Foundational Sources and Purposes of Authority in Madayin

The Madayin system that continues to be maintained by the Aboriginal Yolngu people of Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory is a holistic system of legal, religious and political authority. A recent increase in publically available information has enabled a broader audience to learn about the Madayin system. This article examines Madayin primarily on its own terms by analysing the foundational sources of authority and purpose in that normative system.