Madarrpa Funeral at Gurkawuy

In 1976 Ian Dunlop was invited by Dundiwuy Wanambi a leader of the Marrakulu clan to Gurkawuy on Trial Bay in the Gulf of Carpentaria He wanted Film Australia to record the first major Marrakulu ceremony to be held at Gurkawuy since its recent establishment as a clan settlement While they were there a baby boy died The Madarrpa men including the childs father and Dundiwuy asked for the funeral to be filmedMortuary rites of the Yolngu are extremely complex Despite some practical modifications to traditional ceremonies as a result of life on mission stations ritual remains extremely strong