Yolngu people

The Yolngu, person in their own tongues, gather the clans of north-eastern Arnhem Land, from Murngin to Gumatj, Rirratjingu and Galpu of the Dangu. Every clan stands in Dhuwa or Yirritja moiety, and marriage, ceremony and country cross between the two halves like breath. Yolngu law lives in songlines, bark paintings, yidaki didgeridoo and the hollow-log memorial poles that carry the dead; Makassan trepangers trading for centuries left words, sails and tobacco in the songs. Mission stations, mining at Nhulunbuy and land-rights law pressed the homelands, but the Yolngu won the first Aboriginal land rights case and run homelands schools, ranger groups and the Garma festival. Yothu Yindi's rock carried Yolngu philosophy to the world, and the moieties still marry the country together. Gumatj rangers patrol the beaches. Rirratjingu dancers open the Garma festival. Makassan words still flavour Yolngu songs. Dhuwa and Yirritja children learn both moieties' law. Garma festival crowds grow yearly.