Aboriginal Culture

There is considerable disagreement about exactly when the first migrant people crossed the straits between Asia and Australia but there is no doubt that this happened over many thousands of years. This slow immigration of ancient people combined with the difficult conditions for human life on the continent meant that tribal family groups soon became widely spread and developed their own unique cultural imprints. The Northern Territory is home to the largest population of indigenous peoples in Australia and as you cross the state from north to south and east to west the different cultural identities create a fascinating tapestry.

Around Alice Springs

Families living in the far south around Alice Springs were always proud of their dot art representations of the landscapes through which they travelled and you can learn much of this in the museums and galleries in and around the town.

Kakadu & Arnhem Land

In Kakadu and Arnhem Land artists used their skills to interpret the creation stories and left evidence of their work on the walls of ancient caves some of which date back 40,000 years to the dreamtime itself. In between, at Tennant Creek, the nine aboriginal tribes who settled this desert area believed their home belonged to a spiky tailed goanna called Nyinkka and you can see examples of their unique culture at the Nyinkka Nyunyu Art and Culture Centre.

Perhaps one of the most iconic symbols of the aboriginal community is the didjeridu and yet this haunting instrument known as the 'yidaki' by the Yolngu peoples of north eastern Arnhem Land who created it has only recently been shared with outsiders who now make copies from bamboo as opposed to the termite hollowed tree trunks originally used.

Tiwi Islands

80 kilometres north of Darwin lie the Tiwi Islands where, heavily influenced by Polynesia and isolated from the disruption caused by modern settlement the inhabitants have retained a strong connection to their original lifestyle. Tiwi Islanders are famous for their artwork including distinctive silk cloth paintings which are proudly displayed in many galleries and cultural centres, but many visitors come because this is one of the few opportunities to experience the strict family rituals and diet that evolved over thousands of years.