Arnhem Land - Homelands

Homelands

Arnhem Land is also renowned for embracing the homeland movement, sometimes referred to as the Outstation movement.

A focus in recent years by governments about the 'viability' of the homelands has caused tensions and uncertainty within the Arnhem Land community.

In September 2008, then Darwin correspondent for The Age, Lindsay Murdoch wrote: "Elders tell of their fears that Yolngu culture and society will not survive if clans cannot continue to live on and access their land through homelands. They warn that if services are cut, many of the 800 people in the Laynhapuy homelands will be forced to move to towns such as Yirrkala on the Gove Peninsula, creating new law and order problems, while those who stay will be severely disadvantaged."

In response to changes made by the Northern Territory government surrounding reduced support for the homelands in 2009, the Indigenous leader Patrick Dodson heavily criticised the Northern Territory Government's controversial new policy on remote Aboriginal communities, describing it as a "die on the vine" plan that will "slowly but surely" kill Indigenous culture.

Born in the 1930s, Dr Gawirrin Gumana AO is a leader of the Dhalwangu clan. He is one of the most senior Yolŋu alive today and is renowned for his artwork and knowledge of traditional culture and law. In May 2009 he had the following to say about the significance of the homelands to his people:

"We want to stay on our own land. We have our culture, we have our law, we have our land rights, we have our painting and carving, we have our stories from our old people, not only my people, but everyone, all Dhuwa and Yirritja, we are not making this up.

I want you to listen to me Government.

I know you have got the money to help our Homelands. But you also know there is money to be made from Aboriginal land.

You should trust me, and you should help us to live here, on our land, for my people.

I am talking for all Yolŋu now.

So if you can't trust me Government, if you can't help me Government, come and shoot me, because I will die here before I let this happen."

Despite facing government concerns and policy confusion, a number of people have developed commercial enterprises that have centred on utilising the best elements of their homelands. Indigenous tourism ventures incorporating the controlled use of homelands are now showing signs of success for a select number of Yolngu.

An example of a homeland based business venture gaining wider recognition is Bawaka located in North Eastern Arnhem Land.