Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described him as a “great Australian”: Galarrwuy Yunupingu died at the age of 74. He defended Aboriginal land rights.
One of the most important representatives of the Australian Aborigines is dead: Galarrwuy Yunupingu, a prominent politician and pioneer in the fight for Aboriginal land rights, died on Monday at the age of 74 in the north-eastern region of Arnhem Land surrounded by his family, Australian broadcaster AAP reported citing the Yothu Yindi Foundation he founded.
Yunupingu, of the Yolngu people, was the chairman of the Northern Land Council (NLC) for more than two decades and advocated respect for the land and certain sacred sites. He was named “Australian of the Year” in 1978, and other honors followed. In 1998 he was included in the list of “Australia’s 100 Greatest Living People”.
Death of Galarrwuy Yunupingu Big loss for Australia
“He was a leader, a statesman, a great Yolngu man and a great Australian,” said Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. He will propose to Yunupingu’s family to honor him with a state funeral. “It is difficult to put into words what this loss means to this country,” said Minister for Indigenous Australia Linda Burney. The Yothu Yindi Foundation referred to him as a “giant of the nation”.
It was only at the end of March that Albanese announced details of the referendum planned for this year on a constitutional amendment that would give the indigenous population a vote in parliament after a long struggle. On the occasion, he also spoke to Yunupingu again, Albanese explained.
The relationship between Australians and the indigenous population is a very sensitive issue. According to the National Museum, Aborigines settled the red continent 65,000 years ago. For many decades following the arrival of the First Fleet at Sydney Cove on 26 January 1788 and the colonization that followed, Aboriginal children were snatched from their parents. To this day, the indigenous people are fighting for the recognition of their land rights.
Source: Stern
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