The Northern Territory’s Police Commissioner has undertaken an extraordinary Yolngu ceremony of rebirth, following an historic apology at Garma Festival addressing the force’s dark past of racism against First Nations people.
Flanked by senior officers, on Saturday evening, speaking of “past harms and the injustices caused by members of the Northern Territory Police.”
“Throughout our 154 years of policing in the Northern Territory, we have aimed to work effectively with Aboriginal people and deliver just outcomes,” Commissioner Murphy said.
“However, we acknowledge that we have made mistakes.”
Police Commissioner Michael Murphy (left) and Assistant Commissioner Peter Kennon took part in the Yolngu ceremony of rebirth, discipline and healing.
The commissioner noted the disproportionate representation of the territory’s First Nations peoples in prisons and youth detention.
“I know some of you may be thinking ‘We’ve heard these words said by many before … where nothing really changes, where promises made, are broken.”
Perhaps in anticipation of those misgivings, the commissioner himself took part in the ceremony immediately after delivering his apology.
Known as girri kirrii, the East Arnhem custom saw the officers, brows painted in pale ochre, escorted from the bungul to a prepared ceremonial ground.
Amongst chanting and the clapping of bilma sticks, the commissioner and a dozen other serving officers knelt before smoking coals.
Officers took part in the girri kirrii, a ceremony of rebirth, discipline and healing, following an historic apology from Commissioner Michael Murphy.
Wet bark, thrown over the ashes, sent up a cloud of steam that engulfed the officers as their bowed heads were shrouded with cloth.
Rirratjingu Elder Witiyana Marika said the ceremony was a process of rebirth.
“That’s you, a baby, just coming out from mother’s womb,” he told NITV.
“Humble yourself. You are still a child of mother earth.”
The territory’s top cop, the leader of the same force that has seen egregious examples of racism exposed during the coronial inquest into Kumanjayi Walker’s death, kneeling before Yolngu Elders was indeed humbling.
Indigenous liaison officer Bettina Danganbarr also took part in the ceremony.
Born in Galiwin’ku community, the officer of nearly two decades said the girri kirrii also represented discipline and healing.
“So we can … start fresh and heal those hurts,” she said.
Indigenous Liaison Officer Bettina Daganbar said she was very pleased the Police Commissioner, also pictured, delivered the apology.
The Yolngu woman said she was pleased the commissioner had offered his apologies.
“I am very happy because it shows that we are willing to admit our past doings,” she told NITV.
The commisioner referred to historical examples of injustice and murder as he sought to establish “a complete reset” of the NT police force’s relationship with First Peoples.
“I intend to develop a new relationship … where I, as the Police Commissioner and with all of our police officers will identify and do what is necessary to make every effort to eliminate racism in the Northern Territory Police and make every effort to eliminate racist behaviours before it or when it occurs.”
Apology follows extensive revelations of police force racism
The Northern Territory’s police commissioner admitted in May to knowing about the existence of racist awards handed out to officers earlier than he previously stated.
Extensive allegations of racism within the territory police force were made during the course of the coronial inquest into the death of Kumanjayi Walker, including copies of the awards, which were submitted as evidence.
Commissioner Michael Murphy told reporters in February of this year that he was not aware of the awards.
Appearing before the coroner’s court in Alice Springs in May, Commissioner Murphy admitted that in fact he was aware of the awards in August 2023.
Under questioning from counsel assisting Dr Peggy Dwyer, Commissioner Murphy agreed that his comments to reporters were misleading.
He also confirmed that he had taken no disciplinary action in relation to the awards.
