Marrawuddi Arts & Culture

Skip to content
  • About
  • Shop
    • Bark
    • Work on Paper
    • Fibre
    • Sculpture
    • Jewellery
    • Clothing
    • Publications
    • Gift vouchers
    • All artists
  • News
  • Exhibitions
  • Resources
    • Cultural Heritage
    • Dolobbo (bark)
    • Bark Painting: A Cultural Practice
  • Contact
  • Cart

Month: October 2021

Jabiru in Mirarr hands at long last

Posted on October 16, 2021September 21, 2024 by defynsamartsv3
Jabiru in Mirarr hands at long last

Jabiru in Mirarr hands at long last
Aboriginal title secures Jabiru for investment

The Mirarr Traditional Owners are very happy and proud that the long fight for recognition of traditional ownership at Jabiru has culminated in the grant of freehold title under the Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act.“This is a great day for Mirarr people,” said Mirarr Senior Traditional Owner Yvonne Margarula. “The handing back of Jabiru to Mirarr recognises our land rights here and gives us economic independence. We are excited for the future of Jabiru and for the future of all our people,” she said.

The Minister for Indigenous Australians, Hon. Ken Wyatt MP, the Minister for the Environment, Hon. Sussan Ley MP, the Chief Minister of the Northern Territory, Hon. Michael Gunner MLA, and the chairperson of the Northern Land Council, Sammy Bush-Blanasi, joined Mirarr, other traditional owners and the community to celebrate the milestone.

The fight for land rights at Jabiru commenced in 1978 when the town was built on what was then Crown land without the involvement of Traditional Owners. The senior Mirarr elder at the time, Toby Gangale, is the father of today’s Senior Traditional Owner Yvonne Margarula. In 1998, Ms Margarula lodged the Jabiru native title claim which was decided by the Federal Court in 2016 after one of Australia’s longest-running native title matters.

At an early stage, the Mirarr confirmed their wish that Jabiru should become Aboriginal land and have a bright future as the centre for regional services, tourism and for all Kakadu. The Mirarr acknowledge the role of the NT government in providing critical support early by becoming the key partner in Jabiru Kabolkmakmen Ltd in July 2019 (JKL). In August 2019, the Northern Territory government and the Traditional Owners were also joined by the Commonwealth of Australia and the mining company Energy Resources of Australia Ltd in signing the landmark Memorandum of Understanding on the Future of Jabiru and Kakadu. The Mirarr are proud of their leadership in securing this significant commitment to the future of both Jabiru and Kakadu.

“Today marks an historic milestone in the economic transition of Jabiru from a mining economy into a world leading tourism centre, acknowledging, respecting and celebrating local Aboriginal culture. Mirarr look forward to welcoming more people to Jabiru, to experience country and cultural heritage,” said Justin O’Brien, CEO of Gundjeihmi Aboriginal Corporation (GAC). While acknowledging the historic importance of the land grant, Mr O’Brien said the challenges ahead for Jabiru should not be underestimated. “The most significant challenge for Jabiru has been created by ERA., which has failed to engage in a timely manner on the town’s transition. Unfortunately, ERA houses are not ready and there are at least 70 ERA houses now vacant. The performance of ERA and its majority shareholder, Rio Tinto, will be judged in coming months,” Mr O’Brien said.

The cost of ERA’s outstanding housing works at Jabiru is estimated to stand at some $25M, based on condition assessments conducted by the Australian Government in April 2020.

Posted in UncategorizedLeave a Comment on Jabiru in Mirarr hands at long last

Robyn Nabegeyo in Salon De Refusés

Posted on October 16, 2021September 21, 2024 by defynsamartsv3
Robyn Nabegeyo in Salon De Refusés

2020, Ochre on pandanus weaving
130 x 130 cm

“I was born in Darwin. When I was little, I stayed with my mum and dad in Madginbardi. Then, when I was 16/17, I came to Gunbalanya and got married. I’ve been here ever since.

I have been weaving for 22 years. I learned from my great grandmother, my mum’s grandmother. She used to make marebu (mat), big one. I started practising when I was young and tried on marebu, dilly bags and baskets. I wasn’t very good but when I was 20, I started getting better, doing my baskets and dillybags, string bags and floor mats. Old people, long time ago, were painting like this, mimih, djenj (fish), kinga (crocodile) — we call that bim (rock art). I picked up the idea of painting on the dilly bag from the old people. I get the ochre from outstation, Mandedjkadjang, my homeland.”

Posted in UncategorizedLeave a Comment on Robyn Nabegeyo in Salon De Refusés

Alicia Mardday shortlisted to NATSIAA

Posted on October 16, 2021September 21, 2024 by defynsamartsv3
Alicia Mardday shortlisted to NATSIAA

In July 2021 saw Alicia Mardday accepted into 2021’s National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island Awards for her incredible 3D weavings of backpacks.

“I used to make string bag first before, with the feather. My aunty, Ngal bulanj Nabegeyo, she taught me how to weave.

Maybe my kids give me idea, Anita. My kids really love the backpacks weavings. I look at the backpacks my kids have and try weave same pockets. I just used it from my own mind, I get the kala from my partners homeland.

I grew up, Namagardabo outstation. I met my partner Timothy out in Gunbalanya and moved there I moved there in 2001, when my first daughter was born, Anita. I learnt how to weave from my Aunty, Ngal bulanj Nabegeyo. I like going fishing with the kids, collecting pandanus and weaving. I like weaving lots of different things but mostly flowers and backpacks.”

Posted in UncategorizedLeave a Comment on Alicia Mardday shortlisted to NATSIAA

North x Marrawuddi x Injalak Stone Country Collection

Posted on October 6, 2021September 21, 2024 by defynsamartsv3
North x Marrawuddi x Injalak Stone Country Collection

Stone Country, brings together the work of over five artists from West Arnhem Land and Kakadu, representing their rich culture of over 65,000 years. Deriving from Bim (Rock Art), the West Arnhem Collection explores themes of spiritual and ancestral beings from all represented artists’ homelands and Djang (dreaming stories). Their chosen works all communicate traditional painting methods through ochre and Rarrk (crosshatching), complemented by emerging artists work with contemporary ink methods.

A collaboration with Marrawuddi Arts and Culture and Injalak Arts.

See more here.

Posted in UncategorizedLeave a Comment on North x Marrawuddi x Injalak Stone Country Collection

Recent Posts

  • Our Guide to Ethical Indigenous Art
  • The Marrawuddi timeline
  • Jabiru in Mirarr hands at long last
  • Robyn Nabegeyo in Salon De Refusés
  • Alicia Mardday shortlisted to NATSIAA

Recent Comments

No comments to show.

Archives

  • February 2023
  • November 2021
  • October 2021
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • July 2020

Categories

  • Uncategorized

Sign up to our newsletter

"*" indicates required fields

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

This website may contain the names, images, artworks and stories of people who have passed away.

©2025 Gundjeihmi Aboriginal Corporation, Terms & Conditions, Privacy Policy, Sitemap. Site by Defyn Digital.

Gundjeihmi Aboriginal Corporation logo