The Bark Petitions — how Yolngu tradition changed democracy
Feb 18, 2025
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Clare Wright, a Professor of History at La Trobe University and author of "Naku Daruk: The Bark Petitions," dives into a little-known yet pivotal moment in Australian democracy. She shares her experiences living in the Yolngu community and uncovers the significance of the Bark Petitions, where Yolngu people asserted their custodianship over their land through art and language. Clare highlights the transformative effects these petitions had on Indigenous rights, revealing a profound cultural and political awakening that reshaped the narrative of democracy in Australia.
The bark petitions by the Yolngu people marked a significant assertion of Indigenous sovereignty and prompted parliamentary inquiries into Aboriginal rights.
Advocacy by figures like Edgar Wells highlighted the moral urgency of consulting Indigenous communities, paving the way for future recognition of land rights in Australia.
Deep dives
The Bark Petitions and Emerging Sovereignty
In 1963, the Australian federal government granted a lease for a bauxite mine in northeast Arnhem Land, expropriating land that had been designated as an Aboriginal reserve without consulting the local Yolngu people. The Yolngu, seeing themselves as stewards of their ancestral land, submitted beautiful bark petitions framed in traditional art to the Parliament, demanding consultation and compensation for the intrusion. These petitions represented not merely a plea but an assertion of their sovereignty, challenging the prevailing notion that they were wards of the state. Professor Clare Wright asserts that these petitions were a pivotal moment in Australian democracy, symbolizing a turning point in the recognition of Aboriginal rights and governance.
Cultural Intersection and Advocacy
Edgar Wells, the Methodist mission superintendent, played a critical role in advocating for the Yolngu people's interests when he learned of the mining plans. He used his position to raise alarms, contacting politicians and civil rights groups to highlight the injustice of not consulting with the local community. Wells believed in respecting Yolngu traditions and sought to frame the situation in relatable terms for non-Indigenous Australians, likening the mining intrusion to someone invading a home. His advocacy highlighted the moral and ethical dimensions of land rights, setting the stage for greater engagement and raising awareness about the Yolngu struggle.
Political Mobilization and Legislative Impact
The introduction of the bark petitions into Parliament prompted response from politicians such as Kim Beasley Sr. and Gordon Bryant, who were moved by the Yolngu’s plight. They facilitated a visit to Yirrkala to hear firsthand about the grievances and advocated for the Yolngu in the political arena. This resulted in a parliamentary inquiry into the grievances of the Yolngu, making it the first inquiry to involve Aboriginal perspectives in an official capacity. Although subsequent recommendations were ignored, the inquiry planted the seeds for future discussions around native title and Indigenous rights, signaling the beginning of a long journey toward formal recognition.
Cultural Heritage and the Quest for Justice
The bark petitions served as a fusion of art and legal claim, representing both a cultural expression and a demand for recognition and respect. The Yolngu people framed their demands for consultation and compensation not merely as a legal request but as an assertion of their identity and rights as Indigenous sovereigns. The lasting legacy of these petitions has influenced subsequent land rights movements and legislation, culminating in pivotal cases such as Mabo, which led to the recognition of native title in Australia. Clare Wright emphasizes that the Yolngu's efforts were foundational to the evolution of democracy in Australia, challenging narratives built on colonization and urging the broader society to acknowledge the voices and governance of Aboriginal peoples.
Historian, Professor Clare Wright tells the story of a formative moment — before the Mabo decision — in Australia’s democracy that you may not have heard of.
Historian Clare Wright moved her family to Yirrkala in North-East Arnhem land in 2010.
She became a part of the Yolngu community and kept in touch after the family returned to Melbourne.
Little by little, Clare learned about an extraordinary moment in Australian history, when Yolngu people used their artwork and their language, Yolngu Matha to petition the Federal government over a planned bauxite mine on their traditional lands.
The bark petitions were not sent in the traditional sense, pleading up to an authority, but rather asserted Yolngu custodianship of the land, and spoke as equal partners to the Australian government.
This episode of Conversations touches on Indigenous stories, Yolngu, Yirrkala, Australian democracy, the Bark Petitions, Naku Dharuk, Yolngu Matha, mining, the Australian Government, Menzies, Kim Beazley Snr.
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