We are the first people of our lands. We have lived here across northern Arnhem Land from the beginning. We were many small clans living in our own lands and speaking many different languages.

In the seventies the Australian Government built Ramingining township. They built houses, a store, a school and a clinic for some of us Yolngu.

There are maybe 800 or 1000 people now living in Ramingining township. Other clans are living on the outstations, maybe 400 or 500 hundred people live on those outstations.

Ramingining is in north-east Arnhem Land, Northern Territory, Australia. In the dry season, it is one day’s driving from Darwin. In the wet, you can only get here by small aeroplane. All year round, food and supplies come on the barge.

Still Our Country is a part of the Country suite of projects.

There’s the movie Charlie’s Country. Like our other movie Ten Canoes, Charlie’s Country travelled to the Cannes Film Festival and around the world. The film is about a blackfella called Charlie who tries living our old ways but with whitefella laws. David Gulpilil is the star actor and it was filmed mostly in our country and some in Larrakia country, in Darwin.

Then there’s the feature documentary, Another Country. David Gulpilil tells the story about how we came to be living in Ramingining town together and what it’s like for us trying to live whitefella way.

And there’s this one, Still Our Country, to let you know what it is to be nowadays Yolngu.

Not many whitefellas know our language and too much we have to speak in your language. For this one there’s not much talking. We are going to let you do most of the thinking and decide for yourselves who you think we are.

Made with the generous participation of the Yolngu of Ramininging, in particular:

Bobby Bununggurr, Billy Black, Matthew Dhulumburrka, Dick Yambal, Peter Minygululu, Terry Gurralpa, Michael Dawu Gurralpa, Rose Gurralpa, Judy Malmurrunu,Jimmy Djamanba, Peggy Djamanba,
Johnny Buniyira, Frances Djulibing, Jennifer Budukpuduk Gaykamangu, Joseph Smith Gaykamangu,
Martin Gaykamangu, Doris Wanybarrangu, Stan Gaykamangu, Otto Campion, Gerald Yawulkpuy,
Frances Garrawurra, Ronnie Garrawurra, Mary Dhapalany, Jayden Malibirr, Jordan Malibirr,
Robert Yinggerri, Lizzie Durrurrnga, Robyn Djunginy, Clara Malibirr, May, Lisa Gurralpa, Linda Ganyila,
Philip Gudthaykudthay, Roy Burnyila, Gladys Womati and the Gurruwiling Rangers.

A Vertigo Productions, National Film and Sound Archive and
Bula’Bula Arts Aboriginal Corporation Co-Production.

Creative Directors – Molly Reynolds and Mark Eland
Developer – Stew Heckenberg
Cinematography – Matt Nettheim
Still Photography – Mark Eland, Peter McMahon, Matt Nettheim and CJ Taylor
Editor – Tania Nehme
Sound Design and Recording – James Currie and Tom Heuzenroeder
Producers – Peter Djigirr, Rolf de Heer, Molly Reynolds
Associate Producers – Cathy Gallagher and Alicia Brescianini
Production Accountant – Mark Kraus
Additional Recording – Josh Williams
Music composed by Joff Bush, Ack Kinmonth, Graham Tardif and Gerald Yawulkpuy

With acknowledgement to the Yolngu musicians and dancers whose talents are infused throughout.

National Film and Sound Archive

David Boden, Nina Frykberg, Michael Loebenstein, Amanda McCormack,
James Backhouse, Kylie Doherty, Rebecca Williams

 

With appreciation:

Andy Davies, Belle Kha, Airlie Thomas, Sue Murray, Yakov Bar-Lev, Ian Felsinger, Peter and Delmar Jones,
Zoe Malone, Ashleigh Meyerson, Rose Mitchell, Maureen van Heusden, Ben Wallace, Richard Trudgen and
Domenico Procacci.

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©2015 Vertigo Productions Pty Ltd

This is a study guide for all teachers, students and anyone who would like to learn about us,
the Yolngu people of Ramingining.

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Still Our Country Study Guide PDF