DESCRIPTION:
Warning! Contains images of the deceased.

This video clip shows some of the complexities of funeral proceedings in Arnhem Land. I shot this some years ago at the insistence of family members who wanted a record of the funeral. Personally, I feel uncomfortable filming sensitive and emotionally-charged events such as this, and only ever film when specifically requested by Yolngu.

When a person passes away in NE Arnhem Land, there are a number of stages in the preparation and execution of ritual, to honour the deceased and to fulfil ceremonial and spiritual obligations as required by Yolngu customary law.

This clip is one small part in the complex series of ritual that is associated with death. In the clip, the opening scene shows Yolngu waiting by the airstrip for the plane from Darwin to arrive (bodies are usually sent to Darwin for the Coroner's report). The plane carries the coffin and body of the deceased. Ritual singing and dancing precedes the arrival of the plane.

The shifting of the coffin from the plane to a vehicle is an important part of this ritual, and has significant symbolism in Yolngu cosmology.

The coffin is transported to the morgue at the local hospital, and this constitutes another important stage in ritual. When the coffin is laid to rest in the morgue, ritual singing and dancing continues in the community for days, sometimes weeks, culminating finally in the actual burial of the body/coffin when the time is right.

As you can see, the didgeridoo plays but a small part in the overall picture.