“[ founding member] Witiyana Marika and I sat on this beautiful beach,which was part of his homeland,and he taught me about why it is that Yolngu people are born to be creative and express their culture through creativity,” says Johnston,who spoke to Marika as a two-part special showcasing the internationally renowned creativity of the Yolngu people of East Arnhem Land.
Science reporter Rae Johnston travelled to East Arnhem Land to showcase the Yolngu people in a special two-part episode of Back Roads.Supplied
“We’ve got so many incredible artists that come from this tiny part of the country – and Yothu Yindi and – it just seems to be an area that creates superstars.”
Johnston,a Wiradjuri woman from Darug and Gundungurra Country in the Blue Mountains,was visiting East Arnhem Land for the first time.
“It’s always a privilege to be welcomed onto someone else’s Country,” she says.“There are a lot more similarities than there are differences between First Nations people across the continent,and it was a beautiful experience to dance in the bungul.”
The sunset concert was courtesy of the,the seven-piece funk and reggae outfit that wowed Sydney’s 2023 South By Southwest festival. From actor Sean Mununggurr (,Yolngu Boy),Johnston learnt of some of the tougher aspects of living remotely.
Back Roads presenter Rae Johnston strikes a pose with model Roman Mununggurr.Supplied
“Sean Mununggurr has carved himself a fantastic acting career,” says Johnston. “Before that,he was on a destructive path,which we talk about on the program. I’m grateful that he trusted us to share his story. He’s hoping that will be inspiration for any other Yolngu boys that are on a downward path.”
The “highly organised” Johnston had to let go of any notion of a schedule in the unpredictable environment,where a four-hour drive over dirt roads followed by a wobbly light-plane ride was necessary to get to the Galiwin’ku community on Elcho Island,where the Learning on Country program teaches Yolngu children about culture – and where getting bogged is part of the deal.
“I don’t think it’s aBack Roads shoot unless you end up churning a car into the sand somewhere!” she says. Whether collecting Pandanas leaves for weaving,surveying conservation efforts,or meeting Yolngu children who competed at the VEX World Robotics Championships in Dallas,Texas,Johnston was able to indulge her first love:science.
“There’s always science in everything I do,” she says. “It might not be the most obvious science through a Western lens. The art,in particular,that you see by Yolngu people is a way of communicating science.
“First Nations people across the world,we learn about science through dance,art,song … Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island people are the world’s first scientists and technologists. So filmingBack Roads was not a huge departure from my everyday reporting.”
Back in Gapuwiyak,“one of the first centres of art trade in the country”,Johnston was roped into modelling local artists’ fibre garments that have been shown at New York Fashion Week,alongside an Indigenous Fashion Projects discovery,model Roman Mununggurr.
“There are some beautiful people in Yolngu,” says Johnston. “So it’s no surprise that people like Roman have been able to make a name for themselves on the catwalk.” No matter how famous or well travelled,Johnston says Yolngu people always return home.
“You will see Yolngu people killing it on the world stage,” she says. “They might spend time in the major cities,in Sydney or Melbourne. People like[Wentworth actor Rarriwuy Hick],who’s a good friend of mine,you will see her doing the most incredible things and then she goes home and she’s part of the family.
“Success is celebrated. I didn’t witness any Tall Poppy behaviour up there. It’s like,‘Yeah! You’re making it. Good on you,you’re bringing everyone with you.’ It’s that kind of attitude,it’s really beautiful.”
Back Roads:East Arnhem Land two-part special begins on Tuesday at 8pm on the ABC.
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