North East Arnhem Land

North East Arnhem Land lies to the east of Darwin in Australia’s Northern Territory, covers approximately 97,000 square kilometres, and has a population of just over 16,000, the vast majority of whom are Aboriginal. The Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act of 1976 recognises the Yolngu people as the owners of this land under Australian law. The Yolngu speak a dozen dialects of a language group known as Yolngu Matha - Yolngu meaning 'person', Yolngu Matha meaning the 'Yolngu tongue'.

Yolngu homelands represent the ancestral land and sea Country of the various Yolngu clans. Homeland communities are based around a family group, they are sacred places, bountiful sources of food, and of diverse and great beauty.

Since Bangarra's inception in 1989, the company has fostered ongoing relationships with Yolngu communities including Yolngu Artists such as Djakapurra Munyarryun, Janet Guypunura Munyarryun, Kathy Balngayngu Marika, Banula Marika and Grant Nundhirribala who have all been pivotal to many Bangarra productions.