The Yirrkala Film Project

Documenting the Lives of Aboroginal Australians

A collection of 22 films made by Ian Dunlop over a 30 year period with the Yolngu, the Aboriginal people of northeast Arnhem Land. Yirrkala was an isolated mission station until the coming of a huge bauxite mine in the late 1960s. The impact of the mine on the Yolngu and their response is a major theme of this long-term film project.

Each film stands on its own but each is also part of a rich mosaic. The relationship between people and their clans, ritual, art and land is an intertwining theme. Several major ceremonies are documented.

The importance of the land is ever-present. Despite enormous disruption to their lives, the resilience of the Yolngu and their culture shines through.