Yothu Yindi released six albums between 1989 and 2000, and their top 20 ARIA Singles Chart appearances were "Treaty" (1991) and "Djäpana (Sunset Dreaming)" (1992).
He helped establish the Yolngu Action Group and introduced the both-ways education system, which recognised traditional Aboriginal teaching alongside Western methods.
He helped establish the Yolngu Action Group and introduced the Both Ways system at his school, which recognised traditional Aboriginal teaching alongside Western methods.
[14] In 1994, a primary school in Deloraine, Tasmania, hosted a group of children from Ali Curung, NT, for six days as part of the scheme.
[16] His wife, Yalmay Yunupingu, taught at the school for around 40 years before her retirement in 2023, and was also a dedicated teacher and mentor in bilingual education.
[18][20] In the group's early years their performing was restricted to holidays as Yunupingu completed his tertiary studies and then started work as a teacher.
[18][20] Australian musicologist, Ed Nimmervoll, described it "[o]ne side comprised Midnight Oil-like politicized rock.
The other side of the album concentrated on traditionally based songs like "Djäpana" (Sunset Dreaming), written by former teacher Mandawuy Yunupingu".
[18][19][21] The band achieved national recognition for their single, "Treaty", the remixed version was released in June 1991, which reached No.
[22] Mandawuy and Galarrwuy had wanted a song to highlight the lack of progress on a treaty between Aboriginal peoples and the federal government.
It was written by Australian musician, Paul Kelly, with Yothu Yindi members Yunupingu, Kellaway, Williams, Gurrumul, Mununggurr and Marika.
[18][20] They toured Australia, North America, New Zealand, United Kingdom, Papua New Guinea and Hong Kong.
[11][18][20] Yunupingu strove to achieve a better understanding of Aboriginal culture by balanda and was a prominent advocate of reconciliation between all Australians.
[12][42] After his death, the Prime Minister of Australia at the time, Julia Gillard, said: "We have today lost a great Australian voice in the efforts towards reconciliation.
The children of both men sang together as The Tin Lids and The Yunupingu Kids, on a song called "School" in August 1992.
[43][50] Yunupingu was diagnosed with diabetes and high blood pressure, which in turn contributed to advanced kidney failure, for which he received haemodialysis three times a week in Darwin.
[43] His condition was announced in 2007 following his attendance in January at a rehabilitation clinic after years of beer drinking – between one and four cartons (i.e. two to eight gallons, or 9 to 36 litres) daily, according to his psychiatrist.
[13][43][51] By December 2008 he was resigned to the fact that he may die without having seen the longed-for settlement between white and black Australia: I'm still waiting for that treaty to come along, for my grandsons, ...
His sister Gulumbu was one of a group of senior Yolngu women who had helped set up Dilthan Yolngunha – a healing place – with the support of the Yothu Yindi Foundation.