ONE OF AUSTRALIAS MOST INFLUENTIAL ABORIGINAL LEADERS DIES

One of Australia’s most influential Aboriginal leaders, Yunupingu, has died aged 74. Credit: Anthony Albanese twitter.

One of Australia’s most influential Aboriginal leaders, Yunupingu, has died aged 74 after a long illness.

The Gumatj clan leader was born in 1948 on Gunyangura, north-east Arnhem Land, and became a prominent Indigenous leader of the past century by advancing Aboriginal rights. 

In 1978, he was named Australian of the Year for his work relating to negotiations over the Ranger Uranium Mine and Kakadu National Park.

Yunupingu was a former long-term chairman of the Northern Land Council, in the Northern Territory.

Yunupingu held significant political sway, with prime ministers from both sides of politics seeking his advice over the decades, including Anthony Albanese at last year's Garma Festival, where the path towards a referendum on a Voice to Parliament was outlined.

Anthony Albanese shared a message on Twitter.

“Yunupingu walked in two worlds with authority, power and grace, and he worked to make them whole — together. He was a leader, a statesman, a great Yolngu man and a great Australian. He now walks in another place, but he has left such great footsteps for us to follow in this one,” he said.

Ngaarda Media sends condolences to his family.