Abstract:
In July 2008, at Yirrkala in the Northern Territory, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and his entourage were camped under a marquee on a section of the town park. In the same park were tribal political leaders from across East Arnhem Land, the home of the Yolngu people. Everyone had hoped for sunshine but it was drizzling with rain. At a certain point the tribal leaders walked the distance between the two groups and handed the Prime Minister a petition. Despite the awkwardness of the exchange, the Yolngu people, through their delegated political leaders (the Dalkarramirr and Djirrikaymirr), had just requested Australian federal constitutional recognition of their ‘way of life’.
Details / PDF:
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