Ramingining, Northern Territory

Ramingining is an Aboriginal Australian community of mainly Yolngu people in the Northern Territory, Australia, 560 kilometres (350 mi) east of Darwin. It is on the edge of the Arafura Swamp in Arnhem Land. The population is approximately 800 people, though this fluctuates and there is a significant housing shortage.

The community was established in the early 1970s, and became recognised as Aboriginal land with the passage of the Aboriginal Land Rights Act 1976. A written permit is required to visit Ramingining. The village has an airstrip at Ramingining Airport, a general store, a school, a police station, and a health clinic.

Djambarrpuyngu is the main language in Ramingining, though Gupapuyngu and Ganalbingu are also spoken.

The village, along with near-by Murwangi, was also the source for many of the actors in the 2006 film Ten Canoes. After the film sparked worldwide interest in Yolngu and Australian Aboriginal culture, a spin-off educational project known as Twelve Canoes was created, in collaboration with the people at Ramingining, which includes a website and twelve short films.[1][2] The film of the twelve segments was shown on SBS TV in Australia, and has been available online.[3]

Alcohol is banned in Ramingining. It cannot be consumed by residents or visitors. Kava used to be legally available,[4] but was banned in the entire Northern Territory in August 2007 as a part of the federal government's intervention on Indigenous affairs.[5]

Ramingining school is paired with a sister school in Cockatoo, Victoria, Cockatoo Primary School.[6] Exchange visits are organised where groups of Year 5 pupils and accompanying teachers visit Ramingining for a week.[7] A few weeks or months later, Ramingining students from Year 5 and 6 visit Cockatoo Primary School.

A program that started in 2009 saw year nine boys from St Kevin's College in Melbourne visit Ramingining, which started a regular exchange program. Loreto Mandeville Hall in Melbourne also runs an exchange program.

The Northern Territory Government has provided several infrastructure grants for tourism projects in the region, which is part of the Government's plan to help drive tourism in northern parts of the state.[8]