Treaty ( song ) - Wikipedia Treaty ( song ) `` Treaty '' Single by Yothu Yindi from the album Tribal Voice A-side `` Treaty '' B - side `` Yolngu Boy '' Released June 1991 Format 7 '' Single Recorded 1991 Genre Pop, new wave, indigenous Length 3 : 35 Label Mushroom Razor Songwriter ( s ) Paul Kelly, Mandawuy Yunupingu, Stuart Kellaway, Cal Williams, Gurrumul Yunupingu, Milkayngu Mununggurr, Banula Marika, Peter Garrett Producer ( s ) Mark Moffatt Yothu Yindi singles chronology `` Mainstream '' ( 1989 ) `` Treaty '' ( 1991 ) `` Djäpana ( Sunset Dreaming ) '' ( 1992 ) `` Mainstream '' ( 1989 ) `` Treaty '' ( 1991 ) `` Djäpana ( Sunset Dreaming ) '' ( 1992 ) `` Treaty '' is a song by Australian indigenous music band Yothu Yindi, which is made up of Aboriginal and balanda ( non-Aboriginal ) members. Released in June 1991, `` Treaty '' peaked at No. 11 on the ARIA Singles Chart in September. `` Treaty '' was the first song by a predominately - Aboriginal band to chart in Australia and was the first song in any Aboriginal Australian language ( Yolngu - Matha ) to gain extensive international recognition, peaking at No. 6 on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play singles charts. In May 2001 `` Treaty '' was selected by Australasian Performing Right Association ( APRA ) as one of the Top 30 Australian songs of all time. In 2009 ' Treaty ' was added to the National Film and Sound Archive 's Sounds of Australia registry. Contents 1 Background 2 Musical style 3 Videos 4 Track listing 4.1 Yothu Yindi original version 4.2 Yothu Yindi ( Filthy Lucre remix version ) 5 Personnel 6 Charts 7 References 8 External links Background In 1988, as part of Bicentennial celebrations, Prime Minister of Australia, Bob Hawke, visited the Northern Territory for the Barunga festival where he was presented with a statement of Aboriginal political objectives by Galarrwuy Yunupingu and Wenten Rubuntja. Hawke responded to the Barunga Statement with a promise that a treaty would be concluded with Indigenous Australians by 1990. In 1991, Yothu Yindi were Hughie Benjamin on drums, Sophie Garrkali and Julie Gungunbuy as dancers, Stuart Kellaway on bass guitar, Witiyana Marika on manikay ( traditional vocals ), bilma ( ironwood clapsticks ) and dance, Milkayngu Mununggurr on yidaki ( didgeridoo ), Gurrumul Yunupingu on keyboards, guitar and percussion, Makuma Yunupingu on yidaki, vocals, bilma, Mandawuy Yunupingu on vocals and guitar, Mangatjay Yunupingu as a dancer. Mandawuy Yunupingu, with his older brother Galarrwuy, wanted a song to highlight the lack of progress on the treaty between Aboriginal peoples and the federal government. Mandawuy Yunupingu recalls : Bob Hawke visited the Territory. He went to this gathering in Barunga. And this is where he made a statement that there shall be a treaty between black and white Australia. Sitting around the camp fire, trying to work out a chord to the guitar, and around that camp fire, I said, `` Well, I heard it on the radio. And I saw it on the television. '' That should be a catchphrase. And that 's where ' Treaty ' was born. -- Mandawuy Yunupingu, 8 July 2004 `` Treaty '' was written by Australian musician Paul Kelly and Yothu Yindi members Mandawuy Yunupingu, Kellaway, Williams, Gurrumul Yunupingu, Mununggurr and Marika and Peter Garrett. The initial release received limited radio and television exposure ( mainly on ABC radio and SBS television ) and failed to chart. Melbourne - based DJ Gavin Campbell ( Razor Records ) having heard Treaty, approached Mushroom Records to create a dance - orientated remix. The Filthy Lucre ( Paul Main, Gavin Campbell and Robert Goodge ) ) remix was produced without the band 's involvement but with the understanding that the ' Yolngu ' side of the music was preserved. The remix not only modified the musical backing but dispensed with the majority of the English language lyrics, with the song sung almost entirely in the Aboriginal language, Gumatj. The Filthy Lucre remix, was released in June, entering the charts in July and peaking at No. 11 on the Australian Recording Industry Association ( ARIA ) singles charts by September, spending a total of 22 weeks in the national charts. Success for the single was transferred to the related album Tribal Voice which peaked at No. 4 on the ARIA Albums Chart. The album produced by Mark Moffatt for Mushroom Records was released in September 1991. Mandawuy Yunupingu took leave of absence from his duties as principal to tour and promote the single and album. Other singles from the album were a re-released `` Djäpana ( Sunset Dreaming ) '' which peaked at # 13 in 1992 and `` Tribal Voice '' which did n't reach the Top 50. At the 1992 ARIA Awards Yothu Yindi won awards for ' Engineer of the Year ' for `` Maralitja '' ( maralitja is Yolngu matha for crocodile man - one of Mandawuy Yunupingu 's tribal names ), `` Dharpa '' ( dharpa is tree ), `` Treaty '', `` Treaty ( Filthy Lucre remix ) '' and `` Tribal Voice '' by David Price, Ted Howard, Greg Henderson and Simon Polinski ; ' Song of the Year ' for `` Treaty '' ; and ' Single of the Year ' for `` Treaty ''. Both `` Treaty '' in 1992 and `` Djäpana ( Sunset Dreaming ) '' in 1993 charted on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play singles charts, with `` Treaty '' peaking at # 6. In May 2001 `` Treaty '' was selected by Australasian Performing Right Association ( APRA ) as one of the Top 30 Australian songs of all time. Musical style Musically the song is a mixture of Yolgnu and Balanda ways. The timbres of the song include the Balanda rock ensemble of electric guitars, keyboard and drumkit, and on occasion Balanda voices. The Yolgnu sounds include the lead singer 's vocal quality, and the traditional instruments, bilma ( ironwood clapsticks ) and yidaki ( didgeridoo ). The song 's text is partly in English and partly in Yolgnu Matha, and the form of the song, while conforming to the Balanda rock structure of verses and choruses with an ' instrumental ' break, and the process of intensity through repetition of short motives, is nevertherless that of a djatpangarri, a form of Yolgnu popular music. Videos There were two video clips for `` Treaty ''. The first features footage of the 1988 Barunga Festival where the Barunga Statement is shown in its final stages of preparation, and Prime Minister Hawke is shown participating didjeridu - playing and spear - throwing competitions. As the Barunga Statement is presented to the Prime Minister, he is accompanied by the Minister for Indigenous Affairs, Gerry Hand. Also included in this first clip are images of the band in concert, and footage from the Gove Peninsula of industrial bauxite mining, ceremonial dancing led by Witiyana in the bush and children dancing on the beach. According to the director, Stephen Johnson, it was never his intention to make a consciously ' political ' video. A second clip for `` Treaty '' was made to accompany the Filthy Lucre remix. It was also directed by Stephen Johnson and dispenses with the overtly political shots of the previous video. The video features images of the band in concert as well as footage from the Gove Peninsula of ceremonial dancing led by Witiyana in the bush, Witiyana and Milkayngu dancing with their instruments on the beach, Mandawuy Yunupingu singing over a blazing fire and children dancing on the beach with portable stereo given to them by Mandawuy Yunupingu. We wanted to portray Yolngu people having a good time... we had the political stuff in the first clip... it is political enough in the sense that it is showing a positive, healthy and strong side of Aboriginal culture - that 's the best message of all... I wanted people to dance, pick up on the movements and Yolgnu style of dancing. -- Stephen Johnson Track listing Yothu Yindi original version `` Treaty '' ( Paul Kelly, Mandawuy Yunupingu, Stuart Kellaway, Cal Williams, Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu, Milkayngu Mununggurr and Witiyana Marika ) -- 3 : 35 `` Yolngu Boy '' ( Mandawuy Yunupingu ) -- 4 : 14 Yothu Yindi ( Filthy Lucre remix version ) `` Treaty '' ( Filthy Lucre Remix ) -- 6 : 52 `` Treaty '' ( Radio Mix ) -- 3 : 50 `` Treaty '' ( Dub ) -- 7 : 30 Personnel Production details Engineer -- David Price, Ted Howard, Greg Henderson, Simon Polinski Producer -- Mark Moffatt Remixers -- Robert Goodge, Gavin Campbell, Paul Main ( Filthy Lucre version ) Charts Chart ( 1991 -- 92 ) Peak position Australia ( ARIA ) 11 Belgium ( Ultratop 50 Flanders ) 9 Netherlands ( Single Top 100 ) 29 Switzerland ( Schweizer Hitparade ) 33 UK Singles ( Official Charts Company ) 72 US Dance Club Songs ( Billboard ) 6 References ^ Jump up to : McFarlane, Ian ( 1999 ). `` Encyclopedia entry for ' Yothu Yindi ' ''. Encyclopedia of Australian Rock and Pop. Allen & Unwin. ISBN 1 - 86448 - 768 - 2. Retrieved 4 November 2008. ^ Jump up to : Holmgren, Magnus ; Warnqvist, Stefan. `` Yothu Yindi ''. Australian Rock Database. Passagen.se ( Magnus Holmgren ). Archived from the original on 27 September 2013. Retrieved 4 March 2014. ^ Jump up to : Nimmervoll, Ed. `` Yothu Yindi ''. HowlSpace -- The Living History of Our Music ( Ed Nimmervoll ). Archived from the original on 27 July 2012. Retrieved 10 February 2014. ^ Jump up to : `` Yothu Yindi discography ''. Australian Charts Portal. Retrieved 4 November 2008. Jump up ^ Kent, David ( 1993 ). Australian Chart Book 1970 -- 1992. St Ives, NSW : Australian Chart Book Ltd. ISBN 0 - 646 - 11917 - 6. NOTE : Used for Australian Singles and Albums charting from 1974 until ARIA created their own charts in mid-1988. In 1992, Kent back calculated chart positions for 1970 -- 1974. ^ Jump up to : `` Charting the genius of Yothu Yindi ''. University of Sydney. 22 October 2009. Retrieved 18 March 2010. ^ Jump up to : `` Yothu Yindi - Charts & Awards - Billboard Singles ''. allmusic. Retrieved 2008 - 11 - 08. ^ Jump up to : Kruger, Debbie ( 2 May 2010 ). `` The songs that resonate through the years '' ( PDF ). Australasian Performing Right Association ( APRA ). Retrieved 16 March 2010. ^ Jump up to : Howie - Willis, Ian ( 2001 ). `` Barunga Statement ''. The Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies ( AIATSIS ). Retrieved 2008 - 11 - 04. Jump up ^ `` George Negus Tonight Profiles - Transcripts - Mandawuy Yunupingu ''. Australian Broadcasting Corporation ( ABC ). 2004 - 07 - 08. Retrieved 2008 - 11 - 06. Jump up ^ `` APRA 2001 Top 30 Songs ''. 2001 - 05 - 02. Retrieved 2008 - 11 - 06. Jump up ^ `` The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers ( ASCAP ) ''. ASCAP. Retrieved 2008 - 11 - 06. Jump up ^ `` YOTHU YINDI ANNOUNCED AS 2012 HALL OF FAME INDUCTEE ''. Australian Recording Industry Association. October 26, 2013. Jump up ^ `` The Music Lesson ''. ABC Australian Story. 8 July 2013. ^ Jump up to : Hayward, Philip, ed. ( 1998 ). `` 12 : Yothu Yindi : Context and Significance ''. Sound Alliances : Indigenous Peoples, Cultural Politics, and Popular Music in the Pacific. London : Cassell. ISBN 978 - 0 - 30470 - 050 - 9. Retrieved 18 March 2010. Jump up ^ `` 1992 : 6th Annual ARIA Awards ''. ARIA Music Awards. Retrieved 2008 - 11 - 06. Jump up ^ `` ARIA Awards 2008 : History : Winners by Artist : Yothu Yindi search results ''. Australian Recording Industry Association ( ARIA ). Retrieved 2008 - 11 - 06. Jump up ^ Stubington, Jill ; Dunbar - Hall, Peter ( 1994 ). `` 13 ''. Yothu Yindi 's ' Treaty ' : Ganma in Music. Cambridge : Cambridge University Press. pp. 243 -- 259. doi : 10.1017 / S0261143000007182. Retrieved 18 March 2010. Jump up ^ `` Australian-charts.com -- Yothu Yindi -- Treaty ''. ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 30 August 2016. Jump up ^ `` Ultratop.be -- Yothu Yindi -- Treaty '' ( in Dutch ). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 30 August 2016. Jump up ^ `` Dutchcharts.nl -- Yothu Yindi -- Treaty '' ( in Dutch ). Single Top 100. Retrieved 30 August 2016. Jump up ^ `` Swisscharts.com -- Yothu Yindi -- Treaty ''. Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 30 August 2016. Jump up ^ `` Yothu Yindi : Artist Chart History ''. Official Charts Company. Retrieved 30 August 2016. Jump up ^ `` Yothu Yindi -- Chart history '' Billboard Hot Dance Club Songs for Yothu Yindi. Retrieved 30 August 2016. External links ' Treaty ' was added to the National Film and Sound Archive 's Sounds of Australia registry in 2009 Listen to an excerpt of ' Treaty ' and read more about the song on australianscreen online Aaron Corn ( 2009 ) Reflections & voices : exploring the music of Yothu Yindi with Mandawuy Yunupingu Sydney : Sydney University Press ( ISBN 9781920899349 ) Castles, J. ( 1992 ) Tjungaringanyi : ' Aboriginal Rock Hayward, Philip ( ed ) From Pop to Punk to Postmodernism Sydney : Allen and Unwin APRA Award for Song of the Year `` Treaty '' by Yothu Yindi ( 1992 ) `` Heaven Knows '' by Rick Price ( 1993 ) `` Distant Sun '' by Crowded House ( 1994 ) `` My Island Home '' by Christine Anu ( 1995 ) `` Was n't It Good '' by Tina Arena ( 1996 ) `` Even When I 'm Sleeping '' by Leonardo 's Bride ( 1998 ) `` Buses and Trains '' by Bachelor Girl ( 1999 ) `` Passenger '' by Powderfinger ( 2000 ) `` My Happiness '' by Powderfinger ( 2001 ) `` Amazing '' by Alex Lloyd ( 2002 ) `` Not Pretty Enough '' by Kasey Chambers ( 2003 ) `` Zebra '' by John Butler Trio ( 2004 ) `` Scar '' by Missy Higgins ( 2005 ) `` Catch My Disease '' by Ben Lee ( 2006 ) `` One Crowded Hour '' by Augie March ( 2007 ) `` Straight Lines '' by Silverchair ( 2008 ) `` White Noise '' by The Living End ( 2009 ) `` Sweet Disposition '' by The Temper Trap ( 2010 ) `` Big Jet Plane '' by Angus & Julia Stone ( 2011 ) `` Somebody That I Used to Know '' by Gotye featuring Kimbra ( 2012 ) `` Feels Like We Only Go Backwards '' by Tame Impala ( 2013 ) `` Riptide '' by Vance Joy ( 2014 ) `` Chandelier '' by Sia ( 2015 ) `` Let It Happen '' by Tame Impala ( 2016 ) ARIA Award for Single of the Year `` You 're the Voice '' by John Farnham ( 1987 ) `` Beds Are Burning '' by Midnight Oil ( 1988 ) `` Under the Milky Way '' by The Church ( 1989 ) `` Crying in the Chapel '' by Peter Blakeley ( 1990 ) `` I Do n't Wanna Be with Nobody But You '' by Absent Friends ( 1991 ) `` Treaty ( Filthy Lucre Remix ) '' by Yothu Yindi ( 1992 ) `` The Day You Went Away '' by Wendy Matthews ( 1993 ) `` The Honeymoon Is Over '' by The Cruel Sea ( 1994 ) `` Tomorrow '' by Silverchair ( 1995 ) `` Where the Wild Roses Grow '' by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds and Kylie Minogue ( 1996 ) `` Truly Madly Deeply '' by Savage Garden ( 1997 ) `` Torn '' by Natalie Imbruglia ( 1998 ) `` The Day You Come '' by Powderfinger ( 1999 ) `` Do n't Call Me Baby '' by Madison Avenue ( 2000 ) `` My Happiness '' by Powderfinger ( 2001 ) `` Ca n't Get You Out of My Head '' by Kylie Minogue ( 2002 ) `` Born to Try '' by Delta Goodrem ( 2003 ) `` Are You Gonna Be My Girl '' by Jet ( 2004 ) `` Catch My Disease '' by Ben Lee ( 2005 ) `` Black Fingernails, Red Wine '' by Eskimo Joe ( 2006 ) `` Straight Lines '' by Silverchair ( 2007 ) `` Sweet About Me '' by Gabriella Cilmi ( 2008 ) `` Walking on a Dream '' by Empire of the Sun ( 2009 ) `` Big Jet Plane '' by Angus & Julia Stone ( 2010 ) `` Somebody That I Used to Know '' by Gotye featuring Kimbra ( 2011 ) Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Treaty_(song)&oldid=801020308 '' Categories : 1991 singles APRA Award winners ARIA Award - winning songs Australian songs Indigenous Australian music Hidden categories : Use dmy dates from March 2014 Use Australian English from March 2014 All Wikipedia articles written in Australian English Articles with hAudio microformats Singlechart usages for Australia Singlechart usages for Flanders Singlechart usages for Dutch100 Singlechart usages for Switzerland Singlechart usages for UKsinglesbyname Singlechart called without song Singlechart usages for Billboarddanceclubplay Talk Contents About Wikipedia Add links This page was last edited on 17 September 2017, at 05 : 18. 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Question: which group from the north of australia sang the hit song treaty
Answer: Yothu Yindi