We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of this Country, paying our respects to Elders past and present. Always was, always will be.

Celebrating the powerful story of Yolŋu’s Sea Rights — Carbon Creative

Indigenous land and sea rights

Australian National Maritime Museum

Celebrating the
powerful story of
Yolŋu’s Sea Rights

Celebrating the powerful story of Yolŋu’s Sea Rights

Australian National Maritime Museum

In 1996, an illegal barramundi fishing camp was discovered at a sacred Aboriginal site of the Yolŋu people of East Arnhem Land. The site was desecrated with rubbish and the severed head of a saltwater crocodile, Baru. Using sacred art to explain their lore and Western law, the Yolŋu won back their land in court, and we helped tell their story.

The brief

Carbon was commissioned by the Australian National Maritime Museum to design the identity and marketing collateral for their exhibition — Gapu-Monuk Saltwater—Journey to Sea Country. The exhibition was a celebration of the story of the Yolŋu people and their fight for recognition of Indigenous Sea Rights in the Blue Mud Bay Legal Case 1998–2008.

The good

Taking a story-led approach, Bäru, the Ancestral Crocodile was shaped into the shoreline where the land meets the sea in beautiful Yilpara. Carbon travelled onto country, where we filmed a promotional video and photographed intimate portraits of Djambawa Marawili, one of the Yolŋu Elders responsible for the incredible bark paintings that helped tell their story to the outside world.

The impact

The more Australians who know about the Yolŋu story and their battle for land and sea rights, the better.

We helped tell the story of the Yolŋu who won a historic Sea Rights case in the High Court.

creative

The Ancestral Crocodile was significant to this Sea Rights story; so we shaped it into the shoreline where the land meets the water.

photography

Candid and intimate photography gives the viewer a glimpse of this beautiful country and its people.

Bäru, the Ancestral Crocodile was shaped into the shoreline where the land meets the water in beautiful Yilpara.

collateral

A range of collateral was created to promote the exhibition, including signage, posters, press ads and brochures.

The more Australians who know about the Yolŋu case, the better.

Carbon Creative was started in 2006 by proud Birri and Guugu Yimidhirr man, Wayne Denning. We believe in lots of things — diversity, equity, inclusion and impact to name just a few — but most of all we believe in the power of ideas to do good.

We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the land on which we work, the Yuggera and Turrbal people of Meanjin, and all First Peoples across this land. We celebrate their enduring connection to land, sea and sky and honour their wisdom, paying our respects to Elders past and present. Always Was, Always Will Be.

As part of the B Corp community we're committed to 'benefit for all'. That means having purpose beyond profit, and being held to a globally recognised standard of social and environmental performance, accountability and transparency.

Contact

p. +61 7 3136 2524

e. [email protected]

Carbon Creative © 2024
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