26 Bäpurru (clans) of North East Arnhem Land
North East Arnhem Land Aboriginal Corporations Members consists of one Dilak of each of the 26 Bäpurru’s of North East Arnhem Land. Aboriginal people have inhabited East Arnhem Land for more than 40,000 years. Yolngu (person) is the name of a group of intermarrying clans who live in the main townships and surrounding homelands, and whose members speak mainly Yolngu Matha but there are different dialects. All of Arnhem Land was proclaimed as an Aboriginal reserve in 1931, the Yolngu people have been recognised as holding native title rights to parts of East Arnhem Land.
Yolngu comprises 26 different Bäpurru (clans), differentiated by the land, languages, and dialects they speak, but generally sharing overall similarities in the ritual life and hunter-gathering economic and cultural lifestyles (each clan members own areas of land and waters). The clan system is an intricate and highly sophisticated means of acknowledging family ties, territorial claims, and other social issues. This provides a continuous and resilient social structure enabling traditional political and cultural practices to be maintained.
Macassan contact
European contact
Clans
Datiwuy
Banbapuy Whitehead Ganambarr
Clan: Datiwuy
Born in 1962
Homeland: Rorruwuy
Gumana
Marrpalawuy Marika
Born in 1955
Homeland: Gangan and Garrapara
Kerry
Wunungmurra
Born in 1975
Homeland: Gurrumuru