Culture College – A Life Changing Experience

During the recent holiday, 23 students and three staff members travelled to North East Arnhem Land to engage in learning with Yolngu people on Country through Culture College. The philosophy of Culture College is that knowledge is held by the Djalkirri (Yolngu foundation), rooted in Country, always present and indestructible, surfacing at the appropriate time to teach and guide before returning to Country. By bringing this layer of knowledge to the forefront, seeds are planted to nurture growth in the hearts of the younger generation.

Over the course of seven days, meaningful experiences planted seeds among the participants.

We had the privilege of meeting Yalmay Yunupiŋu, the 2024 Senior Australian of the Year, who was one of the women healers at our healing ceremony.

Our group also visited the Buku Art Centre, whose artists are currently featured in a major exhibition at the NSW Art Gallery, and we viewed the Yirrkala Church Panels.

Additionally, we toured Macassan Beach and learned about the history of trade and friendship between the Macassans and Yolngu peoples.

We spent three nights at the Dhalinybuy Homeland, a small settlement located on the Cato River. During our stay, members of the local community adopted the girls into their families, assigning them Yolngu skin names and integrating them into the kinship system. On the first evening, as we gathered around the fire beneath the stars, Djakapurra Munyarryun – a founding member of the Bangarra Dance Company – shared with us the story of the Moon and the Morning Star. Each night featured bungul (traditional dancing), during which we learned the Moon and Morning Star dance. Our daytime activities included instruction in ROM (law), Yolngu Matha (language), and Gurrutu (kinship). We also collected materials to create dyes and received weaving lessons. Additionally, we visited the site associated with the Moon and Evening Star story at the local waterhole.

We returned to Gulkula, home of the Gama Festival, for our final evening. Gathering around the fire, we reflected on our experiences with Djapirri Mununggirritj, Executive Director of Culture College, discussing moments that had resonated with us. The following day, we flew back to Sydney all transformed by the experience . As Culture College Director Marcus Mungul Lacey says, ‘Yolngu are the wind in the sails behind Balanda (non-Yolngu), the vessel returning home from this learning journey.’

– Tim Lennon
Director of Indigenous Education

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