Ongoing Legacy of Councillor D Marika

Media Release

East Arnhem Regional Council pays tribute to Mr D Marika, a man of great passion, vision and integrity who passed away earlier this week.

Mr D Marika a man who always had community at heart, a strong leader, champion and advocate for his people from the years leading Yirrkala Dhanbul Community Council, to his inspirational leadership as a Councillor and Deputy President of the East Arnhem Regional Council, and Chair of Miwatj Health.

Mr D Marika said himself “I am following my blood.” He followed in the footsteps of his father Mathaman, a warrior, artist, leader and songman.

A man of great dignity, proud of who he was, Mr D Marika’s accomplishments were vast. With the Intervention Mr D Marika recounted in recent months that “I met with Army Major General Chalmers and his senior officers, with other Yolngu leaders, and made an agreement about the Army coming in and not forcing Balanda law on Yolngu culture.”

Last year Mr D Marika continued the long legacy of Yolngu leaders’ call for recognition through Land Rights, calling for the proper recognition of East Arnhem and all other Aboriginal Community Controlled Local Governments across the nation, by the other two levels of government.

Mr D Marika spearheaded the motion put forward on behalf of East Arnhem Regional Council, which received unanimous endorsement by all Councils of the Australian Local Government Association.

Then Deputy President D Marika stated “Council is the arm of the people of East Arnhem Land. We are working to bring empowerment to our Yolngu and Anindilyakwa Yolngu of East Arnhem Land, and look forward to working more with the two ‘Balanda’ western levels of government.”

Till the end Mr Marika was firm in his commitment that “We Yolngu and Balanda are intertwined to make a strong nation of Australia, where the first Australian Yolngu voice is heard.”

Our thoughts and prayers go out to Marrpalawuy, family, community and the East Arnhem Region.

Mr D Marika will be missed. His legacy will go on.

For comment contact:Dale Keehne, CEO, East Arnhem Regional Council, 0458 039 348

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