Professor Yalmay Yunupiŋu, Yolŋu educator, Senior Australian of the Year and Indigenous Knowledge Fellow at the University of Melbourne delivered the 2024 Narrm Oration reflecting on the importance of Indigenous peoples remaining strong in their language and cultural practices.
Professor Yunupiŋu is a much loved and respected Yolŋu leader who pioneered and taught bilingual education at Yirrkala Bilingual School for over four decades before retiring in March 2023.
Known benevolently as a bilingual warrior, her Oration titled 'Djambatj Dhukarr – road to excellence' was delivered in the Yolŋu Matha language.
During her life Professor Yunupiŋu has challenged colonial structures of schooling and become a powerful voice for both Indigenous and public education, working tirelessly to secure community control of education.
"Education has impacted my life and I know that bilingual education can positively transform lives" Professor Yunupiŋu said.
"We must make sure that Yolŋu children, and all First Nations children, have the right to learn in, and through, their own languages. These are the languages of Australia."
The Narrm Oration is the University of Melbourne's key address profiling Indigenous leaders from around the world to advance ideas about Indigenous Australia. Narrm is the Woi Wurrung word for the Melbourne region. This year's address was the second time that the Oration was delivered in an Indigenous language, following Akawyan Pakawyan's Oration in 2023.
Professor Yunupiŋu's Oration highlighted her deep and unwavering sense of identity as a Yolŋu Rirratjingu woman and emphasised the significance of and healing inherent in bilingual education which fosters empowerment, unity and identity within communities.
Yolŋu culture and ways of learning, grounded in reciprocity and balance, are woven throughout her career. A key accomplishment which illustrates this is Professor Yunupiŋu's development of the Djambatj Dhukarr teacher exchange program. This involves Yolŋu team teachers visiting a bilingual Melbourne school to learn about wellbeing engagement strategies , providing them with an opportunity to learn about western schooling and share their own culture.
Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Indigenous) Professor Barry Judd hosted the event, and Associate Provost Distinguished Professor Marcia Langton AO provided the response to the Orator. Professor Langton shared her heartfelt thanks to Professor Yunupingu for her unwavering commitment to bilingual education which has been instrumental in the preservation and celebration of Yolŋu language and culture.
While now retired from teaching, Professor Yunupiŋu, a Professor in the Indigenous Knowledge Institute remains tireless in her commitment to her family and community and continues to work in partnership with faculties at the University of Melbourne.
This year's Narrm Oration was held at the David P. Derham Theatre, Melbourne Law School, University of Melbourne, Parkville.
