28 Facts About Galarrwuy Yunupingu

Galarrwuy Yunupingu, known as James Galarrwuy Yunupingu and Dr Yunupingu, was an Indigenous Australian activist who was a leader in the Aboriginal Australian community.

Galarrwuy Yunupingu was involved in Indigenous land rights throughout his career.

Galarrwuy Yunupingu was a Yolngu man of the Gumatj clan, from Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory.

Galarrwuy Yunupingu was born at Melville Bay, near Yirrkala, on 30 June 1948, and was a member of the Gumatj clan of the Yolngu people.

Galarrwuy Yunupingu's father, Mungurrawuy Yunupingu, was a well-known artist and leader of his clan; siblings included lead singer of Yothu Yindi, his brother Mandawuy Yunupingu; and several artist sisters, including Nyapanyapa Yunupingu and Nancy Gaymala Yunupingu.

Galarrwuy Yunupingu attended the Mission School at Yirrkala in his formative years, and moved to Brisbane to study at the Methodist Bible College for two years, returning to Gove in 1967.

Galarrwuy Yunupingu came to national attention in the late 1960s for his role in the landmark, but unsuccessful Gove Land Rights Case.

Galarrwuy Yunupingu became a prominent leader and strong voice on behalf of Aboriginal people in the Northern Territory and Australia, gaining the respect and admiration from many.

In 1975, Galarrwuy Yunupingu joined the Northern Land Council, the authority appointed under the Aboriginal Land Rights Act 1976 to represent traditional Aboriginal landowners and Aboriginal people.

Galarrwuy Yunupingu was chairman of the NLC from 1977 to 1980, an executive member until 1983 when he was re-elected as chairman.

Galarrwuy Yunupingu has led a number of negotiations with mining and government bodies.

In 1988, Galarrwuy Yunupingu and Wenten Rubuntja presented prime minister Bob Hawke, who was on a visit to the Northern Territory as part of Bicentennial celebrations, with a statement of Aboriginal political objectives, painted on a 1.2-square-metre sheet of composite wood.

Not opposed to mining in principle, Galarrwuy Yunupingu saw it as a way for Aboriginal people to escape the welfare trap if it is conducted on the traditional owners' terms.

Galarrwuy Yunupingu said: "We will continue to fight for the right to make our own decisions about our own land".

In October 2004, Galarrwuy Yunupingu resigned from his position as chair of the NLC after 23 years in the role and around 28 as a member of the council.

In 2007 Galarrwuy Yunupingu spoke about the need for action in reducing Indigenous poverty.

Galarrwuy Yunupingu still held numerous positions on committees and organisations where he was able to share his wide experience with other Australians and promote the aspirations of his people.

Galarrwuy Yunupingu was a member of the Referendum Council set up in 2015, which led to the Uluru Statement from the Heart in 2017.

In November 2019, it was announced that Galarrwuy Yunupingu would be one of 20 members of the Senior Advisory Group to help co-design the Indigenous voice to government set up by Ken Wyatt, the Minister for Indigenous Australians.

Galarrwuy Yunupingu loved music and helped to guide his brother's band, Yothu Yindi, sometimes singing traditional elements of the band's songs.

Galarrwuy Yunupingu died in the Northern Territory on 3 April 2023, at age 74, after a long illness.

Galarrwuy Yunupingu was survived by two of his four wives, 12 children, including daughter Binmila, and many grand- and great-grandchildren.

Galarrwuy Yunupingu 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.

In 1978 Galarrwuy Yunupingu was named Australian of the Year for his negotiations on the Ranger uranium mine agreement.

Galarrwuy Yunupingu said the award 'would help him to shake off the image of ratbag and radical' and would give him "greater strength as an individual and as a leader".

Galarrwuy Yunupingu said it was a recognition for Aboriginal people as "the indigenous people of this country who must share in its future".

In 1998 Galarrwuy Yunupingu was added to the list of 100 "Australian Living National Treasures" selected by the National Trust of Australia as leaders in society "considered to have a great influence over our environment because of the standards and examples they set".

Galarrwuy Yunupingu was one of three Indigenous Australians, along with Tom Calma and Lowitja O'Donoghue, honoured by Australia Post in the 2017 Legends Commemorative Stamp "Indigenous leaders" series to mark the 50th anniversary of the 1967 referendum.