Galarrwuy Yunupingu

Galarrwuy Yunupingu AM ( * June 30, 1948 at Gunyangara, Arnhem Land, Northern Territory, Australia ) is an Elder of the Gumatj, a clan of the Yolngu. He is an outstanding politician of the Aborigines in the Northern Territory, who advocated particularly in the 1970s and 1980s for the land rights of Aborigines. In the 1990s, he was a singer, songwriter and guitarist for the rock band Yothu Yindi Aboriginal. He is also a painter.

Life

Early life

About his early life little is known. His father's name was Munggurrawuy Yunupingu and his mother mother Makurrngu, both were Elder. In his early years he heard for the first time with his father 's plans to build a mine near Yirrkala on the traditional Aboriginal land. He went to the mission school in Yirrkala and then he spent two years studying in Brisbane at the Methodist Bible College.

Politician

His father fought since the early 1960s for the land rights of Yolgnu in the discussion on the Gove bauxite mine, which had been built without consultation with the traditional owners. His father painted next to the other Yolngu Bark Petition, which was filed two languages ​​in the Australian Parliament and reached national and international attention. The Aborigines brought their concerns to court where Galarrwuy Yunupingu worked as an interpreter in court. Although the Aboriginal subject, however, were able to reach an agreement on the operation of the mine with the mining entrepreneur. From the year 1975 Galarrwuy Yunupingu worked in the Northern Land Council, where he was chairman from 1977 to 1980; In 1983 he was again Chairman.

Honors

In 1978 the recognition for Australian of the Year. It was recognized his work, which led in 1976 to an agreement with the operator of the Ranger uranium mine and the traditional landowners. In 1985 he was awarded the Order of Australia. Galarrwuy Yunupingu is one of 100 Australian Living National Treasures, designated by the National Trust of Australia as a significant and leading personalities of the Australian society.

Musician

In the 1990s he was a member of the rock band Yothu Yindi Aboriginal. In the band, he was a singer, guitarist and songwriter and the album Tribal Voice (1992 ), Freedom ( 1993), Birrkuta ( White Honey ) (1996) and One Blood (1998) involved.

Late life

In the late 1990s he retired from political life. He began with the reconstruction of a cattle station on which he gave 15 young Aboriginal employment. In 2007, he also returned as a politician and criticized considerations of the government of John Howard to the enactment of laws that distinguish his opinion between races. Today ( 2013) he lives in Yirrkala and is active on several committees and organizations.