Yindjibarndi elder dies | The West Australian

REBECCA TRIGGERBroome Advertiser One of the oldest and highly respected elders of the Yindjibarndi people, who dedicated years of his life to teaching young people about his country, died on

April 1. Ned Mayinbungu Cheedy was believed to be 105 years old when he died peacefully at home in Roebourne. He was the oldest-known Yindjibarndi elder of his generation and a significant

authority on the rich cultural history of the Yindjibarndi lands in the Pilbara. “Because of the enormous knowledge of country and Yindjibarndi law, he was held in high respect by the

Yindjibarndi people and many in the community and across the Pilbara,” anthropologist Michael Robinson said. Mr Robinson worked with Mr Cheedy on the successful Yindjibarndi and Ngarluma

native title claim in 2003. He was also involved in a subsequent native title claim on traditional lands in an area further south of the original claim in the Pilbara. He said he believed Mr

Cheedy to be someone always deeply concerned about the wellbeing of his community. A short message and image of the deceased was included on the Yindjibarndi Aboriginal Corporation website,

saying: “We will carry on your work and your inspiration will always guide us.” One of the last Yindjibarndi elders of his generation, he spent at least 20 years at the Juluwarlu Aboriginal

Corporation as a cultural teacher. He was born at Hooley Station on Cheedy Creek in WA in 1907. GET THE LATEST NEWS FROM THEWEST.COM.AU IN YOUR INBOX. Sign up for our emails