The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, has led the tributes to Yolŋu leader Yunupingu at a public memorial in remote north-east Arnhem Land on Thursday, describing the revered elder as an “extraordinary Australian, who understood if you want to make your voice count you have to make sure that it is heard”.
Albanese travelled to Yunupingu’s homeland of Gunyangara to deliver what he called “a eulogy for a giant”. The service was also attended by the minister for Indigenous Australians, Linda Burney, opposition leader, Peter Dutton, US ambassador to Australia, Caroline Kennedy, and other dignitaries.
Yunupingu died in April after a long illness.
Thursday’s public service followed six days of private funerary ceremonies to honour the Gumatj clan leader, led by senior Yolŋu people with responsibility for ensuring Yunupingu was properly “sent on the next stage of his life’s journey”, according to a statement from his family.
Albanese said he was honoured to be at Gunyangara, where “the reminders of all he believed in and all that mattered to him are all around us, the profound cultural, political, social and economic legacies of a leader”.
“Of a statesman. A painter, dancer, singer and musician. Australian of the Year in 1978. Member of the Order of Australia. A national treasure. A remarkable member of a remarkable family,” he said.
Yunupingu was a strong supporter of the Uluru statement from the heart, a document Albanese described as “a masterclass of concise and unifying eloquence”.
“Now Yunupingu is gone, but the gurtha – the great tongue of flame and truth with which he spoke to us – is still here. And it lights the path ahead for us. We will never again hear his voice anew, but his words – and his legacy – will keep speaking to us.
“The finest tribute we can offer to his memory is within our grasp,” Albanese said.
Yunupingu was born at Gunyangara on the Gove peninsula in north-east Arnhem Land, into the Gumatj clan of the Yolŋu people, and into a family of highly accomplished Yolŋu cultural ambassadors and activists.
As a young man, Yunupingu helped create the first bark petition presented to the Australian parliament in 1963, a call for land rights and a protest against mining on Yolŋu land.
In his 20s, Yunupingu was elected chair of the Northern Land Council (NLC) in 1977, and served eight terms – almost 25 years.
He was a formidable negotiator in talks with mining companies, politicians and governments to protect the rights of Aboriginal people.
“The NLC owes Yunupingu a debt that can never be repaid,” its current chair, Samuel Bush-Blanasi said. “His history is our history. As chair of the NLC Yunupingu was a true diplomat, a courageous leader, and a man of great vision.”
Yunupingu’s daughter Binmila delivered an emotional tribute, saying her father was a fierce leader.
“When he meant work, he meant it, but to us, to his children, to his grandkids and great-grandkids, he was a gentle giant. So loving, he loved his children, he loved his family and he loved his community,” she said.
She spoke of her father’s distinctive Yulmalil, or tone of voice, as he sang traditional songs.
“The night dad left us and everyone was singing. I cried because I couldn’t hear the tone of his voice – the Yumalil – in their singing. No one will ever replace Dad’s Yumalil.”
His friend, the actor Jack Thompson told the gathering that Yunupingu was now with the ancestors.
“He is now himself the rhythm of life, the balance of the land, the movement of the water, the touch of the sacred wind and the power of the ceremonies – he returns now to his ancestors but he is with us always,” Thompson said.
Yunupingu will be buried in his homeland on Wednesday 24 May in a private ceremony.
