Yirrkala Bark Petitions

The Yirrkala Bark Petitions were two historic documents signed in 1963 by the Yolngu people of Yirrkala, Northern Territory, Australia. They were made from decorated bark and presented to the Australian Parliament to protest government plans to strip Aboriginal land rights over their sacred sites for mineral mining. These petitions marked one of the first formal expressions of Indigenous Australians' opposition to land legislation, highlighting their connection to the land and their desire for recognition and protection of their cultural heritage. They played a significant role in raising awareness and advocating for Indigenous rights within Australian law.