YOLNGU LEADER TRAVELED 3,000 KM TO DANCE AT GRADUATION
A Yolngu grandfather known as the Morning Star dancer travelled about 3,000 kilometres from Elcho Island to dance at his granddaughter’s graduation.
Gali Yalkarriwuy Gurruwiwi made the trip from Galiwin’ku in north-east Arnhem Land to Worawa Aboriginal College in Healesville, Victoria, for his granddaughter Sasha’s Year 10 graduation in 2015, ABC reported on December 12, 2015.
“It was his dream, to dance with his granddaughters here,” Gali’s English-speaking wife, Jane Garrutju, told ABC.
Gali was a Yolngu Mala leader, and the dance he brought to the school grounds suited the title.
The dance
The performance was called Lunggurrma, which means “north wind.” It featured a feathered Banumbirr, also known as a morning star pole.
Gali performed in a special group dance with two of his granddaughters. He insisted on taking part even though he felt unwell that morning, ABC reported.
He was clear about what the day meant to him. “I am proud of my grandchildren, Sasha and Alicia, I am proud that this college was taken care of and that they got a good education,” Gali said in the ABC report.
Dancing with her grandfather was nothing new for Sasha, Sunny Skyz reported. “When visitors come to Elcho Island my grandfather always dances, and all the grandchildren dance with him,” she said.
This time was different. “I always love to dance with my grandparents. This was a bit unique,” Sasha said.
Two worlds, one family
Sasha had been boarding at Worawa for two and a half years before the ceremony. Jane said the family sent her there to give her the chance to be anything she wanted.
Gali had a hand in that, too. “[Gali’s] very strong in teaching his grandchildren to cling on to their values, to be able to balance Western culture and our culture,” Jane said.
Sasha said she walked proudly in both worlds.
Worawa was founded by Hyllus Maris to educate Indigenous young people in ways that celebrate their culture and past while supporting their future, ABC reported.
The graduation dance went on to find a huge audience. Carriageworks said the footage was recorded in 2015 and was the most popular video screened on ABC that year.
What happened next
Sasha had big plans after Worawa. She intended to finish Years 11 and 12 at Clontarf Aboriginal College in Western Australia and hoped to become a nurse, working in her community and in Melbourne, Sunny Skyz reported.
Power of Positivity reported that Gali died in 2020 at about 80 years old.
