This speech was delivered by Senator Malarndirri McCarthy, federal Minister for Indigenous Australians, at the 26th annual Garma Festival in Gulkula, Northern Territory, Saturday, August 1, 2026.

Bajinda yamalu yinda ngarna Yanyuwa li antha wirriyarra.

I want to pay my respects as a Yanyuwa Garrwa person to the Traditional Owners of this land.

And recognise how significant this weekend is.

From my heart to the Elders here.

Djambawa, to see you there with Djawa, Witiyana, all the Rirratjingu mob, first time, and Barayuwa, to see Laynhapuy mob here, together.

Yo, Bukmak.

That has really deep meaning, to those who have come for the first time, to see all the clans come together.

Not only as a Yanyuwa Garrwa woman, but also as the Minister for Indigenous Australians in this country.

It isn't easy to walk that road as a Minister, but also being conscious of the differences with all our clans.

Not just here in North East Arnhem Land, but right around Australia.

I pay my respects to all First Nations people.

And to all who really want to learn and understand the true richness of our culture in this country.

But also, the deep embrace that we provide to all people.

Irrespective of how they treat us.

Fifty years ago, so many things were happening and it was stirring right here in North East Arnhem Land when the Yolŋu leaders began the push for land rights.

Before fifty years ago, really.

The fifty years ago is actually the establishment of the Aboriginal Land Rights Act Northern Territory by the Commonwealth.

But that struggle began long before that fifty years.

So, it is important, the message of coming together here, of listening to the four land councils.

The Northern Land Council, the Central Land Council, Anindilyakwa Land Council, the Tiwi Land Council.

And to hear the aspirations of North East Arnhem Land, with Djawa's comments in regards to the Dilak Council.

All of this is about showing where First Nations people want to be in Australia today.

To be economic drivers, economic leaders, on Country, with Country, with Sea Country.

Twenty years, Djambawa, the fight for the coastlines.

We know all of this matters.

And it was fifty years ago that the Yanyuwa people, my families, were the first to be tested under the Aboriginal Land Rights Act Northern Territory.

It was the most alien moment.

I was only a little girl, but I remember my grandfathers, my Mimi (grandmother) and my Kurdis (grandfathers), my kujakas (mothers).

All thinking and talking about how they were going to prove they were Yanyuwa and that they belonged to this land around the Borroloola region.

How did they explain that their relationship has been there for thousands of years?

And how could they explain that their sea trading capacity with the Macassans had also been there for hundreds of years as well?

That we exchanged very easily with the people of Macassar.

We learned how to exchange about the canoes.

We taught them about the trees to use for the ropes to make. They taught us about the sails. We showed them where the trepang was.

They would live with us for many, many seasons before they went back. And we would do the same.

It was living in harmony. It was a respect. A respectful relationship.

How did the Yanyuwa explain that in that court? And that courtroom was an old police station. Have a think about that.

And how difficult it was to speak English.

That was fifty years ago.

So, today as we come together at Gulkula and we hear about the need for First Nations people to be empowered in the economy; with education, with health and all of those things that matter.

We have to link arms even more in solidarity and strength.

Yes, we've had our disappointments. There's no two ways about that.

And there's still some really difficult challenges, really tough challenges.

Those high rates of incarceration.

Our state and territory governments across Australia need to recognise how much that really hurts a people.

And suffocates the ability to grow strong in this country.

The removal of children in out of home care.

Unless First Nations people are at the table, genuinely at the table and listened to genuinely, these things don't change.

But guess what?

The fierce determination that I have, that the Prime Minister has, that my colleagues in the Cabinet have, and that the caucus has to push for change is just as strong, if not more fierce.

And I'm enormously proud of that.

Because we can't do it alone. Just like the Yolŋu can't do it alone.

We all have to be Bukmak.

We all have to be together.

And in my language, Ngambala Wiji La Wununkgu.

Together we are strong.

Yo, Bauji Barra.

Malarndirri McCarthy is the federal Minister for Indigenous Australians and Senator for the Northern Territory.