Gurindji Freedom Banners - Mumkurla-nginyi-ma parrngalinyparla - From the darkness into the light

Overview

The banners retell the story of the historic Wave Hill Walk-off in 1966. The ten iconic banners on display tell the Gurindji account of the ‘walk-off’, which was led by Vincent Jurlama Lingiari AM with Gurindji, Ngarinyman, Mudburra, Bilinara and Walpiri workers from Wave Hill Station, located in the Victoria River District on the northern edge of the Tanami Desert. This strike was a response to the unfair working and living conditions for Aboriginal people under the station’s management; Vestey’s Group. Aboriginal workers, at Old Wave Hill Station, were paid less than a quarter of the minimum wage and sometimes only received rations.
Karungkarni Art and Culture Aboriginal Art Corporation are custodians of the banners for the Gurindji people but have an agreement with Charles Darwin University Art Collection to care for the banners temporarily.