cover story Wukidi ceremony for Dhakiyarr Wirrpanda

On Saturday 29 June, a Wukidi ceremony was held for Dhakiyarr Wirrpanda at the Darwin Supreme Court. This historical act of reconciliation was attended by Chief Justice of Murray Gleeson, Chief Justice of the Brian Martin, Solicitor General, Tom Pauling QC, and a healthy contingent of the local legal profession and the general public.

The first part of the ceremony took decendants (the Yolngu people) place in Liberty Square, outside the made a proposal to Chief Minister Supreme Court, and involved Clare Martin that a Wukidi traditional dancing, singing and ceremony be held in Darwin and music. that Larrakitj poles be erected as a permanent memorial. The ceremony was then taken inside the Supreme Court for the In the letter the Yolngu described ceremonial installation of the the importance of the Wukidi Larrakitj poles (mortuary poles). ceremony.

The aim of the Wukidi ceremony was “We believe that he [Dhakiyarr] to lay the spirit of Dhakiyarr to rest. was shot and his bones are left in The ceremony stems from Garrawan Darwin Harbour. To us Yolngu (Woodah Island) in north east people, these bones are very A member of the McColl family spoke at Arnham Land. important to our rituaI because the the ceremony. bones have grown from the land The idea was conceived and driven and contain the strength of the by the Yolngu people, but NT Solicitor- monument for our children, and their land. Because these bones are in General Tom Pauling QC acted as the children also, to remind them that Darwin, it leaves us feeling empty Program Co-ordinator for the event. this was the last ground our leader without the strength they contain.“ stood upon.” “This is undoubtedly the most powerful act of reconciliation in “This is undoubetedly The Larrakitj poles were prepared Australia ever,” Mr Paulingsaid. and painted by the foremost artists the most powerful act of in the region and hold great spiritual In October last year, Dhakiyarr’s reconciliation in significance to the Yolngu.

Australia ever.” The cover photo is of the ceremonial installation of Larrakitj poles in the “We know that bones are also Supreme Court. important in your culture and you Chief Justice Murray Gleeson will understand. We remeberthat attended the ceremony on behalf of when Constable McColl was killed the High Court, to accept thanks at Woodah Island that his bones from Dhukiyarr’s family. were later collected and taken back to Darwin where they had a big In the spirit of reconciliation, 35 funeral for him. This never members of Constable McColl’s happened for our leader and all we family also attended the ceremony have left of him is a photograph.” and received an apology from Dhakiyarr’s family. “This ceremony will be an act of reconciliation between the After the ceremony, some of the Northern Territory Government and McColl family went to stay with the us, the family of Dhakiyarr Yolngu in north east Arnhem Land. Wirrpanda. We would like the site Dgambawa Maramulli, a representative of of the Wukidi to be a permanent the Yolngu, explains the ceremonial proceedings. memorial to our leader and a

Page 6 — July 2003 Yolngu dancing as part of the Wukidi ceremony

Mistory of Dk Idyarr Wirranda

Dhakiyarr Wirrpanda was a senior Supreme Court, a jury found ceremony man for the Yolngu people, Dhakiyarr guilty and he was from Blue Mud Bay in north east sentenced to death. Arnhem Land. In 1934, Dhakiyarr successfully In the early 1930s he speared appealed to the High Court and had Constable Albert McColl to death in his conviction quashed (TuckiarVThe controversial circumstances. King (1934) 52 CLR 335).

Dhakiyarr came to Darwin to tell his The Administrator of the Northern side of the story and was Territory was told to ensure that subsequently arrested and tried for Dhakiyarr had a safe passage home, murder. but after his release he never made it home and was last seen alive in Tried in the Northern Territory Darwin.

Dgambawa Maramulli, Justice Trevor Riley; Chief Minister Clare Martin, Chief Justice Brian Martin, Wuyal Wirrpanda and Chief Justice Murray Gleeson, outside the Supreme Court.

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