our corporation
As a traditional owner of land on the Gove Peninsula, the Rirratjingu people have a deep and sacred connection to country with our fathers, and their fathers – custodians of the land since time began, some 55,000 years ago. The land holds a profound spiritual significance with our culture intricately intertwined with our identity, belonging, and way of life.
The journey resulting in the establishment of the Rirratjingu Aboriginal Corporation commenced with the government’s intention to allow mining on our lands in the 1960’s. Together with other clans we sent the now famous bark petitions to the Federal Parliament in opposition to mining and declaring our rights to traditional lands.
The protests did not stop the mining, but a parliamentary inquiry recommended compensation and the protection of sacred sites.
The Rirratjingu Aboriginal Corporation (RAC) was founded in 1984 to represent the Rirratjingu people, Indigenous Traditional Owners of land on the Gove Peninsula. The impetus for establishing RAC was to ensure a corporate structure designed to manage the compensation provided through mining royalties from the mine.
We are grateful for the vision and resilience of our forefathers whose dedication to our future resulted in the establishment of the Rirratjingu Aboriginal Corporation. Acknowledged as the father of Indigenous Land Rights in Australia, the late Dadayŋa ‘Roy’ Marika, along with his brothers, set in motion the vision for our people today.
Their purpose in establishing RAC was to ensure the Rirratjingu community were financially self-sufficient. Our focus has remained the provision of benefits and programs to members that are designed to make a genuine difference to their lives.
This purpose remains front and centre today with RAC administering royalties from the mine while building a pathway to sustainability and economic independence through numerous social, cultural, education and employment initiatives. Our corporate objectives are based on the charitable purposes of relieving poverty, destitution, misfortune, disadvantage, distress, dispossession and suffering and to promote the health, education, housing, employment and welfare of the members of the Rirratjingu community.
The Rirratjingu Aboriginal Corporation has grown to be among the largest and most successful Indigenous corporations in Australia. While we acknowledge our responsibilities to impact and enhance the lives of our people today, we remain acutely aware of our future priorities as we prepare for the end of royalties as the mine moves toward closure.
With this in mind the Rirratjingu Aboriginal Corporation has established several commercial subsidiaries designed to build wealth today and into the future. These commercial initiatives support several carefully managed investments as part of RAC’s future fund charitable payments reserve. Our office in Nhulunbuy is the centre of our commercial centre, while our office in Yirrkala continues to deliver a range of programs both in community and across North East Arnhem Land, Northern Territory.
Our Corporate Vision
Our Vision is for a future where our people stand together in a world of harmony, prosperity, and opportunity. A world where our traditional cultural values remain our heartbeat, the wisdom of our forefathers our map and a new generation of our people are standing strong, standing equal.
Our Vision is guided by the legacy of our forefathers. They have inspired us to work diligently:
to hold tightly to our culture and tradition
TO BE FIRM AND STRONG FOR OUR LAND AND OUR CULTURE
TO PROTECT AND CARE FOR OUR PEOPLE
TO STAY UNITED AND STAND TALL
Our Corporate Mission
Our Mission is to stand firm and to stand together for our people: To remain the ‘rock’ that is one voice together with a shared resolve to shape a future for our families and generations to come so they can live equally in a world of economic certainty and social wellbeing.
Our Mission is inspired by ‘The Rock – MANDULA’ and the words of our forefathers.
The Rock:
“Even though you crash upon me and your patterns are left on me, I will stand firm for you as the day draws to an end. I will stand firm within my grave.
Djuwarrarra Djuwarr’miny Gilŋilŋma Ḻapthuwanna Mänala Mandulmandul, the mighty rock Burruwa Ŋaritjpal Dhanitjpuma.
You keep on crashing upon me, the mighty wave Rulyapa Dhawadalpadal, and keep on breathing against me, but I will stand firm against you.”
The Sea answers:
“O Rock Muruwirri Dhanitjpuma Burruwa, stand firm for me into the waters of Garmawugitj.
I will wash you and etch you and paint my ancient design upon you, O Rock Burruwa Ŋaritjpal.
On your grave Djuwarr’miny Djuwarrarra I will colour you with red Bularra and white ochre Guthuwarr Mäwuru.
O Rock, Gilŋilŋmany Muruwirriny Burruwany, on your grave Djawarr’miny Djuwarrarra.”
The creation story of Mandula tells of a rock that stands firm as waves crash upon it. This image of enduring strength, spiritual duty, and constancy mirrors our own responsibilities – to stand strong in the face of external pressures, to bear the imprints of those we serve, and to remain grounded in cultural truth as the tides of change roll in.
Our Corporate Values
The following core values sit at the heart of our work. They guide our service delivery and shape how we lead, engage, and respond:
- Excellence in Governance: We are committed to strong, transparent, and accountable governance in everything we do.
- Integrity and Ethical Leadership: The highest ethical standards underpin our decisions, actions, and relationships.
- Inclusive and Transparent Management: We foster open, inclusive leadership that welcomes dialogue and collaboration.
- Cultural Foundation: Yolŋu culture remains central to our identity and a guiding force in all aspects of our work.
- Responsiveness and Accountability: We remain accountable to our members, our community, and our partners and will act with purpose, respect, and responsiveness at all times.
Our Logo
The RAC logo is a representation of our founder, Dadaynga Roy Marika, and the strength he brought to the Yolŋu community. He is renowned as the father of Indigenous Land Rights and a rock to the Rirratjingu people.
Our mission is inspired by Mururruma, a symbol of resilience that stands unwavering against the tides, storms, and winds of change. It embodies the strength, courage, and determination of our people.
Like Mururruma, which rises from the ocean known as Ŋaritjpal, Mandul-mandul, Manhala, and Burruwa, we remain steadfast. Even though you crash upon me and your patterns are left on me, I will stand firm for you as the day draws to an end.
History tells of a Rirratjingu man, a father, who was injured by another clan. Despite his wounds, he attempted to swim from the mainland to Bremer Island, where his two sons and daughter were. He lost his life in the sea, transforming into The Rock.
Today, The Rock that sits in the ocean continues to inspire us. The passing years, like the waves, the storms and the winds of change have brought many challenges, but our people move forward, we stand firm with a united resolve to build a better future for our people.
The Rock
“Even though you crash upon me and your patterns are left on me, I will stand firm for you as the day draws to an end…” one paddle, one boat, one harpoon, one people!
Hunters for one turtle to benefit all our people.“
