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Homeland Story

HOMELANDS ARE SITUATED on the traditional land of the people who live there. They are of central importance to their identity and culture.

Homeland Story is a feature documentary about Donydji, (pronounced doy-n-ji), a small remote Indigenous community in North East Arnhem Land. 

The film is directed by award-win​ning director Glenda Hambly and co-produced by Damien Guyula – the Donydji community’s representative, who translated the Yolngu languages spoken in the film, supervised the sub-titling and became the film’s narrator.

Homeland Story tracks a Donydji family’s transition from nomadic life to the digital age in just three generations – from Dhulutarama, the traditional elder who still knew how to make stone tools, to his granddaughter, Joanne Yindiri Guyula, who teaches at the Donydji school.

It’s a moving portrait of the family’s struggle to preserve their culture and remain on their Homeland despite the severe obstacles they face, such as sub-standard education, lack of job opportunities for youth, inadequate government policy, bureaucratic mismanagement and pressure from mining interests.

Both screenings include Q&A with Glenda Hambly and Damien Guyula after the film.

Katherine (World Premiere) SUN 27 OCT | 2PM | KATHERINE CINEMA 3 katherinecinemas.com.au

Darwin MON 28 OCT | 6.30PM | BCC CASUARINA |  $16-$23 | eventcinemas.com.au

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