Beloved elder and tireless advocate Kathleen 'Kathy' Mills has been farewelled by friends and family with readings of her poetry at a ceremony in Darwin.
WARNING: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised that this article contains images and names of people who have died.
The family has granted permission to use her name and image.
The Gurindji, Mudburra and Kungarakan woman, described as a "political backbone" for her people, died in April, aged 86.
"Thank you all for being here for our beloved matriarch," her son Patj Patj Jamama Robert Mills said at the ceremony.
Described as a "genius poet" who wanted to bring people together, one of Dr Mills's many grandchildren — Laniyuk — read a handful of her nanna's poems aloud.
"So my people, don't be the driftwood tossed on a sea of misery, don't be a cardboard cutout effigy, don't be a fleeting memory of our people," Laniyuk said.
Another poem reflected on childhood memories collecting bush tucker in Katherine, where she was born.
"How warm the yam is from the sun on the clay, still sweet from the rain that fell today, plums that swell because it's ripening time, succulent sweet, is this food divine," Laniyuk said.
Her grandson Rudi Adjrun also reflected on his nanna's musical talents, which included penning a song now sung by local school children — Arafura Pearl.
"Every day became a chance to share the love and music of family, to sing songs at performances on stage or a jam session in the backyard," he said.
Dr Mills moved to Darwin from Katherine and helped establish and drive forward countless local Aboriginal organisations.
These included a women's shelter, alcohol rehabilitation service and the Danila Dilba Health Service in Darwin.
She was also the first woman to be elected to the Northern Land Council, a statutory land rights body set up to represent Aboriginal people.
Her nephew, Matthew Bonson, said she had been "touched" by the final draft of the Uluru Statement from the Heart, which he read aloud to her over the phone.
"Her spirit and her aim and her dream was about bringing people together," he said.
"She believed that Aboriginal people have something beautiful to offer, like in the Uluru Statement."
Her daughter June Mills said her mother was inexhaustible until the end.
"I never saw her rest in her whole life," she said.
"She was always working, working towards things.
As if she planned it, performances of a play co-written by Dr Mills called Jarradah Gooragulli — Dance of the Brolgas are due to begin this week in Darwin.
Her former colleague and friend Josie Crawshaw said she believed Dr Mills deserved a state funeral for her contribution to the fabric of the Northern Territory.
"I don't believe there's anyone in Australia, or any Aboriginal person that has been as active as Dr Kathy Mills," she said.
