Summary

Groote Eylandt is the largest island in the Gulf of Carpentaria in northeastern Australia. It lies approximately 640 km east south east of Darwin and 50 km off the Arnhem Land coast, and was named by Dutch explorer, Abel Tasman in 1644. The traditional owners of this region are the Warnindilyakwa people who have occupied Groote Eylandt for about eight thousand years, and the Nunggubuyu. Collectively these two groups are referred to as the Anindilyakwa people and their language, Anindilyakwa is thought to be one of the most ancient languages in Australia. Traditional cultural practices including ceremonial participation have been maintained and are an important part of their life. There are two Indigenous communities on Groote Eylandt: Angurugu and Umbakumba. The natural environment of the Groote Eylandt archipelago is diverse and unique: including pristine beaches, open woodland, rainforest, red sand dunes, a marine environment with unspoiled reef systems and abundant marine life. There is also rock art thousands of years old. Since 1976, the Anindilyakwa people have had inaliable free hold title to the islands of the archipelago and would like to secure Sea Rights as well which would secure the survival of the reincarnationist culture and the many sacred sites. In 2006, the Groote Eylandt archipelago was declared an Indigenous Protected Area.
For more information see:
www.anindilyakwa.com.au/

Related entries

Archival resources

National Centre for Indigenous Genomics

• Correspondence, 1991, XB5-01; National Centre for Indigenous Genomics. Details
• Correspondence and Study Proposal, 1991 - 1993, 06A-02; National Centre for Indigenous Genomics. Details
• Correspondence, Maps of family relationships, Manuscript, Layout of Samples in Storage and Lists of Study Participants, 1991 - 1992, 02D-52; National Centre for Indigenous Genomics. Details
• Correspondence, Reprints and Names of Study Participants,, 1989 - 1994, XB5-11; National Centre for Indigenous Genomics. Details
• Draft Manuscript, - 1971, 02D-26; National Centre for Indigenous Genomics. Details
• Field Notes and Survey Results, 1968, 02D-11; National Centre for Indigenous Genomics. Details
• Field Notes and Survey Results, 1968, 02D-11; National Centre for Indigenous Genomics. Details
• Genealogies, 1969, 06A-09; National Centre for Indigenous Genomics. Details
• Kinship Systems, 1962 - 1966, 06A-06; National Centre for Indigenous Genomics. Details
• Laboratory Results, 1984 - 1996, LAB-03; National Centre for Indigenous Genomics. Details
• Laboratory workbook, 1969, Lab-01-018; National Centre for Indigenous Genomics. Details
• Serology Results, 02D-09; National Centre for Indigenous Genomics. Details
• Serology Results, 1968, 02D-08; National Centre for Indigenous Genomics. Details