Rirratjingu Aboriginal Corporation
OUR FOREFATHERS WERE PIONEERS OF ABORIGINAL LAND RIGHTS,
AND WE LIVE THEIR LEGACY EVERY DAY…
The Rirratjingu Aboriginal Corporation (RAC) was established in 1984 to represent the Rirratjingu clan, as Indigenous Traditional Owners of lands on the Gove Peninsula in North East Arnhem, Northern Territory.
As one of Australia’s largest and most sophisticated Indigenous corporations, RAC manage numerous successful commercial enterprises. Our investment in these commercial initiatives is designed to ensure financial independence and sustainability over future generations.
Astute governance and a strong commercial focus provide the foundation for the delivery of services to our members today and into the future. Numerous charitable initiatives underline our service delivery model for members today while our Future Fund Charitable Payments Reserve is designed to ensure our services are sustainable through future generations to come.
Our Purpose
Our pursuit of financial independence, today and into the future, supports our core purpose – to deliver a range of charitable activities that are designed to alleviate poverty, improve health, promote education, improve employment participation, and prepare our emerging leaders while encouraging participation in sport, music, cultural awareness and more amongst our Rirratjingu people.
Our resolve is dedicated to closing the gap on living standards and life opportunities for our people.
55,000 Years as
Traditional Owners
The Rirratjingu clan belong to the Yolŋu people of Miwatj (which translates to ‘land of the first sunrise‘ in Yolŋu tongue, meaning North East Arnhem Land).
Our Yolŋu culture is among the oldest living cultures on earth and our ancestors have lived and flourished on our lands for 55,000 years. Today, our Rirratjingu people live in North East Arnhem Land around Nhulunbuy and Yirrkala regions.
Rirratjingu at the forefront of
Australia’s Land Rights
The dedication of our ancestors, demonstrated through the Yirrkala Bark Petitions in 1963 and the Milirrpum vs. Nabalco case in 1971, culminated in the enactment of the Aboriginal Land Rights Act (Northern Territory) in 1976 by the federal government.
This historic legislation marked the first time in Australia’s history that Indigenous peoples were granted the ability to assert land rights based on traditional ownership.
Through the years many Rirratjingu leaders have been acknowledged and celebrated across the country for their significant contribution to land rights, music and services to Australia and fellow citizens.
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