Bakamumu Marika AM, senior Rirratjingu clan leader, dies in Arnhem Land
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- Bakamumu Marika AM, a highly respected senior leader of Arnhem Land's Rirratjingu clan and founder of the Rirratjingu Aboriginal Corporation, has died.
- He was recognized for his significant community service and advocacy for Indigenous land rights in north-east Arnhem Land.
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Bakamumu Marika AM was a senior leader of the Rirratjingu clan in Arnhem Land, a founder and patron of the Rirratjingu Aboriginal Corporation, and a steadfast advocate for land rights.
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A highly respected senior leader of Arnhem Land's Rirratjingu clan, Bakamumu Marika AM, has died, the clan group's Aboriginal corporation has announced today.
A spokesperson for the Rirratjingu Aboriginal Corporation (RAC) said the announcement was made "with profound sadness" at the loss of its founder, long-serving chairman and current patron.
Mr Marika was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in 2022 for his significant community service to north-east Arnhem Land.
"As a steadfast advocate for land rights, Mr Marika continued one of the most significant legacies in Australia's Indigenous rights history, honouring and advancing the work of his forefathers," the RAC spokesperson said.
"His commitment to working collectively, guided by Yolŋu values and traditions, strengthened his community and inspired younger generations to take pride in their culture and identity."
The spokesperson said the RAC would "honour Bakamumu Marika's legacy" and "forever be guided by his own words".
"We must continue to strive for a foundation that provides opportunity for our people," Mr Markika is quoted as saying, in the RAC statement.
"I say to you, as my father said to me — 'stand strong like the rock, Mandula'."
