Djiniyini Gondarra: Indigenous activist dubbed ‘Australia’s Gandhi’ reveals why he is voting No in the Voice referendum

An Indigenous spiritual and civil rights leader said he would vote no in the Voice referendum because it “won’t make a difference” for First Nations people.

Nicknamed Mahatma ‘Gandhi of Australia, Reverend Djiniyini Gondarra, is a Clan Chief of the Dhurili Nation of Elcho Island in the Northern Territory and is the current President of the Arnhem Land Progress Association (ALPA) and the country’s First Methodist Aboriginal Minister.

He has been involved in the decades-long struggle for a treaty between Aboriginal peoples and the Australian government and believes anything less is a sacrifice.

‘What difference will this Voice make?’ Dr. Gondarra, he told the ABCadmitting that his opposition to the Voice is largely at odds with other Indigenous people in his community.

‘That’s my only concern. I will vote No for one vote.

“I would rather see more dialogue, a diplomatic dialogue, where we sit down and talk about one thing: that we are one (of the only Commonwealth countries) in the world to have missed a treaty.

“A negotiation with the first to understand who owns this land.”

Dr. Gondarra does not follow any partisan political campaign nor is he involved in any of the referendum campaigns, but he is dedicated to the idea that a settling of accounts with a treaty is inevitable.

“Our people – some of them were elected to government or government ministers,” he said.

“We have been Greens, Labour, CLP or independents. We have a lot of them and they have been there for many years.

‘Everybody’s been crying for how many years?

“As the leader of my nation, my church and my ceremony, I say: the voice will make no difference.”

Dr Gondarra (pictured) argued that the vote in parliament would make no difference to the lives of indigenous people

The life of the spiritual and civil rights leader is explored in a new documentary, Luku Ngärra, directed by Sinem Saban (pictured left) who has described Dr Gondarra (pictured right) as ‘Australia’s Gandhi’.

At nearly 80 years old, the life of Dr. Gondarra has been explored in a new documentary titled Luku Ngärra.

Director Sinem Saban compared the Dhurili nation elder to Indian civil and political rights leader Mohandas ‘Mahatma’ Gandhi.

“He puts people in their hearts,” Ms Saban said. News.com.

“He wants to unite Australia spiritually and through justice for his people, but without taking anything from us (non-Indigenous Australians).”

“Like Gandhi, he takes a very humble, non-violent approach to grave injustice.

“He doesn’t express anger at everyday non-Indigenous people or invigorate white guilt.

“Instead, he is very direct with who and what the problem is – The alien system that has been imposed on his people,” she added.

The documentary is intended to be an educational resource, calling for the long-term impact of white Australian law and policy on Indigenous communities (pictured, stock image)

“And he has genuine compassion for all of humanity who are victimized by the systems imposed on them.”

The documentary is intended as an educational resource, calling out the long-term impact of White Australian law and policy on Indigenous communities and the changes brought to Arnhem Land during Dr Gondarra’s lifetime.

“It’s part of the journey of truth that we all crave,” the director said.

“I want this to be a reminder that the treaty is a really important thing that we need to resolve – for Dr Gondarra it means a treaty with the Federal Government, not the Northern Territory Government.”