Yirrkala

Yirrkala is a community in northeast Arnhem Land. As of 2016, its population was 809 people, most of whom are Yolŋu. Although Aboriginal people have lived in Yirrkala throughout history, the town increased in size when the Yirrkala Methodist Mission was founded in 1935. Yirrkala is known for the Yirrkala Church Panels. In 1962, a group of Yolŋu artists (including Narritjin Maymuru, Mawalan Marika, Wandjuk Marika, Mathaman Marika, Larrtjanŋa Ganambarr, Birrikitji Gumana, Gawirriṉ Gumana) planned and painted natural ochres on two Masonite panels. The men depicted the primary ancestors of the Dhuwa and Yirritja moieties, representing the most significant, communal expression of Yolŋu Law produced for public view. Yirrkala is also known for the Yirrkala Bark Petitions, in which nine men and three women (on behalf of the Yolŋu) asked to be heard before the Nabalco mining company was permitted to mine on their land and be consulted before any future agreements. The Petitions were the first documents prepared by Indigenous Australians to be formally recognized by Parliament. Today, Yirrkala is the home of the Yirrkala Community School and the Buku-Larrŋgay Mulka Centre.