ICYMI: Aboriginal Man Travelled 3,000 Kilometers To Attend His Granddaughter’s Graduation

An Aboriginal elder from the remote island of Arnhem Land travelled over 3,000 kilometres to join his granddaughter Sasha’s class 10th graduation. Elder Gali Yalkarriwuy Gurruwiwi made this journey in 2015 so that he could celebrate this occasion with his grandaughter by doing a ceremonial dance at the Worawa Aboriginal College in Victoria. The Worawa Aboriginal College was founded by Aboriginal activist Hyllus Maris in 1983. The college aimed at providing education to the aboriginal (indigenous) people of Australia, while also accommodating their traditions. Sasha was sent to the educational institute so that she could get a modern education and have a bright future.

She told ABC News in 2015 that after finishing her school education, she wants to learn how to be a nurse. She said, “I would still love to practice culture and teach people my culture. I also want to be a role model to younger girls and show them that they can do something with their lives and be happy.”

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Gali Yalkarriwuy Gurruwiwi’s wife Jane expressed the man’s sentiment by translating his statements from the traditional language of the Galpu clan into English. She told ABC News that the old man was proud of his granddaughter’s education. Jane added that Gali is very persistent about teaching his young family members about their ancient culture. She said, “Gali’s very strong in teaching his grandchildren to cling on to their values, to be able to balance Western culture and our culture. They need to know who they are, where they come from.”

Gali is a Yolngu Mala leader, also known as the Morning Star dancer. On the day of graduation, he did not feel well but still performed the traditional dance called Lunggurrma, with his granddaughter.

Talking about performing the traditional dance with her grandfather in her college, Sasha said, “When visitors come to Elcho Island my grandfather always dances, and all the grandchildren dance with him. I always love to dance with my grandparents. This was a bit unique.”

She said that she holds a strong connection with her indigenous culture, which was strengthened even more at Worawa Aboriginal College. She said, “I love hunting, looking for oysters and fishing and looking for mangrove worms and dancing traditional, we call it bunggul, that’s what I miss, and telling stories around the campfire,” she says. I speak three Indigenous languages. Going to a boarding school like this, I learnt new Indigenous languages and cultures from different communities as well.”