‘We will remember him for being a giant’: Yuendumu elder and ‘land rights champion’ dies

CENTRAL Australian Aboriginal elder and land rights activist Jakamarra Nelson sadly passed away on the weekend

Jakamarra Nelson passed away on country, in Yuendumu, on the weekend.

• Yuendumu elder Jagamara Nelson calls on NT and Federal politicians to make positive difference

CENTRAL Australian Aboriginal elder and land rights activist Jakamarra Nelson died on Sunday night in Yuendumu.

Mr Nelson had been an executive member and long-term delegate of the Central Land Council (CLC).

He was hailed by CLC chief executive Joe Martin-Jard as “a land rights champion of the first hour (who) commanded enormous respect.”

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“He worked as a Warlpiri interpreter during the early land council meetings and represented his community of Yuendumu on the council since 1988,” Mr Martin-Jard said.

“He was a thorough gentleman who walked with ease in two worlds. We will all miss his wisdom and his humour.”

Mr Nelson was a strong proponent of Aboriginal-led economic development.

He served on the advisory committee of the Aboriginal Benefits Account and as a director of Yuendumu’s Yapa-Kurlangu Ngurrara Aboriginal Corporation.

passed away on country, in Yuendumu, on the weekend.

Anti-domestic violence activist Charlie King said it was Mr Nelson who inspired the name for “No More”, the awareness campaign that works with sporting clubs to reduce family violence.

When Mr King spoke with a group of Yuendumu men in 2006 about the shocking rates of domestic violence in the Territory, Mr Nelson responded by waving his finger, saying “No more. No more.”

“How powerful is that? I still see it in my mind’s eye now,” Mr King said.

“We will remember him for being a giant.”

Mr King is now working on establishing an award in Mr Nelson’s name.

The award would recognise outstanding work in the fight against domestic and family violence.

Mr King said he hoped the award could be incorporated into the annual NAIDOC Awards.

Mr Nelson was born on Mount Doreen Station.

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He was six when his family was moved to Yuendumu, a welfare ration depot, around 1946. He was the fifth of nine children.

Mr Nelson completed a mechanic apprenticeship then attended teachers college in Darwin.

He returned to the school in Yuendumu to became one of the first Aboriginal teachers in Central Australia.

After five years teaching, he joined the Department of Aboriginal Affairs to support the outstation movement as an assistant community adviser.