From one of Australia's most remote corners come some of the nation's great bands, creatives and leaders, who found a way to get their voices on the national stage.
The tiny communities of north-east Arnhem Land produced Australians destined for greatness — the likes of Yothu Yindi, King Stingray, Baker Boy and many more.
But also from this distant enclave have come some of the staunchest community leaders, who took on government, courts and international companies.
The Yol?u people found a way to interweave their art and advocacy to tell their stories and bring about change.
"We've always had our culture strong, our dances, our songs it's been there for thousands of years, we have it born in us," Dhapanbal Yunupingu said.
"That makes Yol?u more confident to be proud of who we are … once you are in this world you already connected to Yol?u sound, song and dance.
"It comes to us like flowing water, it is just in us."
Dhapanbal is a solo musician who sometimes performs with Yothu Yindi, a band once led by her father Mandawuy Yunupingu.
Her father was much more than just a musical frontman, also a powerful leader who got his people's fight onto the national agenda.
Most remember him for his performance in Yothu Yindi's enduring classic Treaty, released in 1991.
But, alongside his brothers, wife and family he created the annual Garma festival, which has grown to be one of the most important events for discussion on Indigenous issues.
A national stage
The festival has brought prime ministers, members of parliament and other influential figures to their faraway ceremonial grounds overlooking the Gulf of Carpentaria.
On their country and on their terms, they could advocate for the changes they needed in their communities.
At the 25th anniversary of Garma this weekend, Yothu Yindi returned to the main stage for a special home ground performance.
"We are ready to rock and roll … this is special to be on our grounds performing … this is a family affair," Witiyana Marika, one of the original founding members of the band, told the ABC.
Dhapanbal performed with the band, alongside many family members, who stepped up to sing, dance and play the yidaki.
"[My dad's] flame and fire is still moving … I could feel him there with us in spirit," she said.
"He would encourage other people to not give up, to just be strong for your people, your culture and your land."
Generations of resilience
The Yol?u people have been advocating for land rights, economic empowerment and education for decades and decades.
Not all of their calls for treaty, constitutional change, or pleas to the public to support the Voice referendum have been acted on, but the community has never given up.
"For the elders to look down on us and think we [younger generation] are doing the right thing, really means a lot to me," said Malakhi Puertollano.
He proudly descends from the Gumatj clan of the Yol?u people, his father once performed with Yothu Yindi and now he steps in to play the yidaki with them.
The 22-year-old also works at the Dhimirru Rangers, a role that allows him to protect his home country.
The Nhulunbuy-based organisation was founded more than 35 years ago to provide employment and empower the community to look after their traditional lands.
"It's my dream to keep building it up and make it even stronger for our kids," he said.
"It's a Yol?u organisation and we want to make sure we keep hiring our people but also really building our leadership."
Along with his partner Kyaciah they plan to raise their young family on Country to be proud Yol?u people.
He brought his six-month-old son, Savali, to one of the beaches he cares for to let him put his feet on the special site for the first time.
"Everything I know I learnt from my father … that's something I will make sure to pass on to my boy as he grows into a man.
"He has to know the story of this place too."
It's now Malakhi's generation's turn to continue the legacy of their leaders to keep culture strong and bring about positive change.
Despite the hard work of past generations there are still big social challenges for the community, housing, joblessness, education, poor health and rising incarceration.
Yol?u's quest for change
For the Yol?u elders who have been part of this fight for a long time, art also provides a release for their grief and sadness.
Djawa Yunupingu has taken the reins of the Yothu Yindi Foundation, which run the Garma Festival, and advocates on behalf of all five clans of the Yol?u people.
"My latest song, Shattered Dreams, I wrote that in 2023 after the Voice referendum," he said.
Usually, he is a strong and stoic leader but his music tells another story — the story of man broken by the long quest for constitutional change for his people.
"The song is about losing that once-in-a-million chance to be in the constitution," he said.
He took on the leadership role after he lost his brothers, Galarrwuy and Mandawuy Yunupingu.
The pain of losing loved ones too young and too often is something he has had to go through many times in his life.
His brothers fought for treaty and land rights; he fought for constitutional reform and challenged major mining companies for compensation for the use of their land.
His people's fight continues and he still believes that art is one of the most powerful ways to bring Australians on their journey.
"I write about unity, about Australians coming together under one banner," he said.
