Photos from the REAL Australia

Northern, Central and Southern Arnhem Land

The island communities of Milingimbi and Elcho Island (Galiwin'ku) are home to people who collectively are called "Yolngu" and speak the related clan languages Gupapuyngu and Djambarrpuyngu. They are related to the people of the mainland of north eastern Arnhem Land, where the community of Yirrkala, near the mining town of Nhulunbuy (Gove) is the best known.

This is a land where traditional life is still well and truly flourishing but where the Yolngu (Aboriginal) people are happy to share their culture with the outside world, as exemplified by dance groups that perform overseas and the famous band Yothu Yindi from the north eastern Gove peninsula, combining contemporary music with ancient chants and dances.

Arnhem Land, the huge Aboriginal Reserve at the Top End of the Northern Territory is home to people speaking a large number of different languages but often people are able to speak and understand often as many as five; and in Arnhem Land many of those languages are very different from each other. For example, in the far south of Arnhem Land, in the small communities of Bulman and Weemol, are speakers of Ngalkbon (or Dalabon), Rembarrnga and, because of links with Beswick and Barunga communities further south, Jawoyn as well.

Although no longer completely isolated because of (rough) roads, airstrips and solar powered telephones, people still live according to their traditions: ceremonies are still very important. Outside visitors are rare, as permits are required and transportation overland is by four wheel drive only. A rough bush road leads from Bulman, in southern Arnhem Land, north to Ramingining, a community in northern Arnhem Land, about 50 km from Milingimbi. This is where the film "Ten Canoes", depicting life in the old days, was made.

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Connair DC-3	Milingimbi Island	Galiwin'ku, Elcho Island	Old church, Elcho	Traditional "Ranggas"
Billabong, Elcho Island	Paperbark trees	Elcho Island coast	Women of Elcho Island	On the beach, Milingimbi
Milingimbi children	Card game	Houses on the beach	Children playing	Mainoru river
Going hunting	Pandanus, Momob	Mularrmuli billabong	Fishing near Weemol	Weemol spring
In central Arnhem Land	Taking a break	Arnhem Land transport	Bush track	Ramingining store
Bulman River	Milingimbi	Children on the beach	Milingimbi beach	Children in Milingimbi
Playing cards	Drinking kava	Decorated grave	Weemol	Trampoline, Bulman

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