Elders tell Tony Abbott to take the lead on constitutional recognition

SENIOR Yolngu clan leaders will ask Tony Abbott to take up the cause of inspiring the nation to support constitutional recognition.

Djawa Yunupingu, Djambawa Marawili, Galarrwuy Yunupingu, Barayuwa Mununggurr and Wukun Wanambi at Yirrkala. Picture: Amos Aikman

A GROUP of senior Yolngu clan leaders will ask Tony Abbott to take up the cause of inspiring the nation to support constitutional recognition, to prevent “more losses” from Aboriginal people who have “already lost too much”, and to begin a new ­engagement.

The group, representing at least six clan nations including the Gumatj clan headed by Galarrwuy Yunupingu, the most powerful figure in Arnhem Land, has resolved to ask the Prime Minister for a simple debate leading directly to a referendum to recognise and protect traditional Yolngu ways of life and to strengthen traditional cultural authority.

The message is expected to be spoken first in Yolngu Matha, in a speech to be delivered by Mr Yunupingu’s brother, Djawa ­Yunupingu, in front of Mr ­Abbott and a large group of Yolngu elders, known as Dilak, soon after Mr Abbott arrives ­tomorrow for a week-long stay in Arnhem Land.

“We expect that by being given recognition we will also be given protection from losing anything more,” Djawa Yunupingu will say, according to a copy of the speech obtained by The Weekend Australian.

“We will not accept any more losses as Aboriginal people have already lost too much, Prime Minister. The recognition that we seek must assure us that our lands, our culture and our people are secure within the nation.”

Djawa Yunupingu will also distance these Yolngu leaders from calls for explicit prevention of racial discrimination in the main body of the Constitution. “We hate racial discrimination, but this is not our immediate ­priority,” he will say.

“We accept that this is a continuing discussion with all Australians who feel the pain of discrimination, but we say that it should be separate to our work on recognition.”

Mr Abbott is due to spend a week in Arnhem Land as part of an election commitment to spend a week every year in an ­indigenous community.

Attending Garma Festival last year, the then opposition leader asked Galarrwuy Yunupingu to host his first visit as prime minister.

Galarrwuy Yunupingu, who is experiencing ill-health, has been involved in the production of his brother Djawa’s speech, but has not thus far himself ­spoken publicly.

He joined members of the six-clan group on Thursday night on the beach at Yirrkala to reflect on their discussions.

The group represented almost half the 13 Yolngu clans. Senior figures from other clans approached by The Weekend Australian were still considering their views on constitutional recognition.

Arnhem Land was the source of the famous Bark Petition, which prompted the land rights movement.

The Barunga Statement, handed to former prime minister Bob Hawke in 1988 at the Barunga Festival in the Katherine ­region, led to talks about a treaty with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people that ultimately failed.

That failure was memorialised and conveyed to the world by the band Yothu Yindi, from northeast Arnhem Land, in their song Treaty.

In his speech, Djawa Yunupingu will make clear that, while the Yolngu understand a referendum cannot solve all their problems, they expect constitutional recognition to pave the way for further debate about other matters.

“For us it is not just a moment in time; it is the start of a new ­future,” he will say.

The Yolngu clans are seeking a stronger role in national discussions for their Dilak, respected elders who have proven themselves and who hold traditional authority.

Djawa Yunupingu will ask the Prime Minister to “find the way to bring Aboriginal people into the national debate”.