Malarndirri McCarthy (NT, Australian Labor Party, Assistant Minister for Indigenous Australians) Share this | Hansard source

Firstly, I think it's really important that you recognise that there's no disrespect meant here. When my colleague said that this is what he wants to learn about, that was said in all honesty. Many of my colleagues don't know all the details and the ins and outs that you and I do in terms of First Nations families and culture. I certainly try to give as much experience as I can from my lived experience, but I also know that they have to learn from others—from the Yolngu, from the Warlpiri, your people down there, from the Nunggubuyu and all the mobs at Wadeye and at Tiwi. These are the areas that my colleagues on this side wouldn't know all about. So there's certainly no disrespect intended. I want to point that out from the outset. I think that was a very honest answer from Minister Watt.

In terms of makarrata, it is the Yolngu who have really, through the Dhuwa and the Yirritja system, given us a great deal of knowledge and wisdom in walking this journey to get to this point. You were there with the farewell for Yunupingu. Makarrata—and we have a different name for it in our language—is certainly about the coming together. I know you know this, but I think it's important while we're putting things on Hansard. It is the coming together after having had some kind of conflict or tension to bring about peace, to reach common ground, and that's really why we use the term 'makarrata' under the good grace of the Yolngu.