Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1697646374600.pdf (Australia)
Melourr Gapu Dhularrpa Gawiya Raypirri lyarra'r~ur Romgurr Magayakurr Authorised by: Nupurra, Gawiya, Dhulaiipa, Garriyak.

hJaymil Gamburrtji, Dar'miny, Yanmala.

Bulukmana, YaluwitjiUu, \ uywarrambarr.

Gondarra, Yarrayarrmirri, Guyuwu.

Naymil Datiwuy, Birrwa~a, Djurdjurga, GalarrbuigbuD Clan Nations.

And also Garriyak Yawurryawurr, Garrawurra, Nalawuttpa, Djirrirra, Manburrurruwuy.
© September 2005 Dhuwandja mala dharuk raypirri ga marogithinyaraw, Ounhi dhawatthun ga marrour Djirrikayour ga Dalkarraour, ga lyarra'r)ur.

fyunhi ourrr)gitj djalkiri dharuk mala ga magaya rom.

These words of instruction are for discipline and teaching.

They proceed from the man (the deep-seated political and spiritual authority) of the Djirrikay and Dalkarra (the Dhuwa political leaders and the Yirritja political leaders), and from the hJarra' (the Parliamentary and Judicial sacred chamber of law).
These words are from the qurrUgitj (tried and tested law since time immemorial) and from the djalkiri (foundation of the world) which create magaya rom (peace, harmony and due process of law).

1) Yaka bur7ta yolr7uny murrkay'kuq.

Nhe dhu marram dhagir'yunawtay, bayarra rom r)unhi marrr)ur Narra'our ga bulu gurrutumirriwug.

1.

Do not murder or cause anyone to die.


If you do you will be liable and receive judicial punishment for restitution at law under the Authority of the lyarra' Court, which is also sanctioned by the whole of Yolngu society and by the aggrieved family.

2 a) Null nhe wana-monupu yolrlu, nheny rlathil dhu djirrwa'yun dharra Makarrata, bayarra nhunapinya nhe wana, ga bayarra romnha Narrany' ga Djalkiriny Madayin'nha.
2 a) If you are the offending person, you must present yourself for Makarrata (judicial penalty of spearing through the thigh), and be put right with the law and thereby satisfy the requirements of the hJarrra Court and the foundational laws of (Yolrju) society.

b) Nuli bayouny Makarrata nheny dhu bayarra rlula nhaliy mulwatthu Ounhi ga dhawatthun romqur madayin'pur, nhokurl djamapuy ga wuburr'puy.
b) If there is no Makarrata (penalty by the spear) you will be required to make full restitution by payment of something of great value that you have sweated over and made with your own hands.

3) Yaka manar)i rlula nha wiripu0uw yolrluw walalarl.

3.

Do not steal anything belonging to any other persons 4) Yaka nhe dhu mel-dharar)an qula nha mala wiripurluw yolrluw walalap.

4.

You will not desire jealously anything belonging to others.
4 5) Yaka marramba'yi gurrutu yatjkurruw yolouw miyalkku ga dirramuw, nhe dhu marilil garri ga marran dhagir'yunawuy romour Narra'qur ga bulu gurrutumirriwuo.

5.
5.

Do not have an incestual relationship with anyone or you will put yourself into dangerous conflict and a position unprotected by law and you will receive judicial punishment from the 1Sarra' Court and which is sanctioned by the whole of Yolngu society and by the aggrieved family 6) Yaka galqa-r)ayathul r)ula yolnha yolouny r)unhi dhuogarra nyumukun_iny'mirriny, nhe quli yindi dhagir' marran romr)ur Narra'pur ga gurrutumirriwup.

6.
6.

Do not have sexual relations with any juvenile, or you will receive severe judicial punishment from the hJarra' Court which is also sanctioned by the whole of Yolngu society and by the aggrieved family.

7) Yaka miyalkkuo gurrutuny yapany ga maoutjiyao.

Dhuwaliyiny rom Ounhi yatjkurr mirithirr, yatjkurr gurrurruk mirithirr.

Nhe Ouli dhagir' marran romour lyarra'r)ur.

7.

Do not accept sexual advances from a woman in a sister relationship to you.
To do so is extremely profane, offensive and lacking of all respect.

If this occurs you will receive the judicial penalty under the law of the IJarra'.

8) Yaka nhini gi burrpuy' ga nyalmiriy romdhu, nhe baynha marilil nhunapinya nhe galkanmirr.

8.

Do not associate with evil or deceitful practices or you are likely to subject yourself to prosecution from the law or possible retributions from others.

4 9 a) Yaka yatjkurr matha warli worru'wurrur)uw miyalkku ga dirramuw.
b) Yaka bindharr'yurr walalany, bili rlunhiyiny yolpu walal r)unhi walal ga rlayathaman Djirrikay ga Dalkarra, ga bulu walal ga rlayatham magaya ga burrmidi rom.

9. a) Do not speak offensively about any elders b) Do not swear at or verbally insult them because our political leaders, the Djirrkay and Dalkarra come from among them.

It is they who maintain and uphold our laws of peace and harmony.

10) Yaka warku'yurr ga galrla-bartjunmararl nhuquwuy nhe bapamirrinuny ga gandimirriouny.
Nhe ga nayaou-midikuyam rom magaya ga burrmidi marrrlur lyarra'r1ur.

10.

Do not ridicule or physically assault your own father or mother or you will violate the peace and harmony flowing from the authority of the Iyarra' parliament.

11 ) Yaka dha-wirrkiyi ga goq-wirrkiyi marrtji war)i ga rlayathul rlula nha mala nhokalaqaw gurrutumirriw walalarl ga wiripurluw yolrluw watalap.

11.

Do not speak or act carelessly or meddle with the affairs of your relatives or any other people.
12) Yaka guykthurr marrlil madayin'lil ga murrutjuwallil ga barrpa'lil.

Ga bulu bundurrlil r)unhi rakunygal gurrutumirriwal.

Nhe r)uli bayarran nhunapinya nhe dhurrwaran-mararlgunhamirr lyarrany' Dalkarranhany ga Djirrikaynhan.

12.

- Do not use the names of the inner workings of the Madayin Law or those names associated with a corpse when swearing an oath or issuing a legal sanction.

Furthermore, do not do this using the Bundurr name of any recently deceased relative.
If you do this you will be required to make recompense for your transgression to the political leaders of the Narra' parliament.

13) Yaka nhe dhu mirriri-gurrupan warla buthuruour wawa'mirripuwal Yapany gurrutuny.

Nhe dhu rlayar)u-midikuman romnha fyarrany' ga djalkiriny madayin'nha.

13.
13.

You will not speak in the hearing of the brother things which pertain to his sister, which are of a sacred or intimate nature (that will cause him to feel angry, or ashamed), or else you will desecrate the law of the hJarra' Parliament, and the foundational Madayin Law, established from the creation of the world.

14) Yaka nyal'yurr lakarar) ga marilil garrinyamaraq wiripuny yolr)uny.

14.

Do not make false statements that cause trouble for others.
`15) Yaka warku'yurr ga gulkthurr madayin bathi r)unhi dhulmu-mulka ga wan_a wayuk.

Nhe rluli dhagir' marrarl marrgur fyarra'r)ur ga bulu Dalkarra ga Djirrikaywurl.

15.

Do not speak against or in any way desecrate the Madayin bathi (this string bag represents the constitution, womb or body of the Madayin Law).

It is the dhumul-mulka (crest and seal) and has the wana wayuk (acts of law which are a tangible record of the laws of the parliament).
If you do this you will receive the full penalty sanctioned by the hJarra' parliament and by the Dalkarra and Djirrikay political leaders.

16) Yaka luku-wapthurr warlalil ga yirralkalil wiripuquwal bapurru'wal ga rirlgitjkal &5-ganhamiriw.

Nhe rluli bayarra Oula nhaliynha yindiynha balanydjay.

16.

Do not trespass on the land or the yirralka estate of another clan or Riqgitj nation state without permission or you will make recompense by payment of a large sum.
11 17) Yaka worrk dhur)gur'yurr wiripurluwal yirralkar)ur warlar)ur dha- rlanhamiriw.

Nhe rluli bayarra walalany balanydja gurrupul.

17.

Do not set fire to the worrk (the grass and bush land used for the harvesting of marsupials and reptiles) on another person's estate without permission.

If you do you will make payment for restitution to them.

18) Yaka nhe dhu djaw'yun r)ula nha girri' ga mulwat &5-rlanhamiriw.

18.

You will not steal or remove any valuable object or item without permission.
19) Yaka nhe dhu djuwu' gurrupan wiripuquny bapurruny ga ripgitjnha dha- panhamiriw, r)ula nha mala mulwat balanydjamirr mak dhulmu-mulka mak wayuk wana mak war)a yirralka yakumirr.

19.

You will not give a contractual agreement to another clan or Riggitj nation state without permission (from the proper authority) that involves a payment of great value, such as a dhumul- mulka (clan nation title deeds), or wayuk wana (objects of statue law), or parcels of land and or sea that are of special significance.
20) Yaka nhe dhu goo-mangimangimirr ga goo-mar)gu'mirr galka, mak dha- nyira'mirr gor)-r)al'yun madayin'lil Rar)galil ga marrlil Narra'lil, nhe rluli yindi dhagir' marraq Dalkarrawur) ga Djirrikaywuq.

20.

You will not utilize the tools of sorcery or act with murderous intent to kill or inflict harm or try to put your hands upon any sacred objects of the Iyarra' Parliament.

If you do this you will receive severe judicial punishment from the Dalkarra and Djirrikay political leaders.
21) Nuli nhe goo-bulmanmirr yaka gakal milkur) nhar)inir)'kuny.

Yuwalk yan biyak dirramuthiny.

21.

If you are of age and initiated into the law (signified by the right to carry a spear thrower) do not display an attitude of carelessness or act in an irresponsible manner.

Act in accordance with your responsibilities of manhood.

22) Yaka dha-wapthurr warli ga lakarar) bukmakkal yaku n_ur)gat r)unhi djalkiri madayin'thu ga rlayatham.

Ga bulu girri' mala nurlgat r)unhi ga rlorra marrr7ur Rar)gar)ur.

22.
22.

Do not transgress the law by breaking the confidences told to you.

Do not speak publicly concerning the restricted names which refer to our foundational law or to the restricted objects that symbolize our law.

11 23) Nuli dhu buwata dhawatthun borumou, waoa guwatjman marrtji.

Yaka nhe dhu lay-dalthirr, Oayaquy dhapinyay gurrupul ganya girri' ga wiripu Oula nha balanydja, bili punhiyiny nhokun mulwatnha bala marrlil tyarra'lil.

23.
23.

When the time comes for collection of revenue for the Iyarra Parliament, do not be selfish but give with a generous heart, because your payment of goods or other valuable items will add to the status and authority of the 1Jarra' Parliament.

(The last stage of the parliamentary procedure is signified by the ceremony associated with the appearance of Buwata (Plains Bustard).
As this ceremony approaches the dwelling place of each family group, various item of value are handed to the officials of the Parliament.

The collected revenue from all the people will be subsequently distributed to the member Bapurru clans of the Riqgitj nation state, and this will add to their sense of solidarity and unity within the Nation State alliance. )

24) Bukmak bapurru ga riogitj ga matha mala dhu wana-lupthun fyarra'our, bayou dhu Oula yol wangany yolr7u dhud_i'yun.
Yaka galr)a-midikuyao Narrany', bili Ounhi rom magaya ga dhapirrk.

24.

All clans and Riqgitj alliances and all language groups will wana-lupthun (ceremonially assent to the law).

No one is exempt from this requirement of law.

Do not desecrate or defy the hJarra' parliament, because due process of law has been followed to bring about peace and order consistent with our foundational law.
25) Null nhe dhu garri wiripuquwal bapurruwal yirralkalil ga gangi'yun ganguri walafan qunhi dhulr)unur garulrlur, Ourruguny qathil marrtji ga dhaOaku walalany, yurr dhuwal gam', marrar)uny nathany ga balayi n_iyarro'tja lamu-nhirrpulyi wiripunuw dhungarraw.

25.

If you are going to enter another clan's estate and dig out yams from their Dhulrju and Garul (areas for the propagation of root vegetable), first ask permission of that clan.
Further to this, when you get the food replant the top shooting portion for harvest in future years.

26) Yaka miyapunu marrar) wiripuguwal batpanur, &5-paku Oathil ga yurrnha marrao.

26.

Do not take marine turtles from another's Batpa (the nurturing and harvesting area for turtles).

Ask first before you take them.

27) Yaka guya mannu wiripuouwa) marrandilour &A-0anhamiriw, nao'thurr nathil Ourrupuny.

27.
27.

Do not take fish from another's Marrandil (fish breeding and conservation area) without permission.

Ask first!

11 28) Yaka miyapunu marraq wiripuquwal mewiyalr)ur, dha-gaku r)athil Ourruouny bala yurrnha marraouny.

28.

Do not take without permission turtle eggs from another's mewiyal (hatchery area), Ask first before taking.
29) Yaka nhe dhu miyalk ga goq-yuta ga djamarrkuli garri ga mel-nalyurr marrli( fyarra'lil, nhe Ouli marilil garri nalapal.mirriwal, ga bu(u nhe r)uli maputji- maraggunhamirr gurrupul bayarra qula nhan mulwatnha mak balanydjan.

29.

Neither women nor children nor the uninitiated (in respect to that law) shall enter into or in any way be familiar with the chamber or restricted surrounds of the hJarra' parliament.
If you do this you will incur the wrath of the elders and political leaders and bear the associated consequences.

In addition you will be required to make recompense concerning your legal liability by the payment of valuable items.

30) Yaka poy-marimirriyan ga dharukmirriyag mokuy bapurru Ounhi limurr ga nayatham ga namanamayun rom manikaygurr.

Bayqu yan nhe dhu wiripuwurruo Yolouw manutji-dharanan ga dhakangum mokuy bapurru, nhe guli nayanu-midikuyan rom wukindi, gurrurruk ga madayin djalkiri.

30.
30.

Do not protest or declare dissent or cause dispute at a funeral.

Restrain yourselves and work to produce a beneficial outcome.

Do not be envious of others and create disharmony at 'funerals.

If you do this you will violate the sacredness and reverence of this holy time and desecrate the foundational Madayin Law.

31) Yaka nhe dhu galka-birrka'yun wiripupuny yolquny ga bapurruny ga ripgitjnha quli dhu ga bayr)uny dhudi-dhawu qorra ga manutji-marpgi yolou dhu ga nhina.

31.
31.

You will not accuse of sorcery another person, clan or clan nation without clear solid evidence supported by eyewitnesses.

11 32) Yaka nhe dhu gurrupan rjula yolnha bapurruny ga rir)gitjnha buku djuwu' matjapala bunharaw yolouw ga bapurruw.

Nhe balar) baynha nayar)u- midikumul ga payarlu-wutthurr Ounha madayin'nha rom Ounhi ga rlorra punha Narra'our ga djalkiriour.

Nhe balan baynha mari marraq ga dhagir'yunawuy rom Ounhi ga limurrurl yolouw djalkiri rom barrapga'yun.

32.
32.

Do not give a Matjapala legal contract to another Bapurru clan or Riggitj nation state for an assassination or conducting a physical attack on another Bapurru clan.

An action like this would desecrate, striking at the very heart of the Madayin Law, the lyarra parliament and the foundational law (from the creation itself).

Any person doing so will experience many troubles and receive sanctions at law declared and proclaimed from the foundation of the world.
33) Bukmak yuta djamarrkuli', miyalk ga dirramu gunhi ga maln'thun dhiyal waqanur malkmirr, bapurru'mirr ga riogitjmirr, walal dhu marr)githirr djalkiriw romgu Ounhi ga manutji-lakaram magaya rom ga burrmidi.

33.

Everyone from birth who lives by the ways of our community kinship, clan laws and Ringgitj nation state laws, they shall learn the ways of the foundational laws of our society and display the way of peace and tranquility by their actions.
34) Yaka nhe dhu dirramuy marr madayin'mirriy galr)a-gayatham miyalknha Ounhi nayi ga dhuyukurr romgurr marrtji, nhe balaq baynha rlayaou- midikuyao Ounha madayin djalkiri Ounhi ga rlorra r7unha Narra'rlur romqur.

Bili walalaoguny miyalkurruwurrunguny rom mirithirr dharrpal, dhuyu ga madayin limurrur)galnydja yolrluwalnydja romrlur.

34.
34.

No man who has been made strong in his soul through the instruction of the Madayin Law should ever have an intimate relationship with a woman during her time of monthly holiness.

Anyone who did would desecrate and offend the Madayin Law of the Narra' Parliament that has existed from the creation of the world.

This is because women's law is extremely sacred.

It is holy and paramount to all of our Yolqu Madayin Law.
11 35) Nunhi wapa yirralka rlunhi gonrlur bapurru'bapurruwal ga rlula nha mala ga rlorra war7arlur nhakun, rlatha, borum, warrakan, mapu,_ga guya, miyapunu Ounhi Ourikiyi bapurruw malaw, yurr djinawa naraka waoa mala rlunhi ga qlayatham ringitjthu malarluy yaka yan warlganydhu rlurirli bapurruy, linygu rlunhi djalkiri madayin ga r)orra marrour rir)gitjour.

35.
35.

All the resources on a particular estate (of land and sea), including vegetable foods, fruits, animals and birds, eggs, fish and turtles ( all flora, fauna, aquatic life, soils and sands), belongs to the particular Bapurru clan who holds ownership of that estate.

However, the bedrock ownership (including all rocky protusions) resides with the Riqgitj clan nations not with the an individual Bapurru clan, because the foundational Madayin Law abides in the heart and soul of the Riggitj clan nation.
(A Riqgitj clan nation or nation state is made up of several Bapurru Clans which own separate yirralka clan estates) 36) Nuli nhe nha bidila'kunal pula nha mak nhe wana-monur)u yolrlu, yaka walu burlu, bondi wandi bala mulka'lil wapalil, walal nhunany dhu dapmaram romdhu dhirratjay marr nhe dhu galkunmirr romgu bayarraw.

36.
36.

If you breach or desecrated the law in anyway, for example if you have physically assaulted someone, do not delay, go quickly as you can to a Mulka Warla, a safe proclaimed haven, where, within they can arrest you and place you under the protective authority of the law to await the full reconciliation process of the law (in a form of protective custody).
37) Bapurru yolouny nhe dhu Oama bilmakurr yan ga yaka nhe yaku nanya lakaraq yanayyi, bay dhu wangany nha mak marrma' dhuogarra djulkthun yurrnha yakuny rlanya baki.

Yaka payapu-midikuyaq romnha Narrany'.

All clans people should wait for the name of the deceased person to be announced through the process of the announcement by the bilma clapsticks.

Do not pronounce the name of the deceased until something like one or two years have past.

Do not disrespect the law of the hJarra' parliament.
38) Yaka garri wiripur)uwal bunbulil lay-rlarr'r)arr nhokiyingal nhe rlayarluy dha-panhamiriw, nhe dhu r)ayapu-midikuman Narrany' ga madayin djalkiri.

38.

Do not trespass on or enter of your own will without permission into someone else's premises.

If you do you will offend the lyarra' parliament and the foundational Madayin law.

The information contained in this document is offered as a glimpse into the complex cultural material provided in educational introductions to traditional law.
It is brief and incomplete in both depth and scope.

The publication of this information is authorized by the Naymil Gampurrtji, Naymil Bulkmana, Naymil Datiwuy and Naymil Gondarra clan nations.

It is provided to the guests attending the Narra' at Galiwin'ku on the 3 September 2005.

11