Yingiya Mark Guyula facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Yingiya Mark Guyula MLA
Member of the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly for Mulka
Incumbent
Assumed office 22 August 2020
Preceded by	New seat
Member of the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly for Nhulunbuy
In office 27 August 2016 – 22 August 2020
Preceded by	Lynne Walker
Succeeded by	Seat abolished
Personal details
Born	Mirrngadja, Northern Territory, Australia
Political party	Independent
Occupation	Pilot Politician

Yingiya Mark Guyula (Aboriginal pronunciation: [jiŋija ɡʊjula]) is an Australian politician. He is a Yolŋu man from the Djambarrpuyŋu clan. He is an independent member of the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly. This means he works in the government of the Northern Territory, but he doesn't belong to a major political party. He represents the area called Mulka in north-east Arnhem Land. Before this, he represented the area of Nhulunbuy from 2016 to 2020. He is the only independent Indigenous member of parliament in the Northern Territory. He has always worked to help Yolŋu people have more control over their own lives.

Early Life and Education

Yingiya Mark Guyula was born and grew up in Mirrngadja. This is a place in Arnhem Land. He lived there with his family and learned the traditional Yolŋu way of life.

When he was 10, he started a Western-style education. He went to Shepherdson College on Elcho Island. Later, he studied at Dhulpuma College and Nhulunbuy Area School.

After his schooling, he returned home for a while. Then he moved to Nhulunbuy to work with MAF (Mission Aviation Fellowship). He trained to fix and maintain aircraft. In 1983, he became the first Yolŋu commercial pilot for the region.

Political Career and Advocacy

Guyula has worked in many different roles. He taught people about different cultures in schools and community groups. He is also a certified interpreter. For many years, he was a senior lecturer at Charles Darwin University. He taught in their Yolŋu Studies program.

Winning the Election

In 2016, he decided to run for the Northern Territory election. He was running against a very strong opponent. This person was the current member for Nhulunbuy. She was also the Deputy Leader of the Opposition.

Yingiya Mark Guyula campaigned on two main ideas. He wanted Yolŋu people to have more control over their own lives. He also wanted a formal agreement, called a Treaty, between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.

On election night, he slowly caught up to his opponent. He won by a very small number of votes. His win was a big surprise, especially because his opponent's party won many seats in that election.

Speaking Up in Parliament

During his time in parliament, Guyula has worked hard for his community. He wants policies and programs that respect Yolŋu law, culture, and language.

For almost three years, he asked to be allowed to speak his first language, Djambarrpuyŋu, in parliament. Finally, he became the first politician in Australia to give a major speech in an Aboriginal language. An interpreter helped him in the Chamber. In his speech, he talked about how important it is to have education that includes Aboriginal languages and culture.

Advocating for Yolŋu Rights

In 2018, Guyula attended the Garma Festival. He gave a traditional letter stick to Prince Charles. This stick was a message from the Yolŋu people. It asked Prince Charles to help them talk with the Australian government. They wanted the government to recognize Yolŋu ownership of their land and to work towards a Treaty.

In the same year, Guyula traveled to New York. He spoke at the United Nations's Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues. He asked for more international support. He wanted the Australian and Northern Territory governments to recognize Yolŋu rights. He also wanted them to support education in two languages.

In 2019, Guyula suggested that parliament look into policing on Aboriginal land. He wanted to improve relationships between communities and police. He also wanted to help elders have more authority in their communities. He pointed out that all children in detention in the Northern Territory were Indigenous.

Protecting Cultural Practices

Guyula also spoke out against a new law about burials and cremations in 2019. This law could have made it illegal for Aboriginal people to hold traditional ceremonies. They could have faced big fines or even jail time. Guyula argued that this law did not respect Aboriginal culture. Because of his strong opposition, the government withdrew the bill.

Guyula said that governments need to listen to and respect Aboriginal people. He believes that decisions should be made by the people who live in the communities. He wants a partnership where cultures are respected.

Supporting His Electorate

Even though many of his voters live in remote Aboriginal communities, Guyula also helps people in the mining town of Nhulunbuy. He works on issues like the high cost of living and travel in the area. He has also criticized the poor phone and internet service in remote towns. He believes this shows a lack of care for these areas.

Guyula is against fracking in the Northern Territory. Fracking is a way to get gas from the ground. He supports developing renewable energy instead. He has said that fighting climate change means moving towards clean energy sources.

Re-election

Guyula was re-elected in the 2020 general election. He ran against his previous opponent, Lynne Walker. This time, he ran for the new seat of Mulka. He won with even more support than before.