The Endangered languages of Makarraṯa

Researchers from the First Nations Sovereignty and Diplomacy Centre and the Northern Institute have recently completed a project called the Endangered Languages of Makarraṯa (2022-2026).

Makarraṯa is a set of ancient Yolŋu ritual practices in which groups of Yolŋu would come together to resolve particular serious conflicts, in order to prevent ongoing revenge bloodshed.

Today the word Makarraṯa has been used in wider Australia to refer to various sorts of treaty processes, so this project was set up to record stories from Yolŋu elders to set the Yolŋu story straight.

The work was funded by The Australian Governments’ Indigenous Languages and Arts program and designed for Yolŋu knowledge authorities to tell important Makarraṯa stories, in their own ancestral languages, using their own key concepts.

The project was led by Gawura Waṉambi, Ḻirrpiya Munuŋgurr, and Yasunori Hayashi to explore the history, language and practices of Makarraṯa while key senior knowledge authorities were still alive.  It involved travel to six different places where the Makarraṯa conflict resolution rituals had taken place, and to several other places to record histories of conflicts which were not resolved by Makarraṯa. The places include Gaṯtji, Baryunda, Wärrawurr, Biranybirany, Gurka’wuy, and three sites at Yurrwi (Milingimbi).

Elders told stories in each place about what had happened there. Ben Ward recorded and edited the videos. Then many Yolŋu and balanda were involved in transcription, translation and analysis of the stories, and making booklets and uploading videos to be kept under the authority of local elders.  The difficult concepts, practices and language involved in this work will be shared in the relevant clan groups into the future.

Key Yolŋu who were involved included George Milaypuma, Lily Roy, Alfred Walpay, Yangipuy Waṉambi, Ḻulparr Waṉambi, Wäka Munuŋgurr, Larritjpira Munuŋgurr, Gupa**** Wunuŋmurra, Marayala Yunupiŋu, Wulwurr Yunupiŋu, Jonathan Djapinybuy, Malŋumba Guyula, Jackie Minbirik, Paul Moldhu, Jackie Ŋuluwiḏi, Peter Girirrkirirr, Bobby Marralinya, Djalpaṯ Waṉambi, Dhutpirrŋa Waṉambi, Marikuku Wirrpanda, Damien Guyula, Bronson Dhamarrandji, Wesley Dhamarrandji, James Garmu, Joy Bulkanhawuy, Brenda Muthamuluwuy and Janelle Guyirkuyir.

Now the funding for the project has finished, we are negotiating with elders ways of sharing the knowledge of Yolŋu peacemaking with people throughout Australia who are interested in Makarraṯa, and have often heard the word, but who don’t know the true old stories behind the ancient Yolŋu rituals of conflict resolution.

Photo credits:

Fig. 1 Makarraṯa at Milingimbi 1920s, photo by WL Warner, permission George Milaypuma

Fig. 2 Makin’ (Makarraṯa) site at Baryunda. Photo Yasunori Hayashi

For further information contact: yolngustudies@cdu.edu.au