iDIDJ Australia Didgeridoo Cultural Hub

Yothu Yindi Foundation CEO quits amid secrecy
By Emma Masters

Posted Fri Mar 5, 2010

The Yothu Yindi Foundation's chief executive has resigned in a shroud of secrecy after 20 years at the organisation

In a statement forwarded to the ABC yesterday, Alan James announced his resignation from the foundation he helped build.

Mr James did not explain why he quit after so long at the helm but says the disclosure of reasons for his resignation is a matter for the board and he referred all queries to its members.

The foundation's board is yet to respond to the ABC's questions about the matter.

Two decades ago, Mr James worked with Yothu Yindi singer Mandawuy Yunupingu to support five Yolngu clan groups from east Arnhem Land to establish the Yothu Yindi Foundation.

The non-profit organisation provides education and employment opportunities in the area.

The foundation also runs the Garma Festival, the largest meeting of Indigenous groups from across the Northern Territory.

Fight over indigenous foundation
LINDSAY MURDOCH
March 6, 2010

A DISPUTE has erupted over control of the Yothu Yindi Foundation, a non-profit Aboriginal corporation that runs Garma, Australia's leading cultural exchange festival.

Aboriginal leader Galarrwuy Yunupingu narrowly defeated his brother Mandawuy Yunupingu in a bitterly contested vote for chairmanship of the foundation, which also runs projects in Arnhem Land to promote health and wellbeing among Yolngu people.

Galarrwuy Yunupingu, who has been unwell, has made no comment yet about his plans for the festival after his takeover of the foundation's board amid secrecy last month.

Mandawuy Yunupingu, the lead singer of the band Yothu Yindi, set up the foundation in 1990 with the leaders of five Arnhem Land clans.

Three other founding members - Yalmay Yunupingu, Dhanggal Gurruwiwi and Witiyana Marika - were voted off the board at the foundation's annual general meeting. Alan James, the foundation's chief executive officer, has resigned.

Mr James and Mandawuy were the driving forces behind the establishment of the foundation as well as Garma, which last year attracted 3000 participants, among them senior government ministers and many of Australia's indigenous leaders. ''The disclosure of the reasons for my resignation is a matter for the board and any inquiries should be directed to it,'' Mr James said in a statement.

Mr James said he had offered to remain with the foundation for six weeks to promote an orderly handover.

Galarrwuy and Mandawuy are among Australia's best known indigenous leaders.

Galarrwuy Yunupingu is a former Australian of the Year and former head of the Northern Land Council who fought for indigenous land rights.

Mandawuy Yunupingu was last night named one of three winners of the Sidney Myer Performing Arts Awards.

''I am planning to continue to use my music to access young Aboriginal people and deliver health messages that hopefully will assist in improving the sad life expectancy statistics my people currently face,'' he said after accepting the award.

The Yothu Yindi board has appointed former federal Labor minister Gerry Hand to manage the changes.

Mr Hand told The Age yesterday the suggestion that the festival, which has been held each year on Aboriginal land in Arnhem Land, would not go ahead this year was untrue.

He said it was also untrue that other projects run by the foundation were under threat.

''The chairman [Galarrwuy Yunupingu] will make clear what he intends to do with the board in due course,'' he said.

Mr Hand was an Aboriginal affairs minister in the Hawke government before quitting politics in 1993.

Charity exodus mystery grows
BEN LANGFORD

March 6th, 2010

MYSTERY surrounds the Yothu Yindi Foundation after its chief executive resigned and the board was replaced.

Foundation chief executive Alan James told the Northern Territory News he had resigned.

In a short message, he said he would remain in the job for six weeks to assist with the handover.

"The disclosure of the reasons for my resignation is a matter for the board and any inquiries ... should be directed to it," he said.

All the board members are new, with only chairman Galarrwuy Yunupingu remaining in charge.

Also gone from the $2 million organisation are its founder, Yothu Yindi lead singer Mandawuy Yunupingu, and his wife Yalmay. Galarrwuy's younger brother, Dr Yunupingu, set up the foundation in 1990.

They live in Darwin where Mandawuy receives regular dialysis treatment for kidney disease.

Other board members including Witiyana Marika and Dhanggal Gurruwiwi are also gone.

Documents lodged with the Registrar of Indigenous Corporations show that the entire board has been replaced.

The changes took place at the foundation's February 12 general meeting and were declared to the registrar by foundation chairman Galarrwuy Yunupingu.

Mr James had been the chief executive since the organisation was set up in 1990 on the back of the success of the band Yothu Yindi, which he managed.

He would not comment further on his departure.

Annual reports show the foundation has assets of more than $2 million, including more than $1.2 million in cash.

The Northern Territory News understands former federal Aboriginal affairs minister Gerry Hand has been brought in to help manage the changes.

Mr Hand did not return calls for comment yesterday.

Foundation directors are now Balupalu Yunupingu, Banuminy Marika, Djalalingba Yunupingu, Djawa Yunupingu and Gulumbu Munungurr-Yunupingu.

Yothu Yindi singer wins Sidney Myer award
Fri Mar 5, 2010

Indigenous musician Mandawuy Yunupingu is among winners of the nation's most lucrative performing arts prizes.

He joins stage actress Julie Forsyth, the Footscray Community Arts Centre and the Black Arm Band in sharing more than $120,000 in the Sidney Myer Arts Awards.

Yunupingu has had international success as lead singer of the band Yothu Yindi, while also setting up a foundation to strengthen Yolngu culture.

He says he was "blown away" when told he would be getting the award at a ceremony in Adelaide tonight.

"I'm just overwhelmed and excited to have been chosen to get this award," he said.

Yunupingu says the money will go towards furthering his musical career, and to continue his dialysis treatment until he can get a kidney transplant.

"I'd think that it'll open up avenues and... keep me on track with treatment in my kidney situation," he said.