milingimbi, Elcho and Grooyte Island also form part of Arhnem Land which is home to mostly Yolgnu people, but does include some Bininj.
The Gulf country surrounds the town of Borroloola and includes the Sir Edward Pellew group of Islands off the coast. Within this remote area 4 main tribal groups exist, known as the Yanuwa, Garrawa, Mara and Gurdanji. The Yanuwa and Mara consider themselves ‘Saltwater People’, and the Garrawa and Gurdanji ‘Freshwater People’.
|
Gunbalanya, or Oenpelli is about 70kms from Jabiru.
Ngukurr is an Aboriginal Community built on hilly ground alongside The Roper River in South East Arnhem Land, NT.